If you think your child may qualify for DLA you can get a claim pack from your local Benefits Agency or by telephoning the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00 or 0800 24 33 55 (minicom).
If you have trouble completing the DLA claim form then you can make an appointment at your local Benefits Agency and they will help you; you may also like to contact The Carers Project on 01452 386283 or ask your health visitor or social worker, who may be able to help.
The National Deaf Children's Society have published a booklet called Disability Living Allowance-a guide to filling in the DLA claim pack. This booklet is available by phoning the NDCS on 020 7250 0123 (voice and text)It is important for parents and carers to note that if your child is claiming the Working Tax Credit parents/carers will lose any Child Benefit for that child and any other Disabled Child Premiums they were previously entitled to.
However if your child is in full-time education, then you can still claim under the Child Tax Credit for that child. This will include any additional elements payable under the Child Tax Credit if your child has a disability or a severe disability. You will of course still be able to claim Child Benefit until the child leaves full-time education. Full-time education is up to and including 'A' Levels, NVQ level 3 or Scottish Highers.
If you are thinking of staying on to study at college after you finish school, then you might be able to get some help through Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
EMA is a weekly payment of £10, £20, or £30 a week depending on your household income. The money is intended to help with the day-to-day costs of staying at school or college e.g. travel, books and equipment.
If you have any queries or you would like to request an application form, contact the EMA Helpline on 0808 10 16219 or visit the website www.dfes.gov.uk/financialhelp/ema.
If you were previously in receipt of the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) or the Disabled Persons Tax Credit (DPTC) this will transfer over to the Working Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. The Child Tax Credit is a payment to support families with children and is made up of different elements. If you have a child with a disability, you can claim an additional Disabled child element for each child in your family that has a disability. If you have a child who has a severe disability, then you can claim a severe disability element in addition. To qualify for the Disabled child element your child needs to be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or is registered blind, or has been in the last 28 weeks. To qualify for the Severely disabled child element then each child must be in receipt of the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance.
The Working Tax Credit is a payment to top up the earnings of working people on low incomes. You can get this credit if you don't have children. To qualify if you do not have children, you need to be aged 16 or over and work at least 16 hours a week and have a disability which puts you at a disadvantage of getting a job, or if you are 25 or over and work at least 30 hours a week, of if you are 50 or more and work at least 16 hours a week and are returning to work after time spent on qualifying out-of-work benefits.
If you are responsible for a child you can claim Working Tax credit if you are aged 16 or over and work at least 16 hours a week.
If you haven't already received an application form for the above tax credits please contact the Inland Revenue on 0845 300 3900. Alternatively you can contact The Key Co-ordinator on 01452 336104, as I have got a supply of claim packs. The Key Co-ordinator can also help you obtain information on any other benefits you might be interested in. You can contact The Key on 01452 336104 or by email us via our contact form.
The Key Co-ordinator
GUiDE
FREEPOST SWC 3508
Gloucester
GL1 2ZZ
The Key Co-ordinator has access to Funderfinder, which is a database of hundreds of trusts and charities. If you are looking for funding, whether it is to buy equipment, to help pay for respite care or to fund a holiday, you can contact The Key co-ordinator who will ask you a few questions about your personal circumstances, and then Funderfinder will provide details of the organisations who might be able to help. Phone The Key co-ordinator on 01452 336104 for more details.
If you or someone living in your property is disabled you may qualify for a disabled facilities grant towards the cost of providing adaptations and facilities to enable the disabled person to continue to live there. Such grants are given by local councils under Part 1 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. (DoE and WO, 1996).
A referral for a Disabled Facilities Grant must come through an Occupational Therapist. If you are not already in contact with an Occupational Therapist, contact the Children and Families Helpdesk on 01452 426565.
Contact The Key co-ordinator or your local authority for more details:
