DLA carerers allowence and IVA

A question about : DLA carerers allowence and IVA

Hi

We are 3 years into a 6yr IVA (they added an extra year as our payments went down)

our son has just been awarded DLA and i have been awarded carers allowence i have informed IVA people and now have to wait to do a phone interview with them next week. I am worried that they will take all of 'his' money and we wont be able to afford the things the consultant suguested.

How much can they take of this son gets 76. p/week and ca is 61.35 a week.

my other son is currentley being assesed for austism, and DH is at high risk of redundancy finds out next week.

Best answers:

• Hi,
  The full amount of both the incomes (the DLA and the carers allowance) will be taken into account as income on your IVA. However there should also be a DLA cost on the expenditure side of the income and expenditure.
  For the DLA cost you will need to provide a breakdown of what this will be used for approximately as some of these costs may be accounted for elsewhere on the income and expenditure (for example some people with DLA have higher heating costings which is an expenditure already). So for example, Ј50 per month for specialist shoes, Ј70 per month for social clubs to aid communication skills, Ј20 per month as have to use a laundry service.... this is all just random examples of what I have seen in the past, obviously yours will be relevant to your sons condition that has meant he has been awarded the DLA.
  It is best to be prepared and have the approximate list for when you speak with the IVA company. I am presuming none of the extra expenditures are already accounted for and these are items you will put into place following the consultants advice.
  Your carers allowance will be taken into account in full as this is your income. Other this compensates for not being able to find employed work due to your commitments as a carer so is right to be classed as an income and may result in an increase in payments. However I would check your current income and expenditure and make sure it is accurate, if anything has increased (utility bills, rent/mortgage) have the evidence ready to send them when the you do the phone interview. Likewise if other items like your housekeeping has increased have the new figures ready to advise them on the phone interview.
  Hope that helps
• I have recently started receiving carers allowance at the rate of Ј61.35 per week this is my sole income am I entitled to anything else I care for a 75 year old lady and I am a 63 year old male with no other income
• Try contacting turn2us via the internet, they are free and will do a full benefits health check for you.