Surely there's benefits for people like me

[Bpdqueen]

I'm a single adult, kids moved out I work 30 hrs a week my take home pay after tax and NI is around £1000 4 weekly. My mortgage payments are £450 a month. Leaving £550 a month for all bills food petrol the only benefit I get is 25% of council tax which brings ct down to £100ish a month. I used to get working tax credit but I apparently earn to much I have lots of medical conditions but I don't think anything enough to claim pip as I'm Mobile and capable of looking after myself and working. Am I missing something or am I expected to be able to live on this.
Aibu - yes that's more than enough to live on.
Yanbu - no you should be entitled to help on such a low income

@Femalewoman

Friends daughter has PIP after a battle. She was on full DLA and mobility and is sever learning disabled and sever end of autistic spectrum (non verbal, unable to function without 24 hour care). Basically, needs full care, no communication, meltdowns, aggression, unable to be left alone, cannot wash/shower/dress without help. Very, very fixed routines etc and struggled to get the higher award. Crazy.

For someone who is mobile and able to work and needs no care to function then I wouldn't expect PIP to be paid.

On a separate point, if more hours are out of the question or a struggle then a lodger (tax free) might help?

My ex colleague was awarded it. She worked full time, and actually increased her working hours after applying for PIP. Could type all day long in her job , walk across town, communicate with clients, wash and dress herself. Has currently managed to travel to south america alone and unaided. I never quite understood how she got an award but I guess there must have bene something ?? I suppose we never know the difficulties others have.

@Babyroobs

Married with children ; PIP is not an earnings replacement benefit. If you cannot work at all because of disability then there are various other benefits you may be able to claim - Universal credit, or if you don't qualify for that due to savings or partners income then there is potentially contributions based ESA if you have paid enough NI contributions.

If PIP isn’t an income replacement benefit, what is it?

Because I genuinely have always seen people using their PIP as their income. Not let’s say as a way to help them to go to work or make adaptation to their house etc…

I did know you could work whilst receiving PIP. I’m just really surprised that you could get enough points if you are working full time, don’t need a carer with you etc…

Or maybe the issue here is that you need to know how to use the system and give the ‘right answer’. Which is crap btw because some people, like people with severe MH issues, will never be able to play that game. It’s too stressful/demanding for them to do that.

If you go for PIP try and get someone supporting f you to do the application, with experience. Makes a big diff

I earn more than that and get UC as a single parent, I get £625 a month with the housing element.

I’m sure you would be entitled!

PIP is not an earnings replacement benefit, it is a disability benefit. It is extra money to help with the additional costs that a disability brings, so for example if you can't walk far and need taxis to get you to work, or you need to pay for a carer, or you maybe need to pay for therapy or whatever or an electric wheelchair. No-one checks up what PIP is used for. I used to work with a young guy who was paralysed- he worked full time from his wheelchair but had a carer with him at all times to help with toileting etc.

Married with children - I do know what you mean though. I do sometimes find myself thinking that if working full time, what exactly are you scoring points on PIP for ? I guess it depends what work you do though. Obviously if you were awarded PIP for having difficulties with washing and dressing yourself yet were working as a carer then that is going to be contradictory. They do ask at these PIP assessments what people do for a job sometimes as part of getting an idea of what daily life looks like for them.

@SophieSoSo

I earn more than that and get UC as a single parent, I get £625 a month with the housing element.

I’m sure you would be entitled!

Yes you get it because you have a rent elment on your claim which op does not as she has a mortgage and you have a child element on your claim which op does not because she has no dependent children and you get a generous work allowance on your claim because you have a child which op does not get. So really your situation and hers are in no way comparable. She would not currently qualify for Uc unless she gets PIP awarded and then applies for UC and applies to be assessed for limited capability for workl.

But @Babyroobs the case of your guy needing a full time carer is very different isn’t it?

I’m reading all this and thinking ‘well stuff this. I need to apply to PIP and I ought to get too’.
I mean I have a chronic illness, bad enough that apart from a few hours of work p, I can’t do anything, not even cooking for myself.
But somehow I also know I’m very unlikely I won’t get it. Like the many other with a similar condition than me.

A friend of mine was receiving PIP. Her GP finally diagnosed her with fibromyalgia so she had to tell PIP. They then decided she wasn’t entitled to anything at all, despite the fact none of her symptoms changed. But she is exhausted, some times so exhausted she struggles to feed herself. So she won’t go to appeal.

I think it’s disgraceful

@SophieSoSo

I earn more than that and get UC as a single parent, I get £625 a month with the housing element.

I’m sure you would be entitled!

OP is not a single parent who is renting a house

Sorry Xpost @Babyroobs.

I think we are in the same lines really

Yes you are expected to live off this, and sounds more than manageable for 1 person !

@Babyroobs you’re absolutely right - that will teach me to skim read I never usually do that!

@MissMaple82

Yes you are expected to live off this, and sounds more than manageable for 1 person !

Have you tried to do it yourself @MissMaple82 or is it just a ‘feeling’?

@SophieSoSo

I earn more than that and get UC as a single parent, I get £625 a month with the housing element.

I’m sure you would be entitled!

You are a single parent which presumably means you have at least one dependent child. So you are entitled to the child element and the housing element (you must rent), and the OP is entitled to neither.

People really do give bollocks "advice" on here sometimes.

@MarriedThreeChildren

But *@Babyroobs* the case of your guy needing a full time carer is very different isn’t it?

I’m reading all this and thinking ‘well stuff this. I need to apply to PIP and I ought to get too’.
I mean I have a chronic illness, bad enough that apart from a few hours of work p, I can’t do anything, not even cooking for myself.
But somehow I also know I’m very unlikely I won’t get it. Like the many other with a similar condition than me.

A friend of mine was receiving PIP. Her GP finally diagnosed her with fibromyalgia so she had to tell PIP. They then decided she wasn’t entitled to anything at all, despite the fact none of her symptoms changed. But she is exhausted, some times so exhausted she struggles to feed herself. So she won’t go to appeal.

I think it’s disgraceful

Yes the guy in the wheelchair he obviously had a lot of care needs and wanted to and was able to work with support which is great, but I agree with some people it is hard to see how they qualify, which is what I meant about my ex colleague but I guess I don't know exactly how she qualifies, she must have put forward medical evidence which they accepted to be awarded the points for an award. Yes you should definitely apply for PIP - get some help with the forms. Good luck.

If you have borderline you should be entitled to PIP. Lots of my clients with BPD get it. It is widely recognised as one of the most difficult mental health disorders to live with. Citizens Advice or similar might be able to help you complete the form.

I think there should be help for you; but am almost definitely certain there isn’t.
We help support my aunt who has learning disabilities, can’t read/write, dyspraxia… but isn’t disabled enough for any benefits. The job she would be able to do is SO specific, it probably doesn’t exist. So, no benefits for you under Tory Britain. Just as well she was left a home from her dad - and we all help out with shopping, etc. She gets her pension now, at least.

Not a benefit, but if you have to get a lot of medication, have you looked into a prepayment card? It works out cheaper I think if you need more than 2 prescriptions a month. www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/prescription-prepayment-certificates-ppcs

I don't see an apology.
I doubt there will be one forthcoming for the personal insult, either.

Ty luckily I get free prescriptions now as I'm on levothyroxine for hypothyroidism but I use to do pre payment as I get 9 prescriptions weekly so wouldn't of been able to afford it without

Its what happens when you don't have children anymore. I'll be in the same boat in about 2 years. I'm retraining to increase my hours and income. Because that's how it works. You plan ahead. There is unfortunately a fine line between earning just under to qualify and way over to be able to live. Being right in the border won't work

@Bpdqueen

If you have read my previous posts you would understand why I can't do them things I'm trying here im working as much as I can but it's hard im exhausted all the time I can't stand for any length of time because of pots and cvd and get really breathless. I have days where I struggle to be around others or leave the house because of bpd and I need to sleep a lot to function due to bpd,pots,cvd and hypothyroidism and all the different meds im on makes me feel like a zombie. A lodger wouldn't be fair or safe on me or the lodger due to moodswings, breakdowns, outbursts ect caused by bpd. And downsizing wouldn't financially benefit me as the difference would be spent on moving costs.

@Bpdqueen you need to apply for PIP now, even by reading this one post it stands out to me that you would be entitled. I can give you some links that may help you to fill out the form. Seek guidance from your CPN and citizens advice as well. If you get the PIP this may then impact your entitlement to UC; as long as your savings are under £6k. If you get PIP apply for UC within 30 days of the award letter.

Start gathering together any reports you have regarding your various health conditions, current prescription list, hospital letters and so forth, you can get the CPN to write you a letter too. The form is very lengthy and takes time and consideration.

Phone them and ask for a claim form to be sent out. As far as I know any payment due will be back datable to the date the form is ordered (check that).

Read through the whole form. If you have a computer or can write on your phone do a draft for each question before filling in the paper form, this way you can review it and add in bits based on advice from citizens advice, CPN or other medical professionals you see. When you have it done get it all (form plus any evidence you have) photocopied or scanned so that you have a copy for future reference. This makes things easier if you are periodically reassessed as you have a starting point that will just need updated.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form-pip/

www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Claiming-Personal-Independence-Payment/Fill-in-PIP-form

www.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/default/files/pdf/PIPGuidetoclaiming24october%202018.pdf

It looks like your wage will go up about £150 a month with the increase to nmw this month

Your local CAB will be able to check your benefits entitlement. It looks like you should be on PIP and possible UC.