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Severe
Disablement Allowance What is it? It is a non-means tested weekly cash Benefit for people aged between 16 — 65 who have been unable to work due to illness or disability for over 28 weeks and who have not paid the required national insurance contributions to qualify for Incapacity Benefit. Although the qualifying conditions have been tightened lately. There are still many people who should claim. You should claim now if you are under 20 or over 20 but been unable to work before your 20th birthday or you have the high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, or are registered as blind, or have been assessed as 80% disabled for Industrial Injuries or War Disablement Pension schemes or you have a vaccine damage payment. Severe Disablement Allowance consists of a basic £51.05 weekly, plus a possible age addition at £17.75, £11.40 or £5.70 depending on your age when you first claimed. Possibly partner and child additions depending on partners earnings. Your local Welfare Rights office have been actively encouraging as many people to claim S.D.A before it was abolished for new claims from July 5th 2001. They have helped over 300 hundred people claim this benefit before it was abolished. Many people under 20 and some under 25 will be able to claim Incapacity Benefit for Youths now that this benefit is no longer available to them. Frequently Asked Questions Q. I meet none of the above conditions. Does that mean I do not qualify? A. No. It just means that you will have to be assessed as 80% disabled by the Benefits Agency before qualifying.
Q. My son is disabled and almost 16. He will be staying on at school after the summer. Can he claim S.D.A? A. If his doctor gives him a sick line backdated for 28 week and he spends less than 21 at school he should qualify. If he spends over 21 hours at school then the type of education he is receiving would decide his entitlement. If his education was over 21 hours but was unsuitable for someone of a similar age without any physical or mental disability then this would not stop his claim. If they were unable to claim then they could possibly claim Income Support which has easier qualifying conditions for disabled 16 year olds.
Q. My husband work full time does this stop me getting S.D.A? A. No. Your partner’s earnings do not effect your entitlement. Although his earnings could stop or reduce any increases paid for him or any children.
Q. I have Income Support, but also have the high rate care component. Would it be worth me claiming S.D.A? A. Yes. S.D.A is non-means tested, so if for any reason your Income Support was to be stopped in the future due to other income or savings you would be left with no income. If you claim S.D.A. now you will always have this income regardless.
Q. Will claiming S.DA effect my assessed charge from the social work for my home carers? (D+G only) A. No. A claim for S.D.A will at this time have no effect on your care charges as it does not count as income in the Social Work means test. It could well reduce your assessed charge if you switch S.D.A. for another Benefit that does count in the means test. Seek advice.
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DISCLAIMER - Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, we cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences. The information should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law. If you wish to know more about your benefit rights, you should seek independent advice. |