My friend is on DLA but has not informed housing benefit and council tax is this a problem?

[ytsrik1978]

My friend is on DLA low mobility and middle care allowance for the time that they have been claiming DLA they did not go to the libary and inform the housing benefit and council tax that they are getting the DLA due to their severe epilepsy. Are they in trouble for not doing this? Do they owe any money to housing benefit or council tax? Do housing benefit and council tax owe them any money? As i thought they got discounts when on Dla for council tax and housing benefit.

They are also on incapacity benefit which the housing benefit and council tax know about. I am worried and do not want them to get into trouble.

[Everhelpful]

I think DLA is not counted towards any Benefits you get, but I would phone and ask just to make sure.

[silliemillie]

I dont think DLA is means tested in any way so they dont need to tell anyone, they are not doing anything wrong.

[themas]

DLA is ignored as income in calculating housing & council tax benefit. The Council do not owe them any money - they should already be on the maximum HB/CTB they are entitled to.

Your friend might be entitled to a small top up Income Support - depending on the exact amount of Incapacity Benefit. This also depends to some extent on whether the person lives alone.

[ytsrik1978]

They get £189.70 a fortnight £94.85 a week incapacity benefit and they live alone
kirsty

[themas]

Can't reconcile those figures. DLA middle care is £49.30 p wk; low rate mobility is £19.55, so £137.70 2 weekly. (In any case, I think DLA is usually paid 4 weekly.)

Long term Incapacity Benefit is £94.25 per week. On these figures there should be an income support top up of £2.10 per week - which is usually paid with the incapacity benefit.

However, the total is a lot less than you say - I think there must be something else included in your figures.

[ytsrik1978]

Disability Living Allowance Care Component
Middle 49.30
Mobility Component Lower 19.55
Long-term Incapacity Benefit £94.85 and no income support.

[themas]

It's possible the IS is wrapped up in the same notification as the IB. The IB figure alone is definitely £94.25 so if £94.85 is being paid there is something extra included. However, the IS should be £2.10. This is £67.50 personal allowance, plus £28.85 disability premium & then minus the £94.25 IB. Is some money being deducted - for example for a past social fund loan? The IB letter from DWP should show a breakdown of how the payment is calculated. If not, your friend could ring the DWP and enquire.

However, at some stage he/she will be changed over from IB to ESA - which has different & more stringent tests than IB - & an enquiry to DWP might possibly trigger this happening sooner rather than later.