Pilot area

My current situation is that I am on DLA high rate care and mobility (indefinite awards since 2006)and incapacity benefit contribution based.

My younger son has now just joined his elder brother at university ,previously I had been in receipt of child tax credit and child benefit but now younger son has left school and moved into University Halls of Residence I am now living alone therefore I applied a couple of weeks ago for income support. I have been awarded income support with the severe disability element as no one receives carers allowance for me but the letter also stated that it was likely that I would be contacted to attend a work focused interview in 6 weeks time.
Also my Benefits office is Aberdeen which is one of the 2 areas that began the pilot study today so am concerned as to what implications this may have for me.

Wondering if there is any advice anyone can give me as to any preparations I should be doing.Would I have any grounds for exemption given my DLA award etc. thanks Laura

loz_scotland wrote:

My current situation is that I am on DLA high rate care and mobility (indefinite awards since 2006)and incapacity benefit contribution based.

My younger son has now just joined his elder brother at university ,previously I had been in receipt of child tax credit and child benefit but now younger son has left school and moved into University Halls of Residence I am now living alone therefore I applied a couple of weeks ago for income support. I have been awarded income support with the severe disability element as no one receives carers allowance for me but the letter also stated that it was likely that I would be contacted to attend a work focused interview in 6 weeks time.
Also my Benefits office is Aberdeen which is one of the 2 areas that began the pilot study today so am concerned as to what implications this may have for me.

Wondering if there is any advice anyone can give me as to any preparations I should be doing.Would I have any grounds for exemption given my DLA award etc. thanks Laura

Yes, you will be able to seek an exemption because as you receive the higher rate care component of DLA, you are exempt from the IB personal capability assessment. This will change however when you are migrated to ESA, unless you are placed in the support group

A factsheet produced by Disability Alliance explains the exemptions for work-focused interviews.