Getting Financial Help
If you have a perinatal or postnatal illness you may qualify for a sickness benefit. On this page we will give help on the benefits you could get, starting with Disability Living Allowance.
Applying for Disability Living Allowance for Adults
What is Disability Living Allowance?
Disability Living Allowance is paid to an individual who needs help to look after themselves or supervision to avoid dangerous situations.
There is also an extra mobility payment for people who have difficulty getting round.
- Anybody who meets the criteria and is under the age of 65 can apply.
- It does not matter how much you earn. It is a flat-rate benefit.
- Being in receipt of disability living allowance does not mean you are classed as registered disabled. You do not have to tell your employer.
Could I or a member of my family be entitled to this?
If you meet one of the following rules you could be entitled to Disability Living Allowance.
- Your illness/disability means you need help with bodily functions. (This includes dressing, bathing, eating, seeing, hearing, walking, going to the toilet, getting in bed etc. However it does not mean cooking or shopping.)
- Your illness/disability means you need supervision to avoid a substantial danger to yourself.
- You are terminally ill.
- You are over 16 but because of your disability could not prepare a cooked main meal for yourself if you have the ingredients.
Bear in mind that unless you are terminally ill you need to have met one of the conditions above for at least 3 months before you make a claim and must be likely to continue to meet one of the conditions for at least 6 months after the date you make the claim.
A wide range of conditions could fall into the above categories.
For example you could be depressed, have a learning disability, be undergoing treatment for an alcohol or drug problem, or have a physical condition. If you have an illness that varies in its severity (such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy etc) then it is still worth applying if you meet one of the conditions for more than half of the time.
How do I apply?
- You can pick up a form at the jobcentre.
This is a good option as they will date stamp it for you. If you send it in by a date 6 weeks after the date you picked it up, they will backdate any payment to the date you picked it up. - You can download a form on the internet at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/disability_liv_allowance.asp
- You can phone the disability living allowance enquiry line and ask them to send you a form. Call 08457 123 456.
Who can help me fill it in?
- You could visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau for help.
- In the Derybshire Dales Area, Signpost can help you.
- You can find information on websites to help you: http://www.bhas.org.uk/ is excellent. http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/ also has useful information.
Before you send it off...MAKE SURE YOU KEEP A PHOTOCOPY.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE EVEN IF YOUR CLAIM IS SUCCESSFUL, IT IS LIKELY YOU WILL BE ASKED TO COMPLETE ANOTHER ONE IN THE FUTURE.
Afterwards
- Keep your photocopy and all the information you receive about your application together in a safe place.
- If your claim is not successful and you want more advice contact the Citizens Advice Bureau.
PNI-UK would like to thank Beth Lawrence and Derbyshire Dales CVS for their kind permission to reproduce this information from their website.
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