To think I should work less and claim Universal Credit?

[Tiredandgrumpymum]

After a difficult divorce I find myself supporting my 2 children on my own. Ex-husband pays the bare minimum.

I work full time on about minimum wage, all my shopping is done at Asda usually yellow-stickered where ever possible. This year managed to take my 2 kids away for a weeks break by the seaside in a caravan. We had a lovely time but did it as cheaply as possible. Bought ice cream and put in the freezer in the caravan so when kids asked for an ice cream out I said wait till we get home.

No eating out except for takeaway chips etc. No expensive days out.

Just bought all the school uniforms as cheaply as possible from the supermarket and the school shoes which I've had to put on my credit card.

My SIL popped round for a coffee earlier on her way back from the hairdressers having treated herself to a new cut and colour at a posh salon and she was just on the way to get her nails done. She's just returned from a 2 week all inclusive in Turkey with her 4 kids. Her kids get the best school uniforms and school shoes and she pays for them to do various activities I can only dream about. All this and she works 3 mornings a week and gets topped up on UC. She goes to the gym everyday as she can afford it and has the time to so looks fabulous.
I'm sorry I sound so bitter but I really am.

Careful. Apparently on here it is different rules for the rich folk.

Not paying tax you're not obliged to pay isn't the same as manipulating the system to take out as much taxpayer's cash as you can for the least amount of work.

Children grow so fast that cheap uniform and shoes are fine. We always choose to get cheaper for that reason

My SIL popped round for a coffee earlier on her way back from the hairdressers having treated herself to a new cut and colour at a posh salon and she was just on the way to get her nails done. She's just returned from a 2 week all inclusive in Turkey with her 4 kids. Her kids get the best school uniforms and school shoes and she pays for them to do various activities I can only dream about. All this and she works 3 mornings a week

Is this your brother's wife? Does your brother work?

Whilst UC is now capped at two kids they only applied that cap to any children born after April 2017. If all of the SIL's kids were born before then she would absolutely be claiming for all 4. Any kids born before then can still continue to be claimed for and any others born after then won't be claimed for if there are already two or more children being claimed for

No she can't as UC will see it as a deprivation of capital and they will class her as still having the funds even if she doesnt

It is up to me what I do with it, but thanks.

It hasn't proven anything. No one on PIP has to say or justify what they spend the money on. Not to the DWP and especially not to you.
If someone has gone through the huge task of applying, gathering evidence, and having the gruelling assessment, and gets awarded, then they are deemed to be in need of that award.

You also can't make a blanket statement about no handouts being needed for ADHD. You would have to know everyone with it, and how it affects them, to make such a bullshit bold claim.

Also, when you apply, you have to list ALL of your health conditions, even ones you are not actually applying for. So some someone with ADHD could be applying for a different disability they have.

I know someone who is going through the DLA paperwork for her little AuDHD boy. She has missed the deadline several times as she is struggling with the forms. Everyday, she tries to see the best in him and help him work to his strengths. The form is forcing her to do the complete opposite and has been taking a toll on her mental health.

How on earth csn you come to that conclusion without knowing how the ADHD impacts a person again it goes off NEED not diagnosis some people with ADHD won't meet the criteria for DLA/ PIP
But many will
Out of interest whst disabilities do you feel are acceptable to.make a claim?

Yep you could spend it all on fine wine and luxury chocolates if you want !
I think that's whst annoys people they can't dictate what people should spend their disability benefits on.

If somebody did spend 100% of their PIP/DLA on fine wine and luxury chocolate, then it should suggest they don't need a Personal Independence Payment.

How is fine wine and luxury chocolate related to living an independent life? Why should taxpayers fund that?

Nosey question, as PIP doesn't exist in Ireland, there is a weekly disability payment of €229 approx, similarly to income/incapacity support but no monthly payment like PIP or mobility cars.
I know that mobility cars take a huge chunk.

Anyway my question is, how much is high rate pip/dla per monthly.

I was being flippant
The point is that people csn spend their money on whatever they want
And it's nobody else's business.
But you carry on winding your self up .

It's about £110/ week HRC and £77 / week mobility every four weeks these are the rates my son gets ,we chose to have a mobility car so the mobility element is deducted automatically so my son gets paid £440 every four weeks and we have a car for him.

It is not a lot for a disabled person to live on.

Well they might also be entitled to universal credit and a further disability element on top but that's means tested and DLA / PIP isn't.

It never occurred to me to sign up to PIP. I am deaf in my left ear and I have 80% in my right of hearing. It does affect how I hear people I can't wear a hearing aid. Idon't think I could put myself through the assessment. I can cope without and I don't feel I am in great need at the moment. There is new hearing aid that can connect with my right ear from my left side so I may give that a go.

Are you able to independently care for yourself, cook ,clean undertake a journey from A to B independently?
If so you would unlikely to be eligible
My oldest son is an insulin dependent Diabetic, he wouldn't meet the criteria either.

Are you sure you’re not already entitled to some UC I would have a look because it does no harm to find out.

Does no harm to read OPs posts either

Op it does seem terribly unfair.

I'm sure it's been mentioned but for one year is it possible to tuck 10 away each month for various things start now but start to spend it next year ?

Eg 5 each month into a pot for Christmas and one for birthdays and one for holidays.

Don't touch it for Christmas this year or birthdays

Also see if you can join yha ,they have some nice rooms private with en suites and they have sales several times a year.
I can't do longer than two nights in them nor in a bunk bed however...many have double beds now.
I just found when we were really skint it opened up at least having the odd night away and you can self cater.

Small amounts do add up.

Also re the ISA have you looked at cash v stocks and shares ISA.

Exactly. No one checks what you spend it on. You don’t have to explain what you spend it on to anyone. Therapy? NHS provides that. Drugs? NHS provides that.

You shouldn’t just get a handout as a sympathy payment for having ADHD.

It’s the taxpayers money. It shouldn’t be given to them to fritter away on luxuries not available to those working full time on minimum wage.

My son gets high rate DLA plus high rate mobility though I have a mobility car which is what that goes to.

I also receive UC which includes the carer rate and disabled child rate. You only get this if your child has medium or high rate care needs.

We get by but we certainly aren’t rolling in it like some seem to think.

My son gets high rate DLA plus high rate mobility though I have a mobility car which is what that goes to.

I also receive UC which includes the carer rate and disabled child rate. You only get this if your child has medium or high rate care needs.

We get by but we certainly aren’t rolling in it like some seem to think.