Family Rights Group | Parents’ Forum

Could anybody give me any advice on what should
happen with a child’s DLA claim whilst they are on an ICO at a specialist residential placement please? I fear I may have been given the totally wrong information by the social worker since he was placed there at the end of March. They had told me I needed to give the payments to the residential placement for him, which I didn’t have a problem with as it’s his money but have now got a new social worker who I’ve only met once and she’s now said the carer should be the one to claim DLA for him, which I’m not even sure he has a specific carer as he’s in a specialist residential placement.

Dear Its-me-again

Welcome back to the parents’ board and thank you for your post,

You have been given different information by two different social workers about DLA payments for your son who is in a special residential placement. He is on an interim care order.

We have an advice sheet 1a) what happens to a parents’ benefits when a child goes into care. The issue of DLA is addressed on page 9 of this advice sheet. There is also further information on page 17 when children are looked after in residential placements because of their disability.

Parents should always contact the disability benefits centre that pays the DLA and the carers’ allowance unit if receiving carers’ allowance.

It is a good idea to contact these agencies directly:

For the Disability Benefit Centre: 0345 605 6055
Disability Benefit Centre 4, Post Handling Site B, Wolverhampton, WV99 1BY
For the Carers’ Allowance Unit: 0800 731 0297
Freepost DWP Carers Allowance Unit

There is likely to be a nominated person at your son’s residential placement with responsibility for DLA. You may also want to discuss with them what the protocol is as they may be very fmiliar with the processes involved.

Once you have clarified, I would suggest that you send an email to the social worker updating them about your son’s DLA.

I am adding a link to welfare rights advice services here too.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie