Free stuff if on UC or PIP or money saving advice?

[StrengthPleaseToday]

I may get flamed here but it's worth it as I think some here may have some good advice.

I've always worked until recently. My husband is disabled and has a number of chronic health conditions but never previously claimed benefits as I was supporting the family. I had managed remote work around caring for him until earlier this year. His health has deteriorated to where I need to be a full time carer, and we have now run out of savings. It will take a lot of treatment before he is well enough for me to take on any more work around his care.

We're now making claims for UC and PIP.

We also have small children aged 4 and 6. We live in London.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions about either stuff you may get for cheap or free if on UC or PIP, especially anything for families?

I want to keep life for the children as nice as possible while we get through this.

Also with Christmas coming up I'm also interested in any money saving advice or suggestions about either Christmas events or where to buy gifts (ideally online) that are cheap or discounted for people on UC or PIP.

Thanks in advance!

I think the kids will get free school meals and discounted school trips . Maybe your council can offer school uniform grants . You should get the warm home discount so a bit off electricity bill. Your council may have a household support fund which you can access for food and fuel vouchers. It can take a while for PIP to be awarded and can be hard to get. Likewise with UC your husband will need to go through a work capability assessment which can take some months for that extra element to be awarded. Unfortunately your UC won't be a huge amount until that LCWRA element for him is awarded and carers element for you. Carers element can't be awarded until PIP is awarded.
No one on PIP is getting cheaper Xmas gifts. things like cinemas may offer disability discounts and a free ticket for carers.

Wishing you well if this is a genuine query. I am sure your local CAB can help. Or look on local Facebook groups for advice. You can post anonymously on there, or create a new account if that feels more comfortable.

However if this is a post to glean information that will be used against those on UC or PIP or any other benefits, to say 'look at what those scroungers get for free', then please don't. People on benefits are being othered enough already.

Yes I'm posting for genuine reasons.

If anyone's worried about the bit about free stuff for people on PIP or UC being used against people, ideas about general money saving advice or cheap or free activities or deals would be good otherwise. Thank you.

Why do you think people on UC or PIP would just get free stuff?!

Thanks @Harriet9955 I will look into these.

Yes I imagine it will be a long time before he is assessed for PIP or work capability. Based on the information I can find about these, I'm certain he is eligible for pip and won't be expected to look for work, but I suppose whether or not he is awarded is a different question!

Facebook marketplace is good for kids toys, but Facebook locality-based groups are fabulous sources of what's going on, free meals by community groups, local community centre panto etc.
I'd suggest posting your questions there to get the relevant info you need.

Well I don't know if they would but I'm hopeful! We're looking at a pretty hard time financially so anything helps, either UC/PIP related or just general. Someone told me once there was cheaper entry at a show they went to for PIP so I thought there might be other things .

Thanks - looks like I'm making a return to Facebook!

Because we live in a wealthy, generous country that helps people out when they fall on hard times?

OP, food banks often have Christmas toys available for those who need them.

London zoo offers reduced tickets for those on UC

Universal Credit tickets to London Zoo | London Zoo

If you have just applied, you are unlikely to be in receipt of PIP by Christmas, even if your first application is successful (approx 50% of first time claims are turned down).

Being in receipt of PIP can mean that you as a carer would get into events for free, but you would still need to pay for your husband and children.

You can get cheaper tickets to various attractions if on UC; tickets for things and days out are always a nice gift. Trying to think of where we've had them for in the last year... Definitely London Transport Museum, I think Eden Project, lots of zoos do it etc. HMS Belfast, Royal Observatory possibly.

As your DH's carer, if all of you go and see a show, your ticket will be free as a companion. He may need to register for an Access card (in Wales we use Hynt so not 100% sure on the English system).

It depends where you are as different places have different rules. Where I am you get half price public transport, 80% claim back off childcare, £40 food voucher per child each school holiday, free holiday childcare, cost of living hardship fund to help with specific outgoings (this is local to our borough so again need to research for yourself), heavily discounted days out (zoo, theatre, soft play, adventure parks etc), 3 free after school clubs per child (this varies between schools but most have some sort of discount). A charity called Little Village does does an annual free Christmas gift collection but I think the eligibility has changed - used to be for people with kids under 5, now I think it's under 2. If you go to a local children's centre or community hub they will be able to tell you more.

@Harriet9955 I think I garbled that a bit, I'm interested in UC/PIP related stuff, and just advice around cheap Christmas presents, family events or money saving ideas in general.

I'm listening if there is! I know you get half price garden waste pick up in my area if on UC. I can't think of much else though in the way of private sector discounts.

@SteakBakesAndHotTakes thank you - it's good to have some ideas about where to look.

Pip isn’t a means tested benefit.

If there is a charity that helps people with your DH's specific health condition(s), it might be worth approaching them to see what help or financial support they may be able to offer.

A couple of friends have had help and financial support from MND and Parkinsons charities.

I know, we should have claimed it years ago.

@LakieLady good idea, thank you. They may also have general advice. I'm also looking into local family hubs etc. Not for free stuff but more for anything/support for kids with parents with his conditions.

Make sure you fill out the form that let's your children's school claim pupil premium.

I work in a school and a number of charities will donate stuff like panto tickets, or Christmas gifts for PP children. Not every year but often enough.

They can also prescribe food bank vouchers, help with uniform subsidise trips etc. Each school uses pp in different ways.

Unpleasant comment given the circumstances OP's shared with us. Tbh I took the question more to mean things like Freecycle, Too Good to Go etc, which anyone can sign up to. But also, y'know, because people on UC or PIP have less money through no fault of their own? 🤷‍♀️

Hope things get easier soon, OP.

You need to firstly be in receipt of pip before you get discounted tickets (carer tickets) some places do them, some dont. Wait till its all awarded and then look around.

My dp gets full PIP. We don’t have children at home anymore. But always look for discounted tickets for anything. The reality is that my dp can’t go to these things without me - if there was an evacuation or anything happened he can’t manage due to brain damage and sight loss. He would literally think that stay where you are means come here etc. so I have no guilt taking those free tickets as his companion.

We go to the cinema a lot and get one free ticket (a CEA card). Most zoos etc do similar. You can also get an access card which allows you to take short cuts/ not queue if that is an issue. It just makes it more manageable.

@Fearfulsaints I had no idea about that, thank you