How realistic would it be for a family of 5 to live on £1700 a month

[zebradoo]

I really don’t know how we can do it but my daughter is in year three and is not coping with school, it’s got to the point where it’s unlikely she will be able to attend much longer.
Her behaviour at home is getting worse, after school she wees on the carpet, draws on the walls, has hour long screaming meltdowns, is violent and abusive.
She is fine at weekends and holidays but it’s the effects of being in school that will cause this explosion when she gets home.
School have done so much but she simply can’t cope with going to school.
I think our only option would be homeschooling and this would mean living on one minimum wage, it would throw us into poverty but I don’t think we have much choice.

Our rent is around £500 a month (social housing)
the rest would be for bills and food.
It will be really tight but could it be done with careful planning?
I may be able to find some evening work to pay some bills but UC is not an option as I would have to be available for work full time and I need to homeschool and take of of her as there is nowhere suitable to send daughter with her issues.
Feeling desperate.

If she can't go to school presumably you would get DLA for her and therefore not have to be available for work.

@zebradoo do you live with your daughters dad? If he works and takes home £1700 a month you will have requirements to look for work on UC.

Has she got a diagnosis?

@zebradoo The reason for now work requirement will be because your husband earns enough to meet the combined earnings level for a couple.

Yes that’s his wage.

Does she have a diagnosis? What does school think the problem is? Is DLA or carer's allowance a possibity? I think there are also different provisions for UC when there is a disabled child.

She is on the waiting list.

@zebradoo you will have no requirement to look for work. Would you like me to manually calculate your award?
I know your rent, 3 children just need to know if any disability benefits are claimed as that adds extra elements.

You need some proper advice about what is possible for your daughter. Has she got an EHCP?. It sounds as if she should have. She needs an assessment for possible autism, it sounds as if she is masking at school and having a meltdown when she gets home. Speak to your local SENDIASS, about alternative provision for her. Legally she is entitled to have a suitable school place.

I feel for you, it’s really hard when school is the root cause. My DD has had significanr school related issues. I upskilled which meant I could get a remote flexible role. My partners role is also remote and flexible to a degree

Is Dads work mid week, which could free you up to work at weekends as well as evenings? Can he submit a flexible working request to allow more spread between the two of you. In the short term, it probably is feasible if your rent is only £500 and you cut back everything possible

We have applied for DLA but haven’t heard anything yet, I hear it’s at least 6 months until you hear and I have heard it’s unlikely that you get it without appeal so possibly longer.

It's going to be very very tight. Do you have any savings as a cushion? Because if not, any emergency will tip you over the edge. Could you work one or two more months, living on 1700 and saving your income to create a buffer?

Rent: 500
Council tax: 150
Gas/elec/water/internet/mobiles: 400
Food: 450
Total: 1500

That leaves 200 a month for everything else. Clothes, car/transport, school costs, insurance,

I think it might be a bit of a struggle. Have you looked at specialist settings?

Can you share your council tax and basic bills?

Does that take home include the universal child allowance, which would be around £260 a month?

Does your child have an EHCP?

You also need to consider whether you will be going for home education or EOTAS (educated other than at school). The first - the council has no responsibility to provide any support or funding, it's all on you. With EOTAS you can get funding for educational resources, sometimes tutors.

@zebradoo UC award will be £1380 (that’s with rent of £500 as you stated HA rent is added in full so if it’s say £537 add the extra £37 on to the above amount.)

Once DLA has come through it will add £164 for lower rate and £514 for higher rate, you will also get £209 carers element added.

@zebradoo you definitely will NOT have to look for work as your partners earning are over the couple earning threshold.

I is there any temping jobs you can do? So contracts for a few weeks a year?

I think:

• What experience to you have to home school? Yr 3 might be OK, what about yr 10?

• Most home schoolers will get out and about to facilitate learning, meeting other home schoolers etc - doesn't sound like you will have the budget for museums, meet ups etc

• How long would you intend to home school for? 1 year? Indefinitely? What is your end goal? If only for a year, what will her returning to the school environment look like?

• How will you manage her social development - many home schoolers will enjoy after school clubs (like sports, or Guides/Scouts, or martial arts or other interests) - all cost money.

• What conversations have you had with her teachers? What support have they put in place? Is there a SEN element that school can support with? Once you leave school, you leave that support behind (and I appreciate there is not necessarily a lot of support to begin with)

• How is your relationship with your DD? Will pulling her out of school help or hinder that current relationship?

But fundamentally, money will be an issue. I think if nothing else before you quit your job, you will need to look at how you can bring in some additional money. Can you work weekends when your OH is home (assuming he works Mon-Fri)? Or evening work once he is home? It will be tough on family life, but no, I don't think £1700 is enough. A broken down car will just drive you into debt. Not to mention clothing and shoes as the kids grow etc.

Would a SEN school be an option? I would definately keep trying to get her to school. Its very hard to get children back to school after a break. My friends child left school at ten and never went back, believe me it hasnt done him any good at all. its a disgrace her assessment is going to take so long. I feel for you, its not easy.

Presumably you have child benefit coming in also which adds another £50 + per week. I'm sure you will be fine once DLA awarded and ll the extra Uc premiums & carer element etc which come with that.

How stable is your renting situation? A friend of mine recently had to move after being in her home for 15 years. She is now paying double the rent.
Have you eplored other school or working options?
Reduced timetables? Can you go part time?

Op says she is in social housing so presumably the safest possible option anyone can have.

Could you talk to the head about a flexi schooling trial arrangement where you just pull her out one or two days and see if that helps? That’s if you can then keep your job part time?

That would be really good for her if it’s a thing then that will really help.

You dont need a diagnosis for DLA
But you do need evidence from professionsls to back up your claim.