Universal Credit Clarification

[WildWellies]

A few years ago, when I divorced, I claimed CTC. I didn't claim any other benefits as I wasn't in a position to work.

I did work for a while but, now due to some changes with my DC, I'm again not in a position to work.
If I claimed now I would be put onto UC. As UC is all the benefits rolled into one, does that mean I can't just claim the 'child' element (as before) and would now be expected to look for work to be able to claim any benefits?

It depends on why you're not in a position to work, e.g. If you or your child have a disability. If they don't see your reason as "good enough" then, yes, you will claim the job seeker element and they will expect you to do job searches, go on courses, attend appointments, etc. You will be put on UC and you can't claim anything separately.

Thanks Owleyes

DD (13) wants to be home educated again (the reason I didn't work before).
She wanted to try school but wasn't been coping well but then was involved in a situation in March that she found quite traumatic. She was being assessed for ASD but that's been paused due to lockdown.

Just trying to look at all the options to try and make this work for her.

@WildWellies are you saying you could survive on the old system of just claiming child tax credit and housing benefit and not claiming JSA/IS?
If you were to claim UC and not meet your claimant commitment by not job searching you would be sanctioned. However your sanction will not be higher than the standard amount( equivalent to JSA/IS) so you would still receive the child and housing element as you would on the old system.

@WildWellies does your DD qualify for DLA? It's not means tested and it's not diagnosis led (although a diagnosis is a helpful piece of evidence). If your DD has issues that you can accurately describe, it might be worth applying?

Yes dla would be worth applying for, especially as it would mean you would be exempt from benefit cap, and if middle rate you could claim carers allowance and have no work commitments.

cerebra.org.uk/download/disability-living-allowance-dla-guide/

Remember, if you do claim DLA, that you are comparing your DD to a typical 13 year old. So, for example, most 13 year olds would be happy to meet a friend on their own. If your 13 year old wouldn't go out on their own, that's a need that is substantially higher than that of same age peers, etc.

Absolutely apply for DLA and you apply for carers allowance. She doesn't need a diagnosis, but gather as much info and evidence as possible. As a carer, no you would not need to job search, and you would get an extra £62 (ish) a week, on top of DLA and other benefits. Get the process started on DLA now, apply for UC and state that you are your daughter's full time carer and are awaiting on DLA assessment. You shouldn't have any problems. Stupidly, it's easier to get carers than it is for adults to get PIP and disability element. My partner didn't have to job search as my carer but I still did until my assessments came back obviously not relevant to you but just wanted to show how you'll be able to get carers before your daughter has been assessed

Thank you everyone that's really helpful.

Yes, I could manage on CB, 'child' element + maintenance from Ex.
No housing benefit as I own the house.
Some working from home may be possible once everything's settled but I need a bit of breathing space to start with.

Will definitely look into DLA. I assumed that's something that would we would need a definite diagnosis for and would have an impossibly high bar.

Owleyes that's ridiculous that you had to job search but your carer didn't!

No, DLA doesn't rely on a diagnosis and the bar is 'substantially more care or supervision than a typical child of their age'. It's harder to meet that criteria if the child is very young (ie. all babies need 24/7 care) but as children grow older and more independent, the need for care and supervision reduces, so it's easier to demonstrate that you provide more care and supervision.

Small example: DD2 is 13. She was invited to meet some friends at Costa in our village. Although she wanted to go, we had a 1½ hour conversation about her dread and inability to order her coffee from the shop, because it would require talking to a stranger. That process of discussing the situation, thinking of things that might overcome it, planning contingencies (e.g. could she write her order down and pass it across the till? Could she ask her friend to order?), etc., comes under the umbrella of 'care'. Most children her age would just think 'ooh Costa...nice'.

So every time you deal with her need for routine, anxieties, restrictions, communication difficulties... It's all care. Some of it will be the bog standard care that all parents give their children, but if she's being assessed for ASD, there is bound to be care that a typical child of her age wouldn't need.

No definitely no diagnosis needed two of my three children were awarded dla pre diagnosis. @WildWellies
Just clearly state the extra time it takes to care for your dd, and use the guide I linked too.
Send in proof that she is on the pathway and any letters from doctors that you may have if she has had any appointments. If you have anything from school send that also.

you also get adult element

over 25's with a child is approx (at the moment) 600 a month + housing if applicable

get your application in sharpish, 5 week wait - and apply mid month if you ever work

@carly2803 the adult element will be sanctioned if the op isn’t yet a carer and doesn’t look for work.