What benefits can a single father claim

[XStardustX]

Asking for a friend.
He dosent work as he has an injury and can't work and suffers from really bad anxiety around people, he dosent really go out of house. He already gets benefits. Not entirely sure but i I think he gets pip anyway. Not sure what else.
I'm just wondering what all would he be entitled to? So that I can mention this to him.he lives in Swansea so Welsh government if that helps.
He just told me today he got paid and all his money went on bills. He's had no food for the past week and I had to lend him a tenner to go to the shop to buy some food. He has two children. 14 and 11 , two boys who stay at weekends but he told me he hasn't been able to have rhe boys around in few weeks because he hasn't had any money to buy any food for the house to feed them. Can't he get like any child benefit? Or is it only the mother could claim that since they are with her full time and his Friday to sunday

Not if he's on benefits he doesn't!
He would be far better having the children 50/50 and claiming child benefit for one of them. Be could then claim the child allowance on uc for one of them

Please don't get him to push for 50/50 as suggested by PPs if he doesn't really leave the house, I know not a popular opinion but just to get more money that would be cruel for the children. If he can't afford to feed them on the few days he does see them then surely there needs to be discussions around whether karate etc is affordable? Just as if 2 parents were still together there are times these difficult decisions need to be made. He should also speak to CAB or similar to check he is getting what he can, but i think having them just occasionally won't make a huge bearing on his entitlement.

OP, you're wasting your time asking on here. So many posters are Anti-men they'll just pick at everything you say. He needs to get an appointment with the CAB.

get help for anxiety.
get a job.
Pay for his children and go back to regular care for his kids. He can’t just decide not to parent them or feed them.
He’s not had residential care for weeks, he needs to channel his lifestyle. I think the mum is being fair if she’s still supporting access. Especially as he’s hardly leaving house.

• change

I suggest he uses the benefit calculator to work out what benefits he MIGHT be entitled to and speak with a disability benefits advisory service. Some like citizens advice are open to all, some offer advice around specific disabilities. Depending on his PIP a he may be able to claim additional allowances. As an example my eldest son is in the support group for ESA so can claim severe disability premium on top of the extra premiums allowed through his income related benefit. he also gets additional housing benefits and has been able to apply for some dispensations around his utilities. This has been organised with support from his support team. If access to food for himself has become an issue check if you have a ‘Local Pantry’ scheme. It’s a step up from food banks, you pay an annual sub to join, pay a weekly sub and can then choose a number of items from food in the pantry. Rough guide you can get £20 of food for £3 per week. Citizens advice et al should be able to signpost to local support around food access.

In the short term a food bank but in the longer term he needs to look at budget. If they were living together and unable to feed the dc then the piano lessons would have to stop. This is what needs to happen so he can reliably have his dc. Only nrp's have the option to simply not have dc or not feed them the rp has to make the tough decisions and as rp it will still be mums final say whether they stop or she takes over payment. Certainly doesn't sound like he's in a place currently to be able to take on 50/50 or sole care just to get a bit extra money as some pp's are suggesting.

Does the mother get that choice? No somehow she just has to make it work.
The dad gets to pick and choose and still
claims to be a great father who fully financially provides for his kids. Hmm

This would've gone so differently had the question been about a woman.

Anyway. Unfortunately pretty much fuck all because nobody gives a toss about single people. But Citizens Advice is the best bet as they'll be able to properly advise.

She just has to “make it work” with the lions share of his income plus her own income and all the child benefit. Real tough that. 🙄

You'd get better advice if you gave factual information, he isn't a single father, he barely sees his kids. Single people recieve a small amount on benefits, he would be best looking into what work he can manage. Maybe a home computer based admin or call center job.

@BillBillaBongGirl you are determined to paint the picture of a poor man being taken complete advantage of by the mother of his children here. Do you know him?

Realistically, he probably gives her a few pounds a week.

I am countering your determined character assassination of a man that the OP has told us is a decent disabled father who is trying his best by pointing out the inconvenient facts the OP has told us which do not fit your profile of deadbeat doesn’t give a shit, doesn’t contribute absent father.

That’s not what the OP has said. Are you calling her a liar?

If the mother is such an incapable parent, as per your post, then he would be fighting for full custody, if he is such a good parent. It sounds like you are only hearing his side.

To answer the question, a single father can claim the same benefits as a single mother, if he has custody. He doesn't, so cannot. He would do best by trying to improve his situation and finding a job. Many working from home jobs available currently.

I'd say her friend is somewhat economical with the truth.

So why is he not the resident parent?

In that case, crack on 😬

Check he is getting UC, I applied for it and I was told I was not entitled. TWO YEARS later when the covid uplift came in I applied again and this time I was eligible. I had to argue and involve the CAB but they did backdate my claim as my circumstances had not changed.

Because I wasn't getting UC I had to pay full council tax.

ESA is being abolished next year, I believe, so it will just be UC. Or they are changing the rules or something.

He might be better off buying food and running up arears with some bills. All the water companies have funds to write off arears and you cannot be cut off if you are disabled.

Yes I know that is drastic.

There are social tariffs for internet access, all providers have them but don't advertise them so he should look into that.

Olio for free food if he can pick it up and 'too good to go' for cheaper food are useful.

Check if he has a local community shop / larder / fridge for cheaper food or free food.

He's a single person living solely on benefits so will have a low income. the lions share of that income will be going in rent. There is no realistic way most of his income is being handed over to his ex.

Gosh there are a lot of judgy people here who like to project their own issues !

I'll try and answer the question as asked ,

In general there are no benefits available to non resident parents. Although maintenance is reduced for overnight care .

If he is unable to work but worked in the 2 tax years prior to his claim for social security. Then he should be on Employment Support allowance. This needs checking as DWP have recruited a lot of new staff who do t know the rules sufficiently so just dump e everyone on UC..

UC is meanstested Employment Support allowance (contribution based ) is not. It is paid at two rates. The rate prior to the assessment of fitness to work and the rate after that assessments. The assessment is called a work capability test and evaluates if someone is fit for any form of work. The pre assessment rate is £84.80 and if found not fit then it goes up to £129.50.

If insufficient ni paid prior to illness then he will go on to basic UC and have to provide sick notes . The Work capability test is meant to take place after 13 weeks but offten gets missed off. The monthly rate on Uc is £374 & £390. .06 if found unable to work. Check he has both elements.

So his income should look like this (if too sick to work )

Either
ESA £129 per week
Plus housing if he pays rent *
Plus UC top up

Or

UC made up of
Personal allowance
Health addition
Housing *

PIP is paid on top.

• housing . If I'm social housing all should be paid. If in private it will be paid at the max for the area.

The only 'extra' available would be a discretionary housing grant from the council to help with the difference between the private housing allowance and the actual rent.

There are also passport benefits such as glasses, subsidies for public transport in some areas and free prescriptions.

I’m always fascinated by people who live such black and white lives as post on here.

Is the OP in full command of the facts of the parent’s relationship? Probably not. Is it possible during a cost of living crisis that a disabled father might not have enough money to feed himself let alone his two kids each weekend? Absolutely. Do we have any more to go on than the information provided by OP here? Absolutely not.

People need to open their eyes to what really goes on in the UK. So much speculation and fantasy without any basis in the facts presented here. Not every disabled father with non-resident children is a feckless waster, making lifestyle choices. Disability isn’t a lifestyle ffs. Stop reading the daily mail and go volunteer with CAB to hear the real horror stories of people trying their best - then do something to promote a caring society where we help those who have fallen on hard times rather than shitting on them.

People need to open their eyes to what really goes on in the UK. So much speculation and fantasy without any basis in the facts presented here. Not every disabled father with non-resident children is a feckless waster, making lifestyle choices.

I'd argue that paying for piano lessons whilst being able to provide basic food is indeed a lifestyle choice and not a sensible choice

I think its pretty bloody obvious she doesn't get the "lions share of his income".