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!

There’s something called a CEA card that gets disabled people a free carer ticket in cinemas and some theatres I believe. My friend has got one and it helps her get out snd about at reasonable prices.

some places do discounted tickets for people on UC, this website has a map but there quite a few around London including zoo for £3 or £6
https://museummum.com/universal-credit-days-out/

Once your children are registered for free school meals them may also be able to access funded activities in the school holidays. look up HAF & your local council.

My LA also give supermarket vouchers to the families of FSM kids, though it varies by area.

If your DH is able to go on family outing, his PIP would qualify him for a carer ticket for you, which would reduce the cost.

It’s probably going to require a lot of looking at what’s around you, or getting people to name their areas, or naming yours.

Sadly there’s no discounted swimming lessons or anything near me. There’s HAF places but they’re very competitive. It’s going to be so individual, I think.

I hope things all work out okay and you find a new normal quickl. It’s a tough adjustment.

https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/visit/tickets-and-prices/one-pound-tickets/#:~:text=Documentation%20you%20must%20bring%20with,Allowance%20%2D%20DWP%20letter%20of%20confirmation

you can get up to 6 tickets for £1 each at Tower of London and all the palaces

And also a card to enable you to sit in the disabled seats on the train. For example this one:

www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/on-board-the-train/priority-seating

I agree, I should really have stated that it might not be the same everywhere. But they are just things to look out for and ask about. I didn’t know about the discounted swimming and gymnastic lessons until the receptionist at the leisure told me about them after I was behind on my payment one time. It wasn’t advertised at all.

The HAF clubs in my area only seem to run during the summer holidays, but there might be more clubs through the year in other towns. Check with your council about what they have to offer.

Sounds like op deserves ‘free goods’ considering the circumstances.

I’ve never (yet) been in the position of having to claim benefits but can’t imagine how hard it must be for families like ops. I would be asking too especially with young dc in the run up to Christmas, wouldn’t you?

The Citizens Advice were brilliant when we needed help. We got energy vouchers for several weeks and a giftcard for Tesco to get clothes with. My husband claims esa and pip. I work full time. We also get council tax rebate. And a motobility car.

Thank you. I might be absolutely fine on UC but I don't know yet how long it will take, and also ages for PIP, carers element or work capability assessment, so finding out how to be sensible in the meantime.

Housing benefit if renting, check the kiddos schools, I know my daughter’s old primary did half off clubs etc if you’re on UC. Check if your water / gas companies do low income tariffs for UC, also reduced Council Tax I believe? (Check your local council about that one just in case I’m wrong!)

I am having to claim PIP at the moment due to physical health. When I’m up to it (very rare), you can get discounted tickets for shows / zoo / (I skipped every queue at Winter Wonderland, took me about two bloody weeks to recover from it, but atleast I had a happy 11 year old!).

Discounted train tickets on National Rail, if he gets enhanced mobility (if he gets awarded PIP), then he could get a Blue Badge or a Disabled Freedom Pass, which is handy. Some gyms also do big discounts for disabled customers (depending on if any physio etc would be beneficial for your husband etc).

I’m sure there’s more, last winter I contacted my gas company and reported myself as vulnerable (hated doing it but I can’t tolerate solid food very well so I’m always freezing), next day there was a handsome chap on my doorstep with two free fan heaters, one for me and one for the little’un.

Lots of people will judge and be huffy, but these circumstances are beyond your control at the moment, and additional stressing over finances I’m sure is exacerbating everything. I hope things improve for you and your family soon, OP.

Wishing you well x

I’ve already explained my error.

Thank you @AmusedOpalShaker

Olio
Freecycle
Local Churches have lots of free events on over Christmas.
Libraries- free events and lots of advice re other support networks.
Let school know you are struggling, they can refer for schemes like local radio stations toy appeals.
Hope things pick up for you.

I'm not on UC but I've been doing "secondhand stockings" since DS was a baby. I figured stuff from Father Christmas' workshop wouldn't come in packaging from Argos anyway, so I've bought (good condition) used toys for his stocking presents from Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, charity shops etc.

Do y know about free stuff but there's plenty of heavily discounted tickets for places in London ( like the tower for a £1) zoo for £<<3 transport museum etc if you get UC
Sure there's other bits as well

There's an evangelical Church in our town that has a charity shop attached. I've seen staff give things away to kids that they know are struggling.
Also Christmas lights switch on events are free.

PIP is proof he is disabled, so you qualify for

• disabled railcard which is 30% off for him + a carer travelling with him. The carer doesn’t have to be a registered carer or you- can be a friend or a teen and up child.
• Many days out they will have concessionary tickets where the disabled person pays the full adult ticket price but then their carer gets in free or for a nominal amount. Eg V&A exhibits, theatre, outdoor festivals, etc
• if he gets enhanced mobility he should get a free bus pass in most areas
• patient transport paid for by NHS to hospital appointments for free- GP can refer him- for when you cannot take him.
• respite care for you as a carer- get a carers assessment and then apply for it
• priority for relationship counselling on the NHS for you and kids if his disabilities are affecting your mental well being.
• your kids can qualify as young carers if they help out, which can entitle them to local support group and also for contextual offers for Uni entry.

PIP doesn’t necessarily qualify you for free stuff OP, but it can be the gateway to other services and discounts. If your DH doesn’t already have a blue badge, then if he scores at least eight points on the mobility component of PiP, or ten points on planning and following a journey he will automatically qualify for a blue badge with no further assessment.

There are several cards which you can apply for, which will allow discounts. The Max Card for days out with children with disabilities, the CEA Card for free cinema companions/carers, and the National Disability Card for a variety of nationwide offers. The Access Card is another option, recognised at venues to help highlight the access requirements of disabled people, including those with invisible disabilities.

There are also concessions to things like toll roads, tunnels and bridges, which have different eligibility conditions depending on the operator. For example, Mersey tunnels provides a certain number of free journeys each year for those with higher rate mobility component of PIP or council eligibility for a blue badge. You should check with the operator before travelling to see what the individual eligibility criteria are.

PIP can also help you get free public transport, but eligibility and the specific pass or discount you receive depend on your local council's rules, your PIP award details, and where you live. You may be eligible for a free local bus pass, a Disabled Person's Railcard, or the London Freedom Pass. But again you should contact your local council to check their specific criteria.

More if he gets PIP

• you can register with your utility companies as vulnerable customers so they won’t shut off the power or gas if you get into arrears as most disabled people can’t survive without power & heat,
• you can get a cheaper internet connection- social tariff- but it will be the slowest package ever.
• many local gyms offer cheap memberships to disabled people that meet certain eligibility requirements.

Respite for someone on PIP isn’t guaranteed. As well as the carers assessment, the disabled person would have to undergo a financial assessment to see if they are eligible as the respite would be in a care home, or involve additional home care. The mobility component of PIP won’t count towards the financial assessment, but many councils count the daily living component after 28 days in respite. And after 28 days in residential respite, the daily living component of PIP would be stopped by DWP unless the person was self funding - any stays within 28 days of each other are counted consecutively for this purpose.

https://www.purpldiscounts.com/

This is worth signing up for if your DH's PIP claim is successful. Although you now have to pay to join, the savings quickly add up - I get 10% off Morrisons deliveries for example which is handy as DH and I are both medically unable to drive.

As others have said, PIP can get you extra things like a disabled railcard, freedom pass and blue badge (my LA gives these to people on LRM like me if they have 8 points for moving around).

Our GP surgery offers this service and does referrals. There are specialist disabled sessions for exercise at your own pace and in some circumstances they can be free.

The OP's children are young, so it's very easy to make Christmas very cheap, and cheerful.

https://museummum.com/universal-credit-days-out/ has a list of places you can get discounted rates.

I took my DS to the Tower of London for about £6, and a similar (or even less) price for London Zoo. We would never have been able to go at full price.

There’s the Watersure scheme as well that caps your water bills. Different water companies have different criteria but it’s worth checking out.