Benefit cap? Benefit fraud?

[coco99]

Have I unknowingly been committing some sort of benefit fraud? 😭

I’m currently in receipt of
£1778 universal credit per month
£748 DLA for my son every 4 weeks
£83 carer’s allowance weekly
£26 child benefit weekly

I was discussing finances with a close family member today and they’ve told me that I’m getting too much and there’s a benefit cap? (There was no judgments, she’s just worried I’m being going to get accused of committing benefit fraud). She said that my total benefits are way over the cap, but I never knew there was a cut off point? Universal credit know about the DLA/carers that I claim because I informed them? I’m panicking a little bit now that I might have been overpaid and will have to pay some back!

AIBU? Have I been claiming too much that goes past the cap?

I don't think it applies if you have a child claiming DLA?

Oh okay. That’s good! If there was a cap then surely it would be automatically applied anyway? I’m just a worrier 😅

It doesn't apply if you are on disability benefits. Have a Google. You will be getting paid correctly.

Yes it's applied automatically. It doesn't apply to you because of the DLA

Caring for a disabled child increases your income but I wouldn’t imagine that would be included in the cap. Better bludy not be because if it is then that’s a disgrace. I’m sure you’ll be fine OP

As the other poster says the cap doesn't apply if there is a disability element involved so don't panic

Phew, thank you so much!

PP are correct the benefit cap doesn't apply because you are primary carer for a child in receipt of DLA.

@coco99 1877 benefits is what you are getting. the dla is not considered because even a person who is in employment can be entitled to that and that actually belongs to the child anyway. not sure about the carers allowance but that isnt much anyway..

I don’t begrudge anyone receiving benefits if they are unable to work as they are looking after a disabled child, I I imagine it must be bloody hard work, especially if you don’t have a partner to help, but I do find it frustrating when people say that having to rely on benefits is a breadline subsistence and it’s hard to live on and that the government don’t care about disabled people. The amount the OP receives equates to a gross salary of £46,000 a year which is almost double the minimum wage.

OP wasn’t asking for opinions on how much she was getting, she was asking if the cap applied to her.

Also you have no idea what OPs living costs are, having a disability or disabled child can cost a lot so she may very well be struggling financially, although I hope she isn’t.

@charliehungerford presumably the OP will be getting that as a lone parent to a disabled child. 46k as the income for the entire household isn't very much at all - it's the equivalent of two parents earning less than minimum wage.

Dont mind me, just getting comfy

You'd swap and have a severely disabled child?

@redsunsets You'd rather do the 24hrs a day job of caring for a disabled child? Go for it!

If only there was a way to deliberately give your child a severe, permanent disability without ending up in prison, right?

If you have a child who is entitled to the higher rate mobility and the higher rate care components, you care for them, and are on a low income then I’m surprised you’re managing without benefits.

It does seem a lot of money and I can understand some who work full time and not getting anywhere near that being peeved, but we don’t know all the details.

No one should be able to claim almost 50k in benefits. I don’t care what the circumstances are.

What do you suggest then? OP and her disabled child just starve and die on the streets?

OP is receiving highest rate of the care and mobility components, this means:

her child needs help or supervision throughout both day and night, or they’re nearing the end of life (for example, because of a life-limiting illness), and they cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, could become very ill if they try to walk or they’re blind or severely sight impaired.

How much money would you like to see OP try and survive on, with this in mind?

edit, this was meant to be in response to @Straightjacketsandroses

you have no idea what OP's outgoings are, what the nature of the disability is.

Are there really people who are jealous of someone's disability? Jesus :(

would you swap a job (with low pay) to have a severely disabled child that needs round the clock care and leaves you unable to work? Genuinely interested in the reply.

Astonishing amounts - no wonder country is broke and the far right becoming populist. 3k a month it's incredible