To not understand how can you live on £60 a week?

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19 year old DD's social worker has arranged for her to have chaperone at her UC appointments which means she can now claim. She has severe anxiety and cannot leave the house without another person much less speak to a stranger.

I've just helped her fill out a form on Entitled To to check how much she would get.

£60 weekly.

How the fuck is she meant to survive on £60 a week?

Does this mean HMRC still expect me to fund her?

Obviously I will but if I refused what the feck is she supposed to do? how can she eat and clothe herself on £60 a week? What about contributing towards gas and electric? Paying for her mobile phone? Accessing social activities?

I just don't understand how this can be deemed enough to maintain any kind of standard of living?

They asked for my income so I assume they've taken this into account. They didn't ask if I was related to her so would a friend also be expected to feed and clothe her?

Asking who is worthy is asking how long is a piece of string.
Benefits are not designed to fund social lives.

The principle behind the policy is that people should 'learn to cope' enough to get into work. That includes for example, people who have lifelong physically disabilities - UC assumes that people must adapt and adjust.

This isnt true though is it, people who have severe physical disabilities such that they physically cannot work get other benefits. My friends daughter has cerebral palsy, it impacts her mobility, speech, personal care, vision and other stuff too, she genuinely can't work at all. she gets various different benefits and it provides enough for her to live on as a young adult.

"They normally ask to speak to DD, DD refuses and we never see or hear anything of them again. I wasn't aware she was under SS until her new social worker called to introduce herself a few weeks ago"
Your daughter is an adult and without a formal diagnosis that is severe enough for her opinion not to be taken into account, social workers can't force her to talk to them or forcibly be involved in her life. She needs to want the help and cooperate or be so severe someone else makes the decisions on her behalf. I hope your daughter is accessing Mental Health support.

I think I understand now how the government get away with harming the most vulnerable in our society now!

When you have anxiety you don't get to pick what makes you anxious. She can't force herself to think "Oh, this person I've known since I was 6 is fine so a GP I've never met must also be fine."

Her anxiety is triggered by being out alone, having to speak to people she doesn't know, meeting new people even with trusted friends and family around, speaking on the phone to anyone even me and being in new situations. None of this prevents her from meeting friends at my house or their house or going to pubs she is familiar with a small number of close friends she's known since she was 4.

She does need serious mental health support and trust me when I say I have tried everything to try to access this for her. Without her consent all I can do is wait until she becomes ill enough to be sectioned.

She has a social worker because she is classed as being a vulnerable young person due to not being in education or work since she was 15. I asked for us to have a social worker because I wanted help from a professional in supporting her and she would not work with CAHMs or local charities.

I really, honestly do think vulnerable young people or young people out of work should be financially supported to have some semblence of a life including being able to afford the odd social activity. It's no wonder so many of our young adults suffer from anxeity and depression wiuth attitudes like those being shown on this thread.

I pay tax. I'd much rather my taxes go towards supporting people like DD than lining the pockets of BoJo and his mates.

The difficulty you have is that she would be entitled to more, due to being ill, if she could access PIP.

But if she won’t engage with services to do that, then she isn’t entitled to anything but the basic payment.

Other young people are in different circumstances and would get different amounts, depending on their needs, but none of it enough to be comfortable or have much for socialising.

I hope your DD can manage the appointment and the extra money helps you both.

I really, honestly do think vulnerable young people or young people out of work should be financially supported to have some semblence of a life including being able to afford the odd social activity.

I really, honestly do think vulnerable young people or young people out of work should be financially supported to have some semblence of a life including being able to afford the odd social activity.

And she probably would be if she applied through the official channels. She needs to want to. Does she realise that she can have more help if she does her bit?

I really, honestly do think vulnerable young people or young people out of work should be financially supported to have some semblence of a life she is though, she's getting the basic rate of support. If she wants more then unfortunately they will need some kind of proof, but the system is there. PIP could help her with access requirements to social activity if that's what she chooses to spend it on.

Why don't you think older people should be given money to go to the pub?

I really, honestly do think vulnerable young people or young people out of work should be financially supported to have some semblence of a life including being able to afford the odd social activity.

Sorry posted too soon. That's what PIP is for OP. There's another benefit she CAN claim, but she isn't claiming it

Are there any local mh charities who could advocate for her re. Pip. Would she engage with counselling? Would she engage with online courses or therapy to help her confidence?

Exactly this, the help is there, yes it's not great, but if she's entitled to more help the government can't just guess and give her more money, she'll have to apply for it.

UC is not designed for people to live on as their sole source of income indefinitely. It is designed to be a stop gap while people find work, or as a top up to people who are working.
If your DD can work, UC is only there to bridge a gap for a very short time.
If your DD cannot work, she needs to claim LCWRA and PIP. Both of these would increase her income and remove her responsibility to seek work.

When you have anxiety you don't get to pick what makes you anxious. She can't force herself to think "Oh, this person I've known since I was 6 is fine so a GP I've never met must also be fine." I absolutely get that, I have been there and I'm so sorry your daughter is going through this.

Don't want to sound harsh but if she is expecting enough money for a night out socialising then surely she can get to her GP and speak to someone regarding her anxiety?

So your argument is that every 19 year old should be paid a socialising budget whether or not they have medical certificate agreeing they have condition that prevents them from working? Yeah, I'm not voting for that.

So sorry to hear what he roast trauma has been, I would really urge her to get help by first visiting her GP and there is extra financial support from PIP if she is engaging with services.

I think the benefit system is dreadful in many respects, but I don't see that £60pw for a 19 year old who lives at home is unreasonable. Benefits aren't for nights out. You're suggesting that your daughter should get £400 plus per month!

Sorry that should say her past trauma

Trying to think of jobs she might be able to do - data entry is a good one? Or a paper round? Or in a kitchen washing the dishes? Or she might feel safer somewhere with more people around like the pub she knows or a supermarket?

As a student my son will (after rent is paid) be living on £60 per week. My daughter lived on a similar amount until she was able to increase her hours at work.

Food £30
Phone £2.50
Bills £10
Clothes/Toiletries £10
Social £10

Total £62.50

What a nasty thing to say. Like OP said anxiety can affect people differently day to day situation by situation.

I don’t doubt that your Dd has very real anxiety issues and that she may require mental health support. But if she is able to function enough to meet up with friends and socialise then she is able to do some part-time work from home whether that be data inputting or whatever. She chooses not to and you are enabling that. Lots of people who work full time have mental health needs.

Don't see why the youngsters should get all the fun.. make it a standard £20 a week for everyone to have a piss up