Disability Premiums

Autism_at_40

I recently came across Disability Premiums, which I knew nothing about. https://www.gov.uk/disability-premiums It looks like I would qualify as I am getting Housing Benefit, but it's paid with my Universal Credit, which having just found this Scope site: https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/disability-premiums/ It says you can't get it on UC, so I'm a bit confused. I also get PIP which I read was another thing that makes me qualify for it. I've already put a message on my UC account, but no-one has got back to me yet. Does anyone know more about it?

poppy123456

The disability premiums are not payable when claiming Universal Credit. They are only payable when claiming the old legacy benefits such as Income Related ESA/JSA, Income Support and housing benefit.

Autism_at_40 said:

It looks like I would qualify as I am getting Housing Benefit, but it's paid with my Universal Credit,

Housing benefit is a completely different benefit. As you're claiming UC you will only be claiming housing benefit if you're living in either supported or temporary housing.

As you're rent is paid with your UC it's known as housing element. There's no disability premiums payable with UC so this means you're not entitled to any disability premiums.

Autism_at_40

Well, that's incredibly disappointing.....

poppy123456

Unfortunately, it's the rules, they have never existed when claiming UC. Don't forget the benefits increase of 10.1% which will start from mid May (June for some people) for those claiming UC depending on what dates your assessment periods cover.

For your PIP you won't see the full increase until your May payment.

Autism_at_40

The 10.1% is for what?  Just UC?  Or LCWRA?  I don't get the LCWRA element unfortunately.

I'm surprised it doesn't go up in April like most things do.

Yeah, I've had a letter about PIP.

poppy123456

For UC the increase applies to all elements except housing element. You can see the increase amounts here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2023-to-2024/benefit-and-pension-rates-2023-to-2024#universal-credit

Autism_at_40 said:

I'm surprised it doesn't go up in April like most things 

The increase starts from 10th April but benefits are always paid in arrears so you won’t see any increase until after this date, as explained in my previous comment. 

Cartini

Autism_at_40 said:

The 10.1% is for what?  Just UC?  Or LCWRA?  I don't get the LCWRA element unfortunately.

I'm surprised it doesn't go up in April like most things do.

Yeah, I've had a letter about PIP.

"Things" usually only go up in April as a result of the CPI in the previous September.  The CPI in September 2022 was 10.1% so all benefits, pensions, allowances etc will be increasing by 10.1% effective from 10th April.  10th April is the effective from date, not paid from date (as poppy has already mentioned).

Autism_at_40

Oh yes, thanks Poppy.
But, I just looked at the link and I am confused:

Limited Capability for Work amount	132.89	146.31
Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity amount	354.28	390.06

I was assessed as having LCW, but I don't get any money for it.  I thought it was only the WRA part that got money.  Or is this yet another legacy benefit that no longer applies?

poppy123456

The rules for LCW/WRAG (ESA) changed back in 2017. For those claims that started after 3rd April 2017 you will not be entitled to any extra money for LCW or WRAG. See link. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/universal_credit_work_capability_assessment

Autism_at_40

So it's as I thought then, for older/legacy claims.  It seems like there was a lot more on offer than there is now.

I don't know how people live on basic UC.

poppy123456

Autism_at_40 said:

So it's as I thought then, for older/legacy claims.

No, not at all. There are some people claiming UC that also receive the extra money for LCW. There's also some still claiming legacy benefits that don't receive the extra money if they are in the WRAG. It works both ways.

As for the disability premiums not payable for UC claimants, if you never claimed any legacy benefits then you're not really missing out on anything. Benefits rules change over time and we could all say, well if i was claiming XYZ on X date then i'd be entitled to this, that and the other. Thinking about this isn't going to help you.

My daughter is the same and claims UC and PIP but the disability premiums don't apply to her. If she was claiming legacy benefits she would be entitled to SDP but she doesn't claim them so it's pointless thinking about it.

Autism_at_40

I think you're coming across quite strong with your point of view in a way that isn't helpful and seems to be constantly undermining what I am saying, which doesn't help.

What I MEANT in the quote that you used above is that as you said in your previous posts, I can't claim this because my claim wasn't pre-2017, therefore, in my eyes, that is old/legacy.  If some people on UC can get the extra money, then your information is confusing.  Perhaps it's new UC claims that don't get it?

I believe that the people who get the extra money on UC are the ones on LCWRA not just LCW, which is what I am on, unless they were claiming before 2017 as you have suggested, otherwise, your information is confusing.

What I meant by:

 I don't know how people live on basic UC.

If that is what you are referring to, is that I don't know how people live on just basic UC, ie the £334 that I get, along with the housing benefit.  I would not be able to survive if I didn't get PIP, so I don't know how other people survive.

As for benefits over the years, they have got stricter, I don't think you can deny that.

You said:

The increase starts from 10th April but benefits are always paid in arrears so you won’t see any increase until after this date, as explained in my previous comment. 

After you had said that they go up in May and I had said I was surprised they don't go up in April.  So they DO go up in April, but it's just the payment date is May as they are in arrears.  I think some of what you say can be confusing and unclear.

So I think you have misunderstood me and then gone ahead and kept saying it's pointless to think about it... which I find a bit rude to be honest.

poppy123456

I don't know how you can accuse me of not being helpful, i've been nothing but helpful.

Autism_at_40 said:

I think you're coming across quite strong with your point of view in a way that isn't helpful and seems to be constantly undermining what I am saying, which doesn't help.

How is my information confusing? The changes that took place for LCW/UC and WRAG/ESA apply to both. The reason i said that some people claiming UC and LCW and are entitled to the extra money is because some claims started before the changes took place in 2017 or some have transferred from ESA and were previously in the WRAG and entitled to the extra money.

Autism_at_40 said:

What I meant by:

 I don't know how people live on basic UC.

If that is what you are referring to, is that I don't know how people live on just basic UC, ie the £334 that I get, along with the housing benefit.  I would not be able to survive if I didn't get PIP, so I don't know how other people survive.

As for benefits over the years, they have got stricter, I don't think you can deny that.

Yes i know what you were referring too, which was why i didn't quote that part of your comment to reply to it. I never once said benefits had got stricter. The criteria for the benefits hasn't changed over the years but the rules for WRAG/LCW have changed since 2017.

Autism_at_40 said:

After you had said that they go up in May and I had said I was surprised they don't go up in April.  So they DO go up in April, but it's just the payment date is May as they are in arrears.  I think some of what you say can be confusing and unclear.

So I think you have misunderstood me and then gone ahead and kept saying it's pointless to think about it... which I find a bit rude to be honest.

Yes, benefits increase from 10th April but as i explained because they are paid in arrears no one claiming UC will receive it until at least 16th May, depending on the dates of your assessment periods. No one missed out and everyone will still receive 12 payments at the new rate.

Those claiming legacy benefits won't see the full increase until May either. Same applies to disability benefits.

Autism_at_40 said:

So I think you have misunderstood me and then gone ahead and kept saying it's pointless to think about it... which I find a bit rude to be honest.

I haven't misunderstood you at all but i see little point in thinking what you "may" have been entitled to if you were claiming legacy benefits. You're not claiming them, you're claiming UC and the disability premiums don't exist for UC.

I won't be commenting further on your threads.

Community_Scope

Note from online community team:

Where possible we like all discussions to continue, but we’re choosing to pause this discussion for now so things can cool down and we can review it. For more information, please read our online community house rules.

We will review it and if we are satisfied the discussion can continue, we will hope to un-pause it by the end of the week,

Community_Scope

Note from online community team:

Hello @Autism_at_40

Following review, we have chosen to close this discussion as we felt it was no longer in keeping with our online community house rules of remaining civil, supportive, and safe.

The discussion had diverged and though these comments have now been removed, we felt reopening the thread might led to further tension between members. If you do have any ongoing questions about Disability Premiums or would like to update us further, you are welcome to start a new discussion.