Our clients have 4 children, one of whom receives the higher rate Disability Living Allowance

Client Profile: 

Our clients have 4 children, one of whom receives the higher rate Disability Living Allowance (DLA) due to her health conditions. The parents claim Carer’s Allowance, Child Benefit (CB) and Universal Credit (UC).

Reason why client needs advice: 

Our clients were struggling financially and were referred to us by Harlow Council for income maximisation advice.

What we have done to help the client:

During the client's income maximisation appointment with Citizens Advice Harlow, our adviser identified the client was not receiving the correct amount of UC. Within the UC award the client was given the ‘disabled child element’, however as the child was receiving the higher rate of DLA, she should be receiving the ‘severely disabled child element’ which is a higher award. 

This was flagged in the client's UC Work Journal, the DWP (Department of Working Pensions) agreed with our findings and a back payment of £5,500 was sent to the client. Our adviser identified this was still not the correct figure, a meeting was set up between the DWP, Client and our adviser.  The DWP agreed with our adviser and an extra £2,300 back payment was made to the client. 

Outcome:

• Clients received £7800 in backdated Universal Credit

• Clients are better off by £280.00 per month now they are receiving the correct amount of Universal Credit