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BIG Benefits Problem...

Pieface said:
that's fucking excellent. So whilst i'm entirely unable to work, my far from loaded partner is supposed to pay my rent and council tax?

I don't understand why my benefit isn't means tested but my rent is.

I'm royally fucked now then.
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The way I was told it (after my NI ran out), if your partner works more than X hours a week (I can't remember how many but it was fuck all) then whatever amount she earns you don't get unemployment benefit - so you can't have housing benefit (we couldn't get that anyway because we have a mortgage) and I couldn't get CT benefit either. When my NI ran out I was congratulated at the Job Centre as I was no longer 'unemployed'.
 
Two bedroom flat? Can't you 'split up'?

I don't really want to give advice about doing that because it's such a weird thing but...I dunno :(
 
5t3IIa said:
Two bedroom flat? Can't you 'split up'?

I don't really want to give advice about doing that because it's such a weird thing but...I dunno :(
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Could be a bit harder than you think. I remember being told that it wasn't 'being a couple' that meant your partner was meant to support you, but 'evidence of stability' (ie it didn't matter if you were sleeping together or not)

Admittedly this could have been Liverpool City Council really being an arse, but that's what they said when we had a similar problem.

As for housing benefit being means tested - er YES!!! :facepalm:
 
They ask you if you have recently split with someone, I dunno why either, it's not something I've questioned to avoid further interrogation.
 
tribal_princess said:
DLA is a bastard to get, I haven't applied for it yet.
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Aw, Teeps, I vaguely recall PMing you aaaaaages ago encouraging you to apply. :facepalm:

Or am I confusing you with someone else. :hmm:

Yes, it's a bastard to apply for, which is why it's advisable to get some kind of disability rights adviser to help fill in the forms, but it would be good to do it asap as it's very possible that you're not getting money that you're legally entitled to.

And if you get DLA and you're also getting incapacity benefit, then you should also get income support disability premium, and that's the passport to full housing benefit and council tax benefit and free prescriptions.

And if you don't then appeal, because lots of case that are initially refused win on appeal.

Seriously, the bastards will do anything to avoid paying out benefits people are legally entitled to, so you should do your best to get every penny they owe you.
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
Maybe they know whatever condition you have isn't going to get any better?
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No completely the opposite. I was awarded it "only" until 2012 because "treatment may improve your condition", I've got to reapply if that's not the case, but I'm pretty much certain I'll be up and about fine by then :)
 
Sounds shit mate.

The key to getting DLA is to find someone to fill in the forms for you.

Most CAB or law centres have an in house expert or will know of one IME.
 
How much difference does DLA make to HB? Even on DLA my partner would still be expected to cover my half of the rent wouldn't he? :confused: Am I right in thinking DLA is some nice extra quids which aren't taken into account for means tested stuff but even higher rate mobility and care isn't that much extra. Or does being on DLA change HB stuff?
 
FabricLiveBaby! said:
Welcome to my world Jefe. I was denied the doll too (same situation, other half, too many savings, earns too much, we aint married)!
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I bet if it was a council house and you were living together and the person whose name was on the lease died, they'd be quick enough to chuck you out because you weren't married, but when it comes to paying the rent, entirely different matter.

I could be wrong though :D
 
drag0n said:
How much difference does DLA make to HB? Even on DLA my partner would still be expected to cover my half of the rent wouldn't he? :confused: Am I right in thinking DLA is some nice extra quids which aren't taken into account for means tested stuff but even higher rate mobility and care isn't that much extra. Or does being on DLA change HB stuff?
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DLA isn't means tested I don't think. Income support is though
 
El Jefe posting

DLA isn't really the issue though - I can survive on the ESA, and the extra DLA isn't going to pay my rent, or is it? :confused:

We're in a one-bedroom place too, so no way we can pretend to split up. The ironies are

a) it now becomes "better" for Pieface not to work full time because then she doesn't have to contribute to my rent.
b) in some ways the easiest solution would be for us to jack in the shared place and live separately, which would cost the council more money.

Worked hard all my fucking life, first time I've needed social support in a long fucking time and it's not there.
 
Pieface said:
El Jefe posting

DLA isn't really the issue though - I can survive on the ESA, and the extra DLA isn't going to pay my rent, or is it? :confused:

We're in a one-bedroom place too, so no way we can pretend to split up. The ironies are

a) it now becomes "better" for Pieface not to work full time because then she doesn't have to contribute to my rent.
b) in some ways the easiest solution would be for us to jack in the shared place and live separately, which would cost the council more money.

Worked hard all my fucking life, first time I've needed social support in a long fucking time and it's not there.
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DLA doesn't pay your rent, and there's two components, the care component and the mobility component. The care component has 3 rates and the mobility component has 2 rates. If you got DLA I don't know what other benefits you would be entitled to (ie. housing). If you weren't entitled to any other benefits, it might go towards paying your rent but probably not be nearly enough.

Just found this:

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If you start to get Disability Living Allowance it might increase the amount of other benefits or credits you're entitled to, such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
Disability Living Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out these income-related benefits and credits.
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from here, although I'm sure you've already visited this website

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011731
 
Pieface said:
i'm not on income support, i'm on ESA, which isn't means tested.
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Should have said that Housing Benefit is also means-tested and it's outrageous that someone else is expected to pay on your behalf. Receiving DLA still wouldn't affect your benefits, but having someone who is earning living with you will affect claim for housing. Equally, if you yourself was claiming DLA and ESA but was living on your own, you would still have to pay Housing Benefit if you had over £6,000 (I think) in the bank.

It's brain-damagingly complex
 
moomoo said:
Have you been to the Citizens Advice Bureau? Perhaps someone there could help you and deal with the benefits people on your behalf?

I can't for the life of me see why you are not entitled to DLA. :confused:
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tribal_princess said:
DLA is a bastard to get, I haven't applied for it yet.
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I'm going for it at the moment, I shan't ever be able to go back to work again (much as I would like to)
It would be back paid from the day they receive it and MUST be completed as if the glass is half empty.
I spent an evening with a geriatric nurse who was an expert at filling out the the form/book -well worth it.
Everything you say must relate to your worst days etc.
Knowing from what I've read whilst following the progress after your (horrific) injury you must be entitled to DLA.
Worth the effort.
 
I don't know if this this will help, but here in Hull, the CAB centres are a dying breed and have been turned over to Community Legal Advice Centre's - that's where the free legal advice is now. It is a shame that the CAB's are slowly dying here, but....

Also, does your area offer advocacy support at all? As far as I know, in Hull this is taking off on a big way and you are entitled to free, legal, independant, advice, information and support. Independant charities and NHS services are starting to offer advocacy, and they may be able to help with benefit/housing advice.
 
Minnie_the_Minx said:
DLA isn't means tested I don't think. Income support is though
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Re DLA
You aren't means tested and always a good idea to read these forms remembering that the composer probably doesn't have A level English.
ie cash ain't savings . Other benefits often mention "cash at home", but not the DLA form.
Good luck mate.
 
yardbird said:
Re DLA
You aren't means tested and always a good idea to read these forms remembering that the composer probably doesn't have A level English.
ie cash ain't savings . Other benefits often mention "cash at home", but not the DLA form.
Good luck mate.
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Yeah, that's what I thought. It's not the DLA that's means-tested, it's the other benefits, savings, people living with you that will affect your housing claim.
 
Pieface said:
El Jefe posting

DLA isn't really the issue though - I can survive on the ESA, and the extra DLA isn't going to pay my rent, or is it? :confused:

We're in a one-bedroom place too, so no way we can pretend to split up. The ironies are

a) it now becomes "better" for Pieface not to work full time because then she doesn't have to contribute to my rent.
b) in some ways the easiest solution would be for us to jack in the shared place and live separately, which would cost the council more money.

Worked hard all my fucking life, first time I've needed social support in a long fucking time and it's not there.
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Once again I seem to be pretty much in the same position as you.
After about 5 months my first ESA and HB/CT payments came through, all backdated. Great. Rent was actually covered in full too, which was pleasing and suprising.
However, just before this my girlfriend moved in. Her tenancy was up anyway, and I was going to end up losing the flat without someone to pay half as I was effectively living off nothing. We'd talked about doing it anyway, it was an emotional rather than financial decision, but this tipped the balance. Cool. She doesn't earn much at all btw.
Unfortunately my CT/HB has now been stripped down to £25 a week. Not good, I now need to find £140 a week from somewhere.

Still mulling over how to deal with this situation, but I'll be fucked if I'm asking her to spend her entire wage (and then some) 'supporting' me. It's demeaning and unrealistic.

No real advice I'm afraid, but you're not alone.
 
Pieface said:
El Jefe posting

DLA isn't really the issue though - I can survive on the ESA, and the extra DLA isn't going to pay my rent, or is it? :confused:

We're in a one-bedroom place too, so no way we can pretend to split up.
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I'm probably talking bollocks, and I don't doubt it's ever so marginally fraudulent, but why can't Pieface "move out", and put down her address as a friend's/parent's/etc place, and then just "visit" from time to time... So, officially at least, you're the only tenant?
 
EastEnder said:
I'm probably talking bollocks, and I don't doubt it's ever so marginally fraudulent, but why can't Pieface "move out", and put down her address as a friend's/parent's/etc place, and then just "visit" from time to time... So, officially at least, you're the only tenant?
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Because they'll come round and check and they may, if they suspect he's lying, have someone spy on him
 
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