AIBU to claim UC with a 'high' income

If being eligible means you can have £150 off your heating bill like I have why wouldn't you?

It was a few months ago. I am not sure if they would get pupil premium or free music lessons but all pupils whose parents claim UC will get free school dinners from September next year (in England). This will save me about £50 a month.

I’m completely confused by this. After reading some of these comments I’ve just rerun a benefits calculator for our own circumstances.

I’ve run it in the past out of curiosity and it’s always said we aren’t entitled to any UC. I’ve just rerun it for our current situation and it’s saying we are entitled to a small amount of UC??!

I’m completely baffled by this. We do have more than 2 children but I used the entitled to calculator and that doesn’t appear to yet take into account the changes to the two children rules as it told me
in multiple places that these rules would apply to me.

Are these calculators not that accurate or something?

Wow where has it said this. I’ve a 13 and 16 year old at school. Get UC but earn too much for free meals. Oldest now gets the post 16 bursary so school do credit their account but still paying for meals for youngest. This would potentially make the school eligible for claiming pupil premium for them too?? Would also mean I’d get music lessons free as those on free meals get trips and extra curricular free as well.

DS1 will never be independent. In any shape or form. All professionals involved, and there are numerous, believe the same. That wouldn’t change even if you removed benefits. He has a complex mix of physical, medical, developmental and psychological disabilities. His needs would still be there. He has EOTAS because school/college is, legally, inappropriate. The provision in this package is 2:1 at all times. His needs are so complex he is in receipt of continuing care funding. Again 2:1. He requires care with all aspects of life. He can’t wash himself. He can’t even get himself in the bath. He can’t dress himself. He isn’t toilet trained. A week ago, he broke DH's nose when dysregulated.

DS3 will never be fully independent. Again, that is the opinion of all professionals involved. It isn’t just me saying it. Again, that wouldn’t change even if benefits were removed. He also has EOTIS with 2:1, and he is in receipt of social care support.

If you can afford not to then don't.
Because the Government say you can doesn't mean you should.
The whole system makes people dependent on so much. With little incentive to not be so.

If you're entitled to it, then yes, do it. It's up to them to make the rules that they think are appropriate. I'm not entitled because I'm self-employed, I could only get 12 months which helped while I built the business, but their rules are all a bit of a confusing mess so I would take it if they say yes.

I have 3 children and am completely against the cap removal. Especially after reading of the lady who is currently pregnant with 4th or 5th child, husband is off work with MH issues but can now afford Xmas!!!! Oh and she's set up a go fund me.
Look, if youre paying tax and paying into our system then you have every right to take what you are due. Because you've been paying into the pot prob all of your working life - so thank you xxx

Wrong. You don't have to actively apply for jobs until three. Before that is just getting ready.

So you would claim UC just because you can...still cant see how you qualify.
Just make sure that your children work as you did from age 15 becuase the debt burden being created by people like you will leave this country with nothing in the future.

^
This

Sorry my error, it's very late and I got it a bit muddled. At age 1 they will start being called in for meetings at the jobcentre.

According to the government website you have to start looking and attending appointments after baby turns 1 but you are not actually required to be in actual work until they're 3.

Don't go blowing your savings either as they won't pay out if they believe you have deliberately made yourself poor enough for benefits, its the 'deprivation of capital' rules.

The system often feels unfair but I can understand their reasons most of the time.

Its 3.

Before that, you are expected to 'prepare' to look for work but not actually do it.

Yep you can't save enough to buy a decent second hand car even if your disabled and really need one. The motability scheme is too expensive for many people.

Do you know how? I ‘migrated’ to uc from tax credits, not by choice I might add 🤣😭

You do have to start looking for work from your child's 1st birthday hence why they've bought in childcare for those over 9 months.

Why? PIP isn't taken away just because a young person is able to move into the workplace.

Some will absolutely be able to work but some won't.

I'm not sure exactly what the future holds for my son but do think it's unlikely that he'll be fully independent in the future. I'm not saying that because I want the PIP he's going to get anyway, I'm saying that because it's reality and I know my son's needs better than anyone.

Having a disabled or very ill child basically makes working full time imposdible. The amount of work that has to be put into.just keeping them at school - the demands you collect them at a moments notice and the endless meetings - make it hard to kerp a job unless you have an amazing employer who for some reason has no financial stress. Then there are the constant appointments and just the sheer exhaustion caused by worrying all the time. And the financial stress of not being able to work and paying for unfunded treatment and supports. That is why so many of us end up homeschooling - and the fact that our kids are being damaged by the school. And you have to basically start again every year because the schools don't pass on information and want the child to show they still need help by failing before help is given. So they consistently lose at least a term of learning every year plus a term to recover somewhat.

I have two disabled children, one of them we get DLA for and he’s in a special school. DH and I both work full time, DH on £62k and I’m on £42k (both before tax and deductions) and we’re entitled to nothing according to this calculator. Little savings and we rent. Never expected we would be entitled to anything but reading all the comments from people adamant that if you rent and have a disabled child you would be entitled to help I thought I’d check…nope.

Just to say not all SEN children who needed formal specified SEN education don't work. Many are able to take vocational courses, perhaps with support through college, and move on into the workplace. Slower than their peers but they are doing fine. I will say after many years in the SEN world the parents who state their children will never be independent are the families who receive PIP. I do wonder how that inability to be independent at all, in any shape or form, would look if PIP or equivalent funding was not available. I am no longer a believer in families being given large sums of untaxed money indefinitely. I think it encourages dependency.

If the law says you are entitled then you are. If you like you can take it and donate part to the local food bank or something to benefit other kids. It is like pensions - some people really don't need them but they are entitled to them and many donate the money. It can do more good in your community than sitting in the governmet accounts.

She has two disabled children.

That's why.

You'll need to be buying mumsnet chickens, the £600 per month UC you'll receive as a couple won't go too far.