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Children's Hyperinsulinism Charity

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Money Matters

Main Benefits

  1. Disability Living Allowance
  2. Personal Independence Payment
  3. Carer’s Allowance
  4. Tax credits.
  5. Universal Credit
  6. Help with council tax.

Money Matters Teens PIP

  • To help meet the costs of disability.
  • Do not need a diagnosis.
  • Not means tested.
  • Paid in addition to other benefits, not treated as income and can lead to an increase in means tested benefits and tax credits.
  • Has two components – mobility component and care component
  • Child’s need for care and supervision must be substantially greater than non-disabled child of the same age.
  • Must meet certain residence and presence tests.
Money Matters Family DLA Allowance

Why claim?

  • May need extra support to enable individual needs to be met.
  • Gateway to other support e.g. carers allowance, extra tax credits
  • To help meet the extra costs you have in looking after a child with disabilities.

How to Claim

To obtain a claim form, call Disability Living Allowance Helpline on 0800 121 4600 This means payment can be backdated to the date the phone call was made.

  • There is a six-week deadline to complete the form.
  • Think of as many professionals as possible who can support the claim and ask them to provide evidence.
  • It is often a good idea to get help filling in the form – it is important to arrange this as early as possible.
Money Matters Teens PIP

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

  • Disability benefit similar to DLA but for children 16+
  • PIP Assessment
  • assessment “points based” on your ability to carry out a range of daily living and mobility activities.
  • looks how your health/disability impacts you to carry out these activities and the help you need.

How to Claim

  • Shortly after a child reaches 16 they receive a letter from the DWP inviting them to make a claim (in most circumstances).
  • They will not be moved to PIP automatically.
  • If child not able to manage their own money and benefits when they turn 16 you can apply to be their appointee
  • If already an appointee for DLA, this does not automatically move over to PIP.
  • Need to request an appointee form (same as DLA) and thereafter, the DWP will arrange a support visit and interview to ensure an appointee is needed.

Top tips

  • Take your time. Don’t try to finish it all in one go.
  • Get specialist advice from a welfare benefits advisor.
  • Keep a diary the week before tackling the form.
  • Give as much information as possible.
  • Include supporting evidence with the form.
  • Ask yourself – have you included enough evidence to convince someone who hasn’t met your child.
  • Keep a copy of the form.

How to Challenge

  • If your child is refused DLA or PIP or awarded a lower rate than expected, you can challenge the decision.
  • Reconsideration request – asking for the decision to be looked at again.
  • Appeal – If you are not happy with the reconsideration (but this may result in the rate going down, as well as up)

Carer's Allowance

  • Present rate for Carers’ Allowance is £76.75
  • Not means tested — but there is an earnings limit, presently £139.00 per week, less deductions (carer’s earnings only)
  • You can claim if your child receives DLA care at middle or higher rate or PIP daily living component at any rate.
  • Need to be providing at least 35 hours care per week.
  • Cannot get CA if a full-time student.
  • Anyone who meets tests can claim. Don’t necessarily need to be parent.

Universal Credit

  • New means tested benefit replacing all legacy benefits such as income Support, income related ESA, both types of tax credits and housing benefit
  • Single monthly payment (in arrears) includes money to cover rent charges.
  • Claimed on-line and usually a 5 week wait for 1st payment.
  • Has replaced all new claims for means tested benefits and tax credits in all parts of the UK.

Universal Credit - Existing Claimants

  • Existing means tested benefits/tax credits claimants who have no change of circumstances not currently being asked to claim UC.
  • Existing claimants will eventually be moved onto UC at some point. This is known as ‘managed migration’.
  • Managed migration was due to start in 2020 with the last claimants being moved onto UC by the end of 2023. This will be delayed by the Coronavirus outbreak.
  • Those worse off on UC after managed migration are transitionally protected i.e. get a top-up payment.

Universal Credit Concerns

  • Disability element is lower for most children.
  • Disabled parents will either get a carer element or a disability element but not both.
  • No payments for looked after children in residential accommodation.
  • Where couple both care full time for the same disabled child one partner may be asked to look for work

Universal Credit Positives

  • You can get a carer addition even if your earnings are too high to get Carer’s Allowance
  • Don’t need to work 16 hrs to get help with childcare, any number of hours will do.
  • 85% of childcare costs met.
  • Those eligible for CA are exempt from ALL conditionality including work focused interviews.

Other Help

  • Council Tax – may get a disability reduction / discount.
  • Help with utility bills.
  • Blue Badge
  • Road Tax Exemption
  • CEA card/Max card
  • Help with bus/rail travel.
  • Family Fund

Benefit Rates

Download benefits & Rates

Find Out More

Contact Charity – Freephone 0808 808 3555

www.contact.org.uk

Cerebra Charity – DLA Guide

https://cerebra.org.uk/download/disability-living-allowance-dla-guide/

Thanks to Karen Hoe OBE and Maria Wilson Contact Charity Representatives

The Children’s Hyperinsulinism Charity Conference 2023