Income Support with Bereavement Benefit.

I have a client who until her husbands death last August was receiving Severe Disability Allowance. This has been changed to Bereavement benefit which is less than her SDA. She has high rate Disability Living Allowance both care and mobility.  is she entitled to Severe Disability Premium paid as Income support to allow her to receive her full applicable amount of money.

Hi,
If your client has HRC and lives alone and no-one claims CA for them then their applicable amount is:
Personal Allowance £71
Disability premium £28.15
Severe Disability Premium £58.20
Enhanced Disability Premium £14.80
Income Support Applicable Amount Total £172.15

Because your client is entitled to 2 overlapping benefits (bereavement allowance and SDA) the conts-based benefit (BA) is paid first. If this is less than the non-contributory benefit (SDA) then the BA should be topped-up by SDA to ensure they receive the SDA rate.

The BA/SDA income should then be deducted from the applicable amount and the difference paid via IS.

Many thanks that has been most helpful.  I thought that was the case but the DWP seem to think differently. Will try again.