In order to be awarded Universal Credit (UC), a student must be entitled to Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment and also have limited capability for work. They would therefore need to satisfy the work capability assessment (WCA). Universal credit is means tested so if they have savings between £6,000-£16,000, it will affect the […]
If you are on a low income you may be able to get help with healthcare costs: free prescriptions help with fares to hospital help with paying for glasses help with paying dentist’s fees help with the cost of wigs and fabric supports All children under 16, or under 19 and in full time education, […]
The Government has clarified the blue badge criteria. Many of our members who previously received automatic entitlement to a blue badge (because they were awarded DLA mobility under the SMI criteria), no longer qualified for it once they moved to PIP because there is no criteria for behavioural issues. The requirement (for automatic blue badge) […]
The Government have published updated information about Universal Credit (UC) and who can claim it. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-you Universal credit will eventually replace current means-tested benefits such as income related ESA & JSA, Housing benefit, Child Tax Credit, Income support and Working Tax Credit. If you are currently in receipt of any of these benefits, you do […]
The Government is looking at the way the Blue Badge scheme currently works for people with non-physical disabilities. For those receiving higher rate DLA mobility component, there is an automatic entitlement to the Blue Badge. Unfortunately this isn’t the case with Personal Independence payment if you live in England or Northern Ireland. You may find […]
For those moved over from incapacity benefit to contribution based ESA between 2011-2014. The DWP have published their written statement about ESA. Many of you will already be receiving income related ESA, some may be receiving contribution based ESA because you are better off on this, (you have savings of over £16,000 which would exclude […]
Have your say on how ESA and PIP assessments work
You may remember that some-time ago there was some talk of changes being made to the assessment process for people with severe disabilities. On 10 October 2016 Damian Green, who was the Work and Pensions Secretary at that time, issued a statement announcing that only those “who have already been placed in the Employment and […]
One of our Benefits Advisers explains the changes that have been causing some problems
by Helen, DSA Benefits helpline In 2013 changes to the Council Tax Discount Scheme came into force. You can read about scheme in detail here. We’ve talked to many parents since these changes came into place and we are concerned that some councils are still unaware of the change. As we are not able to check […]
