Hi, sorry if this is a bit long winded, I'll try to keep it as short as possible, I'm new to here so please bare with me. I applied for DLA for my little girl back in January of this year and got my decision on the 26th of April this year to say she had been awarded low rate care. I appealed against the decision as I thought it was wrong and I received a letter from them a few days ago to say that they have changed their decision and put her onto middle rate care and low rate mobility from the 26th of February this year. My question is do DLA now have to backdate the difference between low rate care and low rate mobility back to the 26th of February and the low rate mobility back till then too? Hope that makes sense! Thank's in advance.
.....just realised I wrote that wrong! What I meant to put was the difference between low rate care and middle rate care.
Hi Ruby,
Yes you would be backdated the difference between the 2. I'm surprised they didn't tell you this in the decision letter. Well done and getting the decision changed at that stage, it's rare.
Yes you were lucky to get it turned around so quick with having to appeal, hopefully they will give you the backdated payments quite quick
Thanks very much for your reply. I must say I was shocked that they'd changed their decision and so quickly too! Do you happen to know anything about carers allowance at all please? I'm currently on esa and unsure how, or if, carers allowance can run alongside that? Thanks again.
Thanks very much for your reply. It was very quick given I only received a letter off them less than 2 weeks ago to say they were looking at my appeal and to allow 11 weeks for a decision! Thanks again.
You can't claim both Carers Allowance and ESA together, but you'd have an underlying entiltlement to it which is called a carers premium. I believe it's about £30ish per week.
Again, thank you for your reply. To be honest I've been claiming esa due to the stress of caring for my daughter and the stress of trying to get her diagnosed and the help that she need's which luckily my GP has seen and understood. I've got an appointment with the job centre this week so am going to speak to them about going onto income support now that my daughter has been awarded middle rate care and I'm now eligible to claim carers allowance for her. I've been reading through a few forums regarding carers and although most of them say different things a few are saying that carers allowance can be backdated as well? Do you know anything about that at all? Thanks again.
You're welcome. Yes it can be backdated but only for 3 months.
You would also need to claim it within 3 months of the decision to be eligible for the 3 month backdating.
I'll give them a call tomorrow. Thanks very much for your help