Benefits

[fairfax]

On working out the benefits for a disabled lady I suprised to find that a blind person living with his wife and grown up working son is entitled to far more than the lady on her own. Any answers please?

[bednobs]

its not a question, so no, no answers

[fairfax]

Thanks, In a Pikle, I just wondered why blindness though very unfortunate is regarded as more benefit worthy than loss of use of limbs,hearing etc .Also the blind man in question has just retired from full time employment the lady has been unable to work for many years.

[plowter]

Don't quite understand the circumstances. Within the benefits system there's no such thing as a 'blind person'. As In A Pickle says they have a disability and it is how the disability affects them that dictates what benefits they're entitled to.

I can only assume that your male claimant is entitled to higher rates of DLA then your female claimant. It could be that the rate awarded to your female claimant is too low.

What benefits are the two claimants on and what rates have been awarded?

Remember that it's humans who take the decisions on benefit claims. I am aware of at least one case where a pair of school-age twins with the same chronic genetic condition were awarded different rates of benefit because they had been assessed by two different decision makers.

[fairfax]

thanks Plowter,the lady is on high rate for care and mobility the blind man is on middle rate for both.
The Carers Handbook about benefits clearly states the registerd blind are treated on a different level to other disabled claiments for tax credits,housing and council tax bebefits.

[plowter]

Hi fairfax /b>. Can't quite see how the two claimants would be treated differently. If we assume that both claimants are working age (and ignore the partner and child) but on welfare benefits then I'd imagine that both claimants would be entitled to the following:

Incapacity Benefit (or the older Invalidity Benefit).
There may be an additional age-related premium depending upon when the claim began.
There may be extra benefit for a spouse.

Client may also be entitled to an additional Severe Disability Premium.

Disability Living Allowance, care and mobility.

Housing Benefit. Claimant can only receive the maximum amount. The disability may entitle claimant to more room for their use or for a carer.

Council Tax Benefit. Claimant can only receive maximum amount. A single occupant would receive 25% discount.

Working Tax Credits. Can't be working and claim Invalidity Benefit. Includes a disability allowance.

There are also Carer's Allowance and Attendance Allowance but these may affect other benefits.

Entitled To provides a useful staring point.

Does your handbook provide any details of the differences?

I work for a support organisation and am genuinely interested in any problems your clients may be experiencing.

[plowter]

Oops! Sorry about that, hope you can read it.

[THECORBYLOON]

If you look here, it explains the premiums available to those who are Registered Blind, receive DLA or AA http://static.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/file s/housingcouncil-407.pdf

[plowter]

Thanks THECORBYLOON, think I understand the issue now.

There are premiums for people with a disability, although it would be better to call them allowances because the claimant doesn't actually get paid these sums.

Someone on benefits would normally get full Housing Benefit for their rent. They would also get full Council Tax Benefit.

Someone who has a disability, such as blindness, who is working would have the premiums applied to their total rent. This means they would receive more HB and CTB than someone without a disability on the same wages.

Does that make sense?