Claiming I/B?

[Rtaxron]

Can you claim Incapacity Benefit if you are on Pension Credit?

Not sure if they will deduct it.

[mrs_overall]

I was apologising to Scarlet as we had wandered off the point on her post.

Can I ask your age?

[mrs_overall]

I'm asking your age because you have to be under State pension age when you first became ill in order to claim incapacity benefit.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Fin ancialSupport/DG_10016082

[LoftyLottie]

If you are retired then you are not eligible for Incapacity Benefit. It is only a benefit for people of working age.

[Rtaxron]

Hi mrs_overall,

I am 64, been on P/C since last January and not fit for work due to damaged nerves in the leg and foot.

[Rtaxron]

Thanks for the info so far.

Will the I/B affect the P/C?

[mrs_overall]

I don't know the answer to that one.
I've been helping my sister with her claim and found that the staff at the local JobCentrePlus were very helpful. Each office has a disability adviser. It might be worth your while to look up their number and give him/her a ring for an informal chat.
Good luck.

[Rtaxron]

Thanks mrs_overall, : - )

[gelda]

I'm on DLA and was told that whatever income I have it won't affect my benefit, I get P/C but I don't know if the same applies to I/B but I suspect it will be the same.

[Rtaxron]

Thank gelda,

Just spoke to DLA and they have told me I am entitled to it and it wont affect my P/C.

Every little helps. : - )

[cazzz1975]

can you not do a desk job rtaxron?

[bednobs]

i find it quite unlikely that someone would have been able to tell you the outcome of a dla decision over the phone - have you applied for it already? I ask because at 64 you are literally just on the cusp of being able to apply for DLA, and they make a decision on what you put on the form (30 odd pages) not what you tell them on the phone

[Rtaxron]

cazzz1975, No.

bednobs,

When I phoned them I told them would it be worth claiming and gave them my recent health history.

They told me that I would be entitled to it, based on the information I gave them, and are sending out the forms..

I didn't say I was getting it, just entitled to it.

[bednobs]

sorry, i wasn't meaning to be rude, just wanted to be realistic for you - DLA is notoriously hard to get, and as i say, depending on "how much" 64 you are you can't apply. I was meaning to say apply quickly, and don't be afraid to appeal if they turn you down - i am utterly convinced they "fail" everyone first time, to weed out the people who just fancy some extra money!

[Chickadee]

DLA is a different thing to IB. I am on IB and was turned down for DLA.

[Rtaxron]

No need to be sorry bednobs, sometimes written words dont come over as good as vocal.

I read the link above from mrs_overall post.
It says that in certain circumstances, it wont stop when you are 65 years, which I will be next March.

I have had damaged nerves in my leg/foot for over 18 months and it affects my walking and other daily task. This apparently is good enough to claim.

[Rtaxron]

Whats the difference Chickadee,

I am a bit ignorant to all the benefit agencies, and have only been on P/C since January this year, which my daughter organised.

[Rtaxron]

Chickadee,

Forgot to add, do you know if you can claim I/B if you are on P/C?

[bednobs]

well i suppose a very simplified answer is this:

IB "compensates" you for being unable to work
DLA "compensates" you for having to pay out for extra stuff because you are unable to do it yourself. Fr example, you can get the lower rate if you are unable to cook a meal for yourself. This is to offset having to pay someone to come and cook your meals for you. Or you can get it if for example you are paralysed in a wheelchair - this is to compensate for having to pay someone to lift you out of the chair onto the loo etc

btw that is VERY simplified and just the way i understand it

[Rtaxron]

Hi bednobs and Chickadee,

I have just phoned I/B and they were very helpful and they just filled in the form with my deatails over the phone.

It wont affect my P/C and it could be back dated from when I first received it.

They told me that it would take about 10 days once I have checked the information on the form they are sending and they have contacted my Doctor, so hopefully it gets the green light.

He had no Idea how much they pay a fortnight as that's not his department. Does it depend on incapacity?

Thanks for all the help.