Is it possible to live on 1700 per month in these circumstances?

[Siskosisko]

... after mortgage has been paid. All other bills (utilities, food etc) will have to come out of that 1700. Facing a difficult situation due to job losses (both me and DH as the same time) as one of the children is very ill and need a lot of time off. Other DC is severely disabled and issues with school etc. So a lot going on and starting a new job not realistic for either of us due to both DC having such high needs and DC2 being in crisis. Current (flexible) employers even had enough so cannot see how someone else would take us on.

We do have saving as we always worked, so no UC.

I haven't slept for a few days as I am so worried about finances. DC are 15 and 17.

For your son it would be universal credit (( used to be esa )) I think you'll lose child benefit (( going back a few years now )) but if you're gaining a few hundred quid it's worth it. And obviously he'll have his pip on top.

Is £1700 per month just for bills after your mortgage? If so then that seems totally doable. How much are your outgoings usually?

You can get some help and it is doable. It's scary. I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

Citizens Advice will help you. They have specialist advisors who are trained to do this.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/about-us/contact-us/nearby/

Yes. Very.
Although we live a much less exotic life than many people.

Do an analysis of what you spend where. Once you know where the money goes you'll learn how to make it go to the right places.

I don't think that's correct I think he would have to be.over 19 before he could claim UC in his own right,at 17.he would still be classed aa a child and on a parents claim
.

Some under 18s can receive UC in their own right. It isn’t just young people aged 19+ who can.

At 17, young people in full time education and in receipt of PIP can be eligible for UC if LCW/LCWRA is established prior to the start of the course. Have you previously established this via a Credits only new style ESA claim? Contact is an excellent resource for this. See more information here, here and here.

Your child benefit for DC1 would stop, but if you aren’t eligible for UC, DC (or you as appointee) claiming UC in their own right will be more than CB.

no, we haven't. I had no idea about these things. I guess we missed that boat now?

So DC, or you as appointee, won’t be able to receive UC payments from DC claiming UC in their own right now. You should look to establish LCWRA via a credits only new style ESA claim now so when DC changes course you have already established it and can claim UC.

You're wrong. He can claim it......I'm in a similar position to the OP and have been through the exact situation . As have a lot of other people.....it's all here. The rules are different for disabled kids.

www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility#:~:text=You%20can%20claim%20Universal%20Credit,Assessment%20before%20starting%20your%20course. www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility#:~:text=You%20can%20claim%20Universal%20Credit,Assessment%20before%20starting%20your%20course.]]]]

DC is 4 months into a 2 year course so I suppose there is nothing we can do about it in the near future?

Will read up on LCWRA. Never heard of any of that. Why is there no active information from anywhere about these things for parents of teens with complex needs. Thanks for pointing this out!

You haven't missed anything. Get the ball rolling today. Just apply but remember you put in his details, it isn't based on your income. If you need help with the form go to your local carers or disability centre. And remember you can also apply for your younger son when he's 16.

I have a disabled child he,s only 14 currently and gets DLA at the highest rates when he transfers to PIP I don't see this changing
As he will be staying at his special school untill he is 19 I was under the impression that we continue to claim UC for him
And after 19 he can claim it in his own right?
Although he doesn't have capacity to understands anything about money I will always be his appointee .

Sadly, many aren’t aware. That includes professionals and DWP staff. Contact does campaign and raise awareness about this matter.

You should still make the Credits only New Style ESA claim now. You/DC won’t receive any money, but it is worth getting your ducks in a row because you do not know what the future will hold. I am not saying it will happen, but what happens if in 6 months the current course breaks down but you haven’t sorted LCWRA?

Some can claim UC from 16. See my first post.

For those whose parents are claiming UC with their DC on their claim, you need to do an analysis of which leaves the household better off. For some, it will be DC remaining on the parents’ claim while they remain a qualifying young person. For others, it will be DC, or their appointee, receiving UC in their own right.

Speak to contact https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/benefits-financial-help/disability-living-allowance/

As pp said from 16 can make certain claims even if in education

Sorry, maybe I didn’t read your original post properly. I thought 1700 (plus your mortgage payment) would be what you have each month once your employment ends, that it would be a different amount to what you’re currently earning while in work? I’ve got a bit of baby brain at the moment 🥴

You've got £1700 AFTER your mortgage AND have savings and you're up at night worrying about finances?!

Some people don't get that before their mortgage or rent! Ffs

Without knowing your other outgoings it's impossible to say if that's 'enough'. For many people £1700 after mortgage plus savings would be very doable.

That's £425 a week for all bills, food, clothing and entertainment for 4 adults (( let's face it 15 is classed as an adult these days )) and I can guarantee that due to her kids disabilities their outgoings will be far higher than most families.

Yes, it is doable. But I can see why she's concerned.......if I was in the ops situation I'd get the older child's UC sorted. Then have one working full time and one stay at home as a carer because it's definitely needed by the sound of it. Carers allowance isn't means tested so that will bring in over £300 PM. Then in a few months the younger child will also be able to claim UC.

Do you have any idea how much more expensive our life is because of 2 teens with complex disabilities??? The extra cost we face for all sorts of things. Both are autistic with narrow eating habits. It costs a bombe to finance that. None of them can leave the house alone and do things with friends. DH or I always have to accompany them. means bus/train X 2 or extra petrol (as DC cannot just hop on the bus). We have long rides to a special school and need to pay towards school transport (£600 per year - works out at 50 per month). Several hospital appointments per week. means extra petrol and I spend about a tenner per week on hospital parking alone. DC1 gets a PA to take them out weekly. We get the pa hours for free but all activities such as cinema, swimming etc are funded by us for both of them. Every activity for us costs double. There is a massive disability penalty. You really cannot compare it to a family with typical teens.

and don't get me started on tna fact that we have been forced out of employment due to the DCs disabilities. Our combined income was in the region of 65k and we worked bloody hard for it on top of caring. All good poof because we cannot get the right support and everything fell apart. Thanks for your stupid and ignorant post. I hope you never have to deal with what we are facing atm.

Yes I live on about that after mortgage payments and I live comfortably enough (I would say) as a single parent with a teen and a preteen. We even manage days out, short UK breaks away and plenty of extracurricular activities. The sacrifice is that I spend pretty much nothing on myself (I'm pretty low maintenance anyway though!). Obviously I don't know what extra costs might come through having a child with a disability.

Sit down and go carefully through your current expenditure, starting with essentials. Track every little item, and see what you can squeeze down, what you could live without etc.

Some people don't get that before their mortgage or rent! Ffs

And some people lack understanding about how expensive having two disabled DC is. According to Scope’s Disability Price Tag research, on average, households with at least one disabled person need an additional £1,010 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households. This figure is after disability benefits such as DLA/PIP and would be higher if adjusted for inflation.

OOP you’ve had some good advice around benefits. I think it’d be helpful for you to sit down and work out what your monthly expenses actually are, I think that would make you feel much more in control.

Look back through the last few months and work out what your average spend was on transport, food, entertainment etc. don’t forget to budget in for less regular expenses like insurances, MOT/service, birthdays, Christmas etc so you don’t end up absolutely screwed one month.

If that adds up to more than £1700/month then you’ll need to look at what you can cut out - and be realistic, don’t kid yourself that you could live off beans and rice.

I appreciate you don’t feel able to carry on with your current jobs but could you look at switching careers and/or picking up something part time? Even a couple of night shifts at a local supermarket could help bring some more money in and could make all the difference.

Also OP don't be shy about asking about carers tickets......the cinema will have free carers entry. There's a card called a CEA card which costs around £7 a year for free entry for carers to the cinema. I never bother buying one tho and just show a pip letter. Also things like swimming often have free entry, even gym memberships.

Our costs are far higher than most people, my sons 23 now and on paper has a good income. But he also needs stimulation and care 24/ 7. He cannot spend a day at home, he goes stir crazy so is out every day in all weather's. And that costs money. It means I work full time and his dad provides the care wiping out that income potential. It's wrong and carers like us save the state billions.