Will my son lose DLA?

Question

My severely disabled autistic son will shortly be entering weekly residential boarding school 5 nights a week. He receives high rate disability living allowance and mobility allowance. I use the mobility allowance to pay for a car for him. Of course I will have to declare to the Department of Work & Pensions that he will be entering residential - will he lose ALL of his allowances and the car? Also will I lose my carers allowance?

Answer 1

Sorry to disagree with everyone but because it is a boarding school and his registered address is still with you and you will be having him weekends/school holidays etc. I don't think you lose any money. If he was living permenantly in a residential home who you had given parental responsibility too it might be different but again, check out the disability website.

I also get Carers Allowance and the rules say that you have to look after the person you get carers allowance for for more than 35 hours a week. If your son is with you all over the weekend - including nights, this is more than 35 hours - around 48 hours and tripple that in the holidays! so, on paper, you should be able to keep this.

You don't say how old your son is so I am assuming he is still under 18 and not going to an adult training college.

Answer 2

Hello Ali the rules are you must care for the disabled person for at least 35 hours per week and if he comes home friday and goes back Sunday night or on day morning you should still be ok to keep your carers allowance. Your son still has his disablility so yes he will still keep his DLA however who it goes to is the question and the same rules apply you are caring for him more than 35 hours per week.

I know that you will have to declare to them all what is happening but think you should keep it if you look after him for 35 hours or more per week if not then the school may get it.

A friend of mine kept her motability car and carers allowance but had to appeal against the decision.Her daughter was only 10.I take it your son is under 19 so I would phone their free phone line for advise if I was you.
I hope resedentual schooling helps it helped my friends daughter lots.

Answer 3

Hi there ... i don't think your son will lose his disability because he is still disabled just because he doesn't live with you he will still need his money to live on, if you still care for your child more them 35 hours a week you will still get carers allowance but because hes in residential care the hours you look after him will still have to be 35 hours or more to get carers, as for the car you will still need it for your son in fact he does pay for this from his money
good luck

Answer 4

Hi my son goes to residential school, hes deaf and gets highest rate care, i get what they call boarder payments, i fill out forms for the time hes at home, dont know about the carers allowance as i get widowed mothers allowance, and i dont have a car. Hope this helps a little!!

Answer 5

you will lose your carers allowance as he is in residential school unless you can prove you have him over 35 hrs a week non stop care. his dla will be the same although you may lose the car and have to put some of the dla towards his schooling.

Answer 6

since he's not living with you technically i would say you would lose all but the car. i could be wrong but if he's not technically living with you i'm not sure that you should need all those allowances. you will still need the car to transport him when you have your time with him. they may give you an allowance for the residential boarding school. though forgive me for being blunt, i think it's terrible when parents do this with their disabled children. i work with autistic children and having as much parent involvment possible is the best chance they have. schools can only do but so much the rest is up to the parents. i understand the difficulties in raising a severely autistic child but the benefits you and your child get out of having them at home very much outweigh the ease of putting them in facilities like that.

Answer 7

there is a free helpline but things like long stays in hospital etc can affect DLA so it may also affect it in this case, try to phone the free number as you will need car etc for weekends and school holidays so there must be rules for this. Good luck and wish your son all the best in his new school.

Answer 8

in spite of the certainty that very complicated to assert yet from what you have mentioned your son appears like he has autism,,this has such an endless spectrum that incredibly you elect expert help,,its very complicated getting the diagnosis,,i understand cos it took us 3yrs to get my hubby asperges shown,,yet as quickly as you're interior the equipment it works nicely,,,i might think of which you will have the means to declare dla,,,in spite of the undeniable fact that dont fill the types in your self,,get someone from the council to fill sort in,,we utilized thrice and refused in the past we've been given help with the style,,curiously there are key phrases you are going to be able to desire to assert good success,,be pushy

Answer 9

please go to the citizens advice bureau for impartial, legal advice and also for your rights as a carer!! Keep your chin up and keep being the best mum you can some people on here don't have a clue about autism and how difficult it is to live with. take care x

Answer 10

I believe the money you are receiving is for your son living in your home and when he moves to the RTC the money should go for his board and care and other personal needs in his new "home." Sorry but you will have to find other means to pay the bills that are only for you.