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SN children

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Original poster

Advice please re DLA 'rating' and Tax Credits

37 replies

goldenretriever · 20/06/2013 18:27

Hi, I applied for DLA for my son last month. The date where I can appeal is drawing to a close. I was awarded middle rate care and no mobility rate. Does this sound right? He is 4 and Autistic, but awaiting diagnosis. He doesn't speak a lot, isn't potty trained and has challenging behaviour most of the time. He can walk but his hand has to be held in case he runs away and he often asks to be picked up.

Also, my OH is applying for Carer's Allowance. Should I still tell Tax Credit people about the DLA award. Don't know if I would bet more money as we will also be getting Care's Allowance. Don't mean to sound greedy, but the money would be useful.

OP posts:

PersonalClown · 20/06/2013 18:33

My Toad was awarded MRC and no mobility fro the age of 3 to 10. The award rate sounds about right.

DLA gives 2 extra rates on Tax credits so you should ring them and let them know. Carer's Allowance has to be declared as an income too.

lougle · 20/06/2013 21:02

The DLA may be correct. Low Rate mobility doesn't apply until the child is 5 years old. The bar for High Rate mobility is very high, and it doesn't sound like he would qualify from what you've posted.

Whether he gets mid rate care or high rate will depend on his night time needs. If he has prolonged or frequent night time needs, he will qualify for high rate care. If he sleeps well, generally, at night, he won't.

Tell tax credits. The carers allowance will count as income and reduce the award. However, the initial award will be increased as you will get a 'disabled child' element.

Original poster

goldenretriever · 22/06/2013 18:28

As I thought, I appreciate both of your responses x

OP posts:

Tibet · 23/06/2013 20:08

My ds has just been awarded lrm and mrc. His mobility award is due to his supervision with crossing roads, no stranger danger, shouting things out to strangers and his tendency to act impulsively and not make a safe and sound judgement he is 7. My ds wakes everynight at least twice a night (4 is common but not everynight) and takes 30 mins to an hour to settle we didnt get hrc for this.
I would def recommend you tell tax credits about any benefits you are getting and as far as I know dla doesn't count as income so it won't reduce you credits just increase then due to the disability element being included all as mentioned above.

Original poster

goldenretriever · 27/06/2013 18:03

Tibet, it sounds like your son should be receiving higher rate pc, but that's just to me, not them, I guess.

Have told Tax Credits - hadn't realised it was free on my mobile as it starts with 03 now. My OH is claiming CA now, but hoping that it will still result in a bit more money. Especially since my ds ripped most of his wallpaper off!

OP posts:

Tibet · 27/06/2013 18:21

yes the letter says he got mrc for waking up at night frequently and needing help with bodily functions during the night. he would get hrc if he needed extra care in the day which he does so bit strange that one. he needs help with dressing, cleaning, going to toilet and routines to do certain things.
tax credits will take the CA as part of your income but not the DLA. i think the disability element for tax credits is up to £58 pw extra money. depends on your income though. i was also told about a ceb card (think thats what it is) your dc can get a card for the cinema where it means the carer goes in free. you will need to show them your dla award tonget it.

ouryve · 27/06/2013 20:24

Yes - do tell the tax credit people. There is still a disabled child element for middle rate care. Carer's allowance counts towards your total income, but the tax credits aren't deducted pound for pound, so you will still get more tax credits, even with carer's allowance.

Original poster

goldenretriever · 28/06/2013 14:06

Thanks both. Will definitely look at the ceb card when I brave the Autism friendly screenings :)

OP posts:

ouryve · 28/06/2013 16:06

They let a carer into our Odeon free, anyhow, for the autism friendly screenings.

Original poster

goldenretriever · 29/06/2013 17:07

Ooh, I wonder if they do that at Cineworld too. am wondering if the ceb card is something similar to a carer's card that my Local Authority offers? Finding this all helpful!

OP posts:

Tibet · 29/06/2013 20:54

sorry its a cea card not ceb , google cinema card dla or ceb , you can get a form from the cinema or online. i think its for any cinema.

salondon · 01/07/2013 12:19

how does the tax credit work?

ladyMaryQuiteContrary · 01/07/2013 12:36

Watch out for the extra tax credits as it can/will reduce housing benefit and make you liable for council tax so may not be worth your while applying for it. DLA won't affect any housing benefit though.

OMGGG · 01/07/2013 16:51

oh really, i thought that dla was not classed as income as not means tested. if housing benefit take into accout the extra tax credits that u may get due to the dla when they do your claim then they are taking into account your dla component of tax credits. confused...

ladyMaryQuiteContrary · 01/07/2013 17:12

DLA isn't means tested and doesn't get counted towards housing or council tax benefit. The extra tax credits due to the disabled child element are counted though as they are means tested and they will reduce your housing and council tax benefit because of this.

OMGGG · 01/07/2013 20:27

thanks ladymary i didnt realise this.

ladyMaryQuiteContrary · 01/07/2013 20:35

Sorry. I have been trying to double check this for months to make sure it wasn't a mistake. Seems cruel to give you money to help your disabled child with one hand and take it away with the other. I'm very annoyed about this to be honest.

OMGGG · 02/07/2013 07:35

yes it doesnt really make any sense, i called hb after i read your message and your totally correct. i would not have realised if you hadnt have said so thanks

ladyMaryQuiteContrary · 02/07/2013 10:36

No problem. I'm so sorry. It would be worth your while checking on entitledto.com and putting in the figures anyway. It does reduce it but it's not a pound for a pound so it may be better off for you anyway. Sometimes an extra £5 a week can make a difference.

Original poster

goldenretriever · 02/07/2013 10:56

Wow, what a minefield. Head spins...

OP posts:

ladyMaryQuiteContrary · 02/07/2013 11:53

It's a nightmare.

Anyone can claim DLA, it's not means tested so won't affect any other benefits.

If your child is entitled to DLA then you can also get an additional child tax credit amount depending on the DLA payment. This additional tax credit amount, however, is means tested and will reduce the amount of housing and council tax benefit that you can claim so it's not always in your best interest to claim this. Ie, the lower amount of the additional tax credit is £57 per week. Depending upon what else you have coming in it could reduce your housing and council tax benefit so you're only slightly better off then if you didn't claim it at all.

I don't know about carers allowance as I don't claim this. From what I remember a carer can only earn less than £100 a week to qualify for this so it looks as though it's means tested too.

Please do check this though, I really hope I've been given the wrong information and I don't want to tell you not to apply, just incase. Just be aware that you may not be better off claiming this.

ladyMaryQuiteContrary · 02/07/2013 11:54

May be wise to look on entitledto and do two calculations; one with the additional tax credit and one without.

OMGGG · 02/07/2013 13:25

thanks...my hb will be reduced due to higher tax credits on the disability basis. however the disability premium on the hb seems to have balanced it out. im not sure exactly whther personally i would be better off with or without the tax credits but with them i am ok with my hb.
im pretty sure hb do count carers allowance as income.
brain hurting...

ladyMaryQuiteContrary · 02/07/2013 13:27

vjg13 · 02/07/2013 14:40

Does anyone know if you still receive tax credit once your child reaches 16? I'm hoping my daughter will stay at her special school until 19. Would we still get the tax credit? TIA

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