Sorry should have said I am receiving a company pension, could I be entitled to disability allowance with SLE

[Niokke]

Raynauds SS and SLE

[Tigerlily4]

Yes. Apply a.s.a.p!

[fabwheelie]

It is worth applying for social security benefits

DLA does not take other income into account, but they are strict on if you can get DLA in the first place (eg I don't get DLA but I do get ESA support group and I was retired due to ill-health)

ESA is also available if you can not work

- on "contribution based" ESA in the work related activity group (WRAG) part of your pension would be taken into account but you are allowed a certain ammount of pension not to "count" so you may still get some ESA money. In this group you are expected to prepare to return to employment

- after 1 year if on "contribution based" ESA in WRAG group the "contribution based bit ends and you apply for "income based" ESA. On income based ESA all pension income "counts" as income, and you are unlikely to get ESA money as well as an ill-health pension money

- This year rule does not apply if you get ESA "support" group payment and you probably would get some ESA money (adjusted to account for some of your pension income based on a rule where the first £85 does not count and then any pension over this goes into a calculation where some counts as income and some does not - I think it is half of the difference counts as your income)

[fabwheelie in reply to fabwheelie]

This blog has a usefull link to what "they score points for" in ESA assesment so may give you some way of knowing how to fit your symptoms and disabilities to the form -

lupusuk.healthunlocked.com/...

see this Lupus UK link for access to "benefits and work" publications for free -

lupusuk.org.uk/living-w...

[Melinda]

I get my state pension, plus a small private pension and low rate DLA.

[Herb]

DLA is not means tested it is not dependent on income or savings or whether you are in a couple. It is awarded on the basis of whether your disability affects your mobility or ability to care for yourself.