Are the disabled elements the same as in the WTC?

LornaA

Hi. I’m hoping for some help with benefit entitlement.

I recently was awarded PIP high rate care and basic mobility.
I Also receive working and child tax credits since work part- time and have a 10 yr old.

skmeone advised me to change my WTC to disabled and thus I’m entitled to more each week due to the higher rate care PIP.

I was also told my Housing benefit would go up since entitles to three disabled elements here. But HB letter came through and while the three amounts are mentioned they’re not included in the HB award, it looks like it’s stayed the same as it was.

I’m queuing whether the disabled elements are the same as in the WTC so I’m already getting them? 

It’s confusing! 

Many thanks in advance if anyone can help me. 

calcotti

Your HB will include extra premiums (they are not the same as for Tax Credits) but are you actually paying any of your rent yourself? Regardless of what your calculation includes your Housing Benefit can't pay more than your rent and may pay less due to having a spare room (if social housing) or due to rent restriction under Local Housing Allowance (if renting privately).

LornaA

Thanks for this.
sorry I may not have been clear.
the HB I already receive leaves quite a shortfall for my rent, the house is larger than we need but moved here since was caring for my mother who has now died. 

The council don’t penalise for the extra bedrooms.

My question is, do the payments go on over and above the HB amount? Similar to Discretionary Housing Benefit which I’ve previously had? that ain’t added onto the notice of award. 

The new notice I received mentioned the change in circumstances and showed the three disability premiums but only under the ‘applicable amount’ section. This I’m unsure whether it will actually be paid or not? 

calcotti

The Housing Benefit is calculated by giving you an applicable amount. Deductions may then be made depending on your circumstances. This is then used to calculate whether there is any deduction to be made from your maximum HB entitlement. 

Any Discretionary Housing Payment is completely separate and does not form part of Housing Benefit. A DHP is usually for a limited period only.

How many bedrooms do you have? Rented privately or social housing? Who now lives in the house? How long is it since mum died?

The figure you are interested is the figure that says that says how much HB you will receive.

LornaA

Thanks for this.
I have two extra bedrooms, only two of us live in the house- (my son and myself). She died a year ago but my health has deteriorated hence the PIP award. Moving isn’t easy since not many suitable options nearby with our support network all being in the area etc. I’m aware DHP is different, I was using it as a comparison since it doesn’t appear ‘in writing’ anywhere on the HB notice either.

I understand the disability premium is added to the applicable amount, is this its only purpose though?

Basically they are giving me the exact amount as before. That’s what I’m querying… 

calcotti

4 bedrooms, 2 people so definitely underoccupied.
You didn’t answer the question about whether you rent social housing or privately so I still don’t know whether the bedroom tax or LHA applies. Either way HB is unlikely to cover the full rent. A DHP can makeup the shortfall, but as advised above, is usually for a limited period.
From memory, there is a grace period after someone dies but if the death was 12 months ago any such period will have expired.

LornaA said:

I’m aware DHP is different, I was using it as a comparison since it doesn’t appear ‘in writing’ anywhere on the HB notice either.

As already advised, because it’s separate a DHP will not appear on an HB notice,

LornaA said:

Basically they are giving me the exact amount as before. That’s what I’m querying… 

Sounds as if they were already paying you the maximum you are eligible for. They can’t pay you more than that.

LornaA

It’s a private landlord, I’m not expecting them to cover the full rent. I’m aware it’s under occupied; that’s not the issue. 

I’m just hoping to find out if the three disability premiums are paid on top of the housing benefit rate (which is the same as before) or just absorbed into the HB… 

poppy123456

Then you'll be entitled to the 2 bed rate of LHA. https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

LornaA said:

I’m just hoping to find out if the three disability premiums are paid on top of the housing benefit rate (which is the same as before) or just absorbed into the HB… 

Does it really matter? You already said you're receiving the same amount as before so i don't understand the reason for your question. You can't receive anymore than your maximum entitlement.

LornaA

The reason for my question was that I was advised I’d be entitled to receive disability premiums! That I’m receiving the same as before means I’m not receiving them! 

I’d hoped for some help on here but feel the tone is far from pleasant… 

calcotti

LornaA said:

The reason for my question was that I was advised I’d be entitled to receive disability premiums! That I’m receiving the same as before means I’m not receiving them! 

I’d hoped for some help on here but feel the tone is far from pleasant… 

You don’t receive the premiums. You are paid housing benefit. the premiums are included as part of the calculation of that benefit.

As advised here

calcotti said:

The Housing Benefit is calculated by giving you an applicable amount. Deductions may then be made depending on your circumstances. This is then used to calculate whether there is any deduction to be made from your maximum HB entitlement. 

The premiums change the figures used to calculate what is deducted, if anything, to see whether or not you are entitled to your maximum HB but it doesn’t change the maximum amount. The maximum amount is determined by the Local Housing Allowance. As you were already getting that you can’t get more.

LornaA said:

I’d hoped for some help on here but feel the tone is far from pleasant… 

I don’t know what you mean by that. We are simply trying to explain the way it works in order to try and answer your question.

if the question is ..

LornaA said:

I’m just hoping to find out if the three disability premiums are paid on top of the housing benefit rate 

..the answer is no.

But I assumed you would like an explanation.

poppy123456

What we are saying is, if you’re receiving the maximum amount then you can’t receive anymore than that. Therefore the SDP will make no difference. 

If you check the link I posted above and put your postcode into it and drop down to 2 bedroom entitlement then it will tell you what your maximum entitlement is. 

The disability premiums aren’t paid as such with housing benefit. They are paid with other means tested benefits like Income Related ESA/JSA and Income Support. 

LornaA

Ok thanks.