Cost of Living Payment - useful information

Padraig

@Pam
Have you tried wearing silk socks as a base layer? They trap in the heat, are really thin and you can get them for £2 a pair. Not many Jockeys will admit it but many wear tights during cold weather under jodhpurs for light extra warmth. I’m diabetic and my GP prescribed me slow release aspirin to thin the blood and help circulation to extremities.

Padraig

@Alex_Scope.
Yes they still sell the hand warmers you snap and chemicals mix to provide heat but they are a bit pricy and one off use. I have a gel pack in like a fleece bandage that heats up in 20 seconds in microwave. It’s for pain relief on my knee but so hot so quickly I move it around to warm up! Not putting heating on yet!

Alex_Alumni

Thanks for that @Padraig that's useful to know  

I'm sorry to hear you feel your GP surgery is useless @Pam, my surgery is offering a lot more telephone appointments than physical ones at the moment- do you think a phone appointment would work for you?

Alex_Alumni

That sounds very frustrating, I'm sorry you feel so let down. I wonder if you might be eligible for the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme @Pam? 

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.

See if you can ask about this, then you might be able to claim back the cost of a taxi to take you to/from your blood test.

Alex_Alumni

Please do have a look @Pam I'm glad you're finding the community support so helpful  

Padraig

@Alex_Scope, @Pam

Its interesting to here how different GP surgeries operate. Mine has gone a radical overhaul during lockdown. It used to be face to face appointments only with emergency appointments on the day with the duty doctor. Now there are very few face to face appointments, many phone appointments and they have introduced a new online appointment system. You go online, outline your problem and your Dr will call you within 24 to 48 hours. I have to go in for an intra- muscular injection every nine weeks with the nurse and it’s like a ghost ship, the usually rammed car park empty.

I’m practically housebound but fortunate enough to have neighbours who give me lifts for injections/blood tests etc. There is also a volunteer group on a poster in the surgery which has a number you can call to be given a free lift to appointments. But I think this differs from area to area rather than the nationwide cost rebate Alex mentioned which I used once for a hospital appointment,

janer1967

@Pam most communities have a transport service for appt or even visiting and shopping 

Mine you pay an annual fee of £6 then they will pick you up door to door and they only charge very small amount to cover fuel you do have to pre book 

Social services should have details 

Also mentioned b4 about the care needs assessment you really should get this to help yourself you will be amazed what they can provide help with 

poppy123456

@Pam did you also consider reapplying for PIP?

poppy123456

Remember, you don't need a diagnosis to be entitled to PIP because that's not what it's about. Reading a lot of your comments, it seems obvious to me that you should be entitled to at least standard for both parts.

Padraig

@Biblioklept

They say the average wage is £28k per year but you need £30k to be comfortable. So twice that as a couple would be £60k. My disabilities keep me from working so can only dream of comfortable!

My partner and I are splitting up amicably and living in separate rooms in small house. We could not afford to rent separately. I can’t find any information on how the DWP views this and will pay change in benefits. As I said I can’t work and ex is a part time ICU nurse. We have asked to be assessed separately for tax. I get DLA Still, but this means I can claim housing benefit, ESA and council tax credit again. I’ve heard that they don’t like this set up, but we have no joint bank accounts, bills or children etc so separate lives. A friend of a friend said she did it and it went fine. But limited info I’ve found says they frown on living with ex. But she’s my best friend still despite parting and so a good house mate to rent with.

Quite stressed/nervous about approaching council/DWP without more info. Can any one share their experience or offer advice please.

poppy123456

@Padraig are either of you currently claiming any benefits at all? If so which ones please.

Maurice123

@biblioklept and @Padraig
Biblioklept I take your comment as perfectly fair, but to receive that amount of money without working is that fair?
The woman was talking about giving up work entirely because they could receive even more money by not working.
We all have to move if we cannot afford our bills. I have personally moved from the Tunbridge Wells area to North Devon. I am retired but my income is under £20,000 a year and at present receive no help from the state other than a winter fuel allowance. Both Padraig and you are unable to work so neither of you will receive as much money as this lady. Padraig I am sorry that you have been forced into your circumstances. Nobody ever mentions that probably the worst deprivation that a disabled person can have is lack of a close friend to discuss mutual problems with, and I am pleased that you have found a solution to yours as long as the DWP do not penalise you.
And Biblioklept I hope that you have kept to your word about no longer stealing books. I believe in your honesty. 

calcotti

Padraig said:

.. this means I can claim housing benefit, ESA and council tax credit again. 

Unless you are already claiming ESA you will not be able to claim it again unless you worked for at least six months in one of the two tax years 2019-20 or 2020-21 and have NI credits to make up those two years to a full NI record. Nor will you be able to claim Housing benefit unless you are already receiving it. You can instead apply for Universal Credit. You will need to declare your health condition when claiming. Council Tax Reduction can be claimed separately.

Even though you still live with your ex you can be treated as a single claimant but you should expect to be asked about your arrangements by DWP - you should separate out any shared finances.

For UC there is guidance here
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/661551/adme4.pdf

(Moderators - this thread has once again way off topic and you might want to separate bits out)

calcotti

Biblioklept said:

Maurice123 said:

You have all been reading the comments of problems in the disabled community. Well did anybody else hear the BBC report today of a woman who said a) She received £19,000 a year b) She received Universal Credit, c) She and her husband both had part time jobs d) She was considering giving up work with her husband because she thought she would receive more money from the state. E) SHE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY £25 a week for school meals for her 4 children. ie £100 a month out of her tiny income. She was demanding free school meals for her children. I take it all her children will grow up expecting to be kept by the state. Exactly who are the poor in this country?

I don't think that's fair without knowing more about her expenses and stuff, ..

The biggest problem with stories like this is that there are some people who can find themselves with considerable income on benefits but they are no representative. For example, a couple both with maximum PIP and on legacy ESA (both entitled to contribution based underlying the income based ESA) with double SDP and carer premiums would be faring very well financially. However such instances are unusual and should not be used to build up an argument that the benefits system is over generous. There will always be anomalies in any system. To which one might add that most people receipt of disability benefits would probably prefer to have their health.

Padraig

@calcotti
Apologies for taking the thread off topic. Thank you for your input. Our finances and lives are separate except that she financially subsidies me as my £620 DLA doesn’t cover half the bills plus as a nurse she acts as my career as I am practically housebound and some days bed bound, inject insulin 5 times a day on a Buprenorphine patch other pain meds and general meds about 25 a day plus Oramorph.

I don’t think this is fair and I should move on and give her financial and personal freedom back. Even apart it must be hard having an ex about let alone a disabled one. We’re friends still and she says at 60 not looking for another relationship so stay living separately as we are. We have separate lives she has friends she goes out with on her own, holidays on her own and a gym she goes to.

Thank you for the guide to UC. I shall read it this afternoon. I don’t even know if I can afford to live on my own as I live in North Hampshire and many commute to London, small one bedroom flats are £1200 a month to rent. Housing benefit was £325 a month. I will have to see what it is under U/C. Thanks.

Padraig

@poppy123456 thank you for your response and help.

We live in a housing association property but my name is not on the tenancy agreement, it wasn’t when I claimed Housing Benefit before so that’s a big change. Unfortunately, renting a room in a house is £400 to £450 here and often stimulates evidence of employment required. But the £334.91 won’t cover that anyway. I have checked with local council and there is a three year waiting list for a property. My disability and health conditions may mean I could be eligible for more points on waiting list. 

I am unfortunately unable to work and have been under the care of the pain team at the local hospital for the last four years. I have lumbar spinal injection blocks every six months as well as Buprenorphine, Tramadol and Amitripline, I had several major accidents and 14 gen anaesthetic ops plus Fybromygelia, diabeties and several other conditions. So though I want to work and miss it I am incapable and would be a liability.

Is the LCWRA  subject to NI contributions or means tested? Is it something I could claim now on top of my DLA for which I receive the higher component in both? I forgot to mention I get a basic contribution towards my NI/pension as well but can’t remember the correct name for it as I incorrectly called it pension credit before.

Thank you for sharing your considerable knowledge. It has helped me understand the rules. It would seem I am stuck between a rock and a hard place as I’m sure many are. I’m really not sure what to do at the moment but this helps, thank you for your time and patience.

poppy123456

Padraig said:

Is the LCWRA  subject to NI contributions or means tested? Is it something I could claim now on top of my DLA for which I receive the higher component in both? I forgot to mention I get a basic contribution towards my NI/pension as well but can’t remember the correct name for it as I incorrectly called it pension credit before.

LCWRA is part of Universal Credit (UC) and has nothing to do with NI contributions. UC is a means tested benefit just like the old legacy benefits such as ESA/JSA and Income Support. The only difference is that UC is one benefit with many elements.

This link will explain claiming UC with a health condition. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition

The only issue with claiming UC is that you'll be classed as a job seeker until a decision on your work capability assessment assessment says otherwise. It's a work coaches discretion whether they turn off or reduce commiments, some do and others don't.

For your NI contributions i'm assuming that your ESA remained as a credits only claim.

As you are not named on the tenacy agreement then i'm unsure if UC will include help with any rent. Is there anyway you can add your name to the agreement?

calcotti

Padraig said:

Is the LCWRA  subject to NI contributions or means tested? Is it something I could claim now on top of my DLA for which I receive the higher component in both? I forgot to mention I get a basic contribution towards my NI/pension as well but can’t remember the correct name for it as I incorrectly called it pension credit before.

LCWRA is part of UC. It is established by having a Work Capability Assessment which is exactly as the same as the process for establishing entitlement to being in the Support Group for ESA. It has nothing to NI contributions. 

Do you mean that you are still getting NI credits due to having been in ESA Support Group. If so you should be entitled to the extra LCWRA money from the start of any UC claim (but it might time them a while to sort it out). You should disclose your health condition when claiming UC. You should get a Fit Note from your GP to support your claim. You should inform UC that you are getting to NI credits because of already having been assessed to have LCWRA.

By default you are expected to claim UC online but if you cannot do that you can claim by phone. You can get help claiming
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/

Padraig

@poppy123456 and @calcotti

Thank you both for your time and input. I must admit the U/C system still seems straightforward in some areas but others quite complicated to me and some of the criteria open to interpretation. I shall read the links you have both supplied and try and get up to speed. Many thanks.

Maurice123

@calcotti and @Padraig
I cannot believe the difficulties that you are describing for others. The cost of renting in the West country is about 
£700-£1000 and there are good hospital facilities. Do not go to Cornwall. Too many people have gone to Cornwall for their holidays and think that it is a good place to retire to. It is not. The social services are completely overwhelmed.
However North Devon is still capable of delivering services except in obscure country areas. You need to move to receive better benefits. If you do not want to, and if you do not have family reasons why? The people I read about on screen have no friends but great problems with DWP and local issues. Apart fro the obvious difficulties in a move, but I think a combination of social services and council help could pay for those. It must be easier in my area than the other extremely expensive areas that people insist on living in. My area is much cheaper and very pleasant to live in than say areas on the fringes of London. If you say that you have to live in London because of the facilities I do not believe you. It is your fault if you complain about lack of money. You need to move. People are genuinely friendly in the West Country. i cannot say they are in the London area. If you think they are and still complain about lack of money then I have no sympathy. It is your hands to solve your problem.