Benefits reduction

[Bonsaitreepic]

I got my UC payment today. Just checked and it’s almost £300 less than usual. This is because my oldest is now classed as an adult as he’s left ft education. He’s not currently in work.
I have 3 other children but now I seemingly only get support for 2 of them due to the child cap.
Im freaking out. I only get maintenance for one of the children as I have the other 2 50/50 with their dad. I cannot afford to lose this much money every month. I was already struggling as it was. I’m unable to work just yet as one of the children has complex needs. I already get some DLA for them.
im quite sure there’s nothing I can do about this but I’m so worried

My neighbour left his job in June 2022.. He is 35 and is fit and pretty healthy, can drive and has a car. After a short time he started claiming Job Seekers. He claimed that about 7 months and then, because he was not happy that they wanted him to find a job, he went to his GP and claimed he was badly depressed and suffering panic attacks and anxiety and struggled to leave the house.

He is now getting benefits. He tells me it is UC. This is supposedly because he can't work because he can't leave his house.

He actually works cash in hand and has done since he first left his job. He works at least 3 days a week but sometimes 4 or even 5 days a week.

He is quite open about all this. I asked him if he had to go for a medical and he said no because he had a sick note from his GP.

Goodness, this is meant to help the OP!
On that note, I think @Princessandthepea0 you've done so well to achieve everything you have :) its hard to work and study without kids, let alone children plus disabilities. While study is a long term solution, its worthy to mention that thinking about other possibilities for your own future is important to do now, I wish I hadn't delayed things myself. I think its a genuine question to ask, who provided the care for your children while you were working and studying? the Op's has complex needs, but might there be something available to help her to study?

Na you’re alright thanks. It wouldn’t hurt my argument at all. I’ve already given enough of my life story on a public thread to be outing to those that know me. All because of a simple comment about how op needs to future prof. That’s all.

Called ableist and accused of demanding op work. All bollocks. I said she would be wise to look to the future. I can’t help the poor reading comprehension on this site.

If you genuinely wanted advice how I went from homeless, single mother to disabled children who worked and studied a ‘full time degree’ I’d help you via pm. You don’t want help though you’re trying to prove some point. I also have a friend who followed in my foot steps and did the same thing. There are options out there.

I mean you’ve just proved it yourself. You are goading more info out of her in the expectation it will hurt her argument. Although it hasn’t so far has it, because she has jumped every hurdle (was it full time, did she work, was she single).

I did distance study as no-one could look after my children outside of their setting.

Its such a shame this has descended into arguments as there might just be something truly helpful in @Princessandthepea0 success story! Its really good advice to suggest study, although not a short term solution, I think that is already found by adjusting her son's contributions, but long term help is definitely worth thinking about now.

It has though, because she's claiming that she worked full time and studied full time at the same time(?) so clearly somebody else was taking care of three disabled children during her full time work and full time study. She doesn't want to say, there's clearly a reason for that. It's not outing to say that her mum did it, or that she paid for a nanny.

oh thank you @Princessandthepea0 I think in the particular case of the OP her child requires her care, but I may have that wrong. Congratulations too btw :)

Report him anonymously then if you think he is commiting benefit fraud. However on UC even if people have had a work capability assessment and been deemed unfit for work they can still start work and continue to claim that extra money until re-assessed.

I didn’t. My mum hahahaha homeless at 16. What is your problem? They were right you don’t want advice. You want to prove it’s not possible. Sorry to disappoint.

No it seems people can’t help the poor reading comprehension skills on here when it is so poor they can’t even comprehend what order posts were posted in.

So how did you do it then? You've been so evasive about it that it's clear you don't want to help, just boast!

I’ve told you. Not my problem you can’t or haven’t read my posts is it?

Where? I obviously can't read :)

Clearly :)

Clearly this is an emotive subject. Having disabled children can be hard and more challenging, so its understandable that people will find it hard to hear things that aren't possible in their situation. Some children who have disabilities are able to find appropriate schools and care, some don't and their parents provide all their care.

Ah! Found it. You worked a full time job and studied full time 9-3! Congrats 😂

Oh, just stop it, will you? 🙄 You're not showing yourself in a particularly good light.

@Princessandthepea0 honestly not trying to hassle you in any way, but I also didn't see in your posts anything about childcare with a full time job and study. I just made the assumption you had school places appropriate for your children and some care after school.

I am sure that even with three disabled children there are moments, such as when they are asleep, when it is possible for some carers to study. (Yes, not everyone would find that possible, before I get shouted at).

If @Princessandthepea0 was doing a social sciences or humanities course then full time is realistically more like 8-10 hours a week for someone bright and efficient (I teach at masters degree level in a related field). Lectures in remote courses can be listened to whenever. Interaction with the class is often through a continuous online chat, rather than at a fixed time.

Working I presume around the hours children are in school or some other childcare setting? I’m speculating, but there is more than one way that these things can be juggled.

@Bonsaitreepic I have only read the first page and hate to add to your worries but assuming your also claim Council tax reduction/support this will also change now he is not in education. Assuming your son is over 18 you will lose your 25% single person discount on your council tax so your liability will increase but your council tax reduction/support you claim might not cover the difference.

Eh? I studied every evening and all night sometimes. As I said in other posts. Distance learning is amazingly flexible. I thought you wanted help. Oh that’s right you don’t you are just want to be bitter. I can give you a top tip - stop spending all evening on MN being horrible to people and you’ll find hours of free time to study.

Working I presume around the hours children are in school or some other childcare setting? I’m speculating, but there is more than one way that these things can be juggled.

Yes my assumption too and it is possible sometimes and its good to think if it might be possible for you/OP

I honestly think its a bit of a misunderstanding and defensiveness going on.

The OP is unable to work because she provides care, but she may be able to study depending on that level of care. Not necessarily work. But at some point, the point of studying, is to work. So then it would depend on if the child that requires her care is ever able to have care provided some other way. Otherwise, like for many, a parent has to provide daily care for life.

You're not offering help. you're just telling everyone that you managed it so get on with it.

You're also claiming that you did 60 hours of work in the 30 hours a week of school time, and then just didn't sleep. It doesn't sound like advice that anyone else can follow.

Not helpful for me as my child doesn't have a school placement, but glad to hear that other people should just not sleep and do as well as you.