What am I entitled to?

[Mslongears]

Newly single after 10 years together, he suddenly went "funny" and stopped talking to me and coming home. So we are basically no contact, isn't interested in our son or unborn baby, so it's his loss.

I've only ever claimed PIP for my own disability, but never anything else so I don't know where to start. I'm 27, with a 3yr old and 16 weeks pregnant. Living in his parents home, but obviously I'll have to go into council. The wait time is approx 7-10 years in my area so I have no idea here I'll end up in the meantime which terrifies me. It also means I have to rehome all of my pets which are my lifeline currently. I have no savings, my monthly income is around £500 on PIP, but I believe this doesn't affect how much UC I'll receive. I'm classed as unfit to work, so I don't think I'll be expected to do job preparation according to my GP. Although this was several years ago so I don't know if things have changed. I won't be entitled to child maintenance as ex is solely cash in hand (not to mention being a massive tax dodger). He has no income on paper, and I'm not even going to bother to report this as I know they'll be on his side.

Can someone give me an idea on how much I'll be entitled do, and how to claim this as I know I'm going to really struggle with two young children and having to deal with council tax, rent etc. on my own. I've never lived alone before in my life so I'm terrified. I'm also rubbish with technology and would rather speak to someone face to face about my options, but I understand this probably isn't an option now days.

Exactly what you’ll be entitled to will depend on where you are and the age of your children, as well as the result of a work capability test.
I recommend you try one of the online benefit calculators, such as Entitledto or turn2us.

Have you been classified as LCW or LCRWA for UC purposes, because that is going to impact what you will be expected to do & what your entitlement will be?

I haven't spoke to anyone yet. It sounds like it will be really stressful and I don't cope well under stress so I have no idea what I'm going to do 🙈

I’m a bit confused. You don’t cope well with stress but you have a child, several pets, another one on the way and only £500/month coming in? And live with his parents?

Who’s been sustaining all of this?

Obviously all her relatives through her partner

Please lodge a CMS claim to at least try for maintenance from the children’s father, rather than just leave it all to the taxpayer.

The mug that is the taxpayer obviously

The whole ‘what am I entitled to’ is just so depressing. You should be ‘entitled’ to the money you earn yourself by working, not other people’s.

Get a job OP.

Try calling Shelter, it's possible the ex boyfriends parents will have to kick you out of their property so you'll then be able to present as homeless. You might be deemed 'adequately housed' at the minute.
Have you saved any money while being housed by the ex's parents?

Yes, I would imagine being homeless with a child, loads of pets, pregnant and no job will be stressful. I don't think there's any way around that really.

I'm classed as unfit to work,

Is that long-term? Forever?

You'll get

Over 25 and single £400.14
First child £292.81
£692.95

If you have had a work capability assessment and establish LCWRA before April 2026, you'll get an extra £423.27. If it's after April 2026 it will be £217.26.

If you rent, you'll be entitled to the 2 bedroom rate of Local Housing Allowance for your area.

OP has explained that she doesn’t claim anything besides PIP, I was just asking because I don’t understand how she’s been supporting herself, a child and a bunch of pets so far. Plus thinking it’s a good idea to have another one on the way.

Saying that, the state should step in when people need help, I wasn’t trying to say that it doesn’t. I was a single parent myself for a few years so I know how difficult it is. If she’s unfit for work, she’ll get help, presumably.

Ok so I asked because I've been told I need to flee as my relationship is classed as abusive. So I've been told I should be able to get some help financially to help me get out. The animals are going. Youngest baby was NOT planned, but I'm trying to make it work the best I can on my own. I am diagnosed autistic so I struggle communicating and following instructions. I've been on PIP (was DLA) since I was very very young. I tried getting an apprenticeship in 2017 and it went down like a sack of bricks so my midwife when I had my eldest said I should be entitled to the limited work capability thing. I've been trying to avoid claiming because I grew up with people who worked hard and for my whole life I knew if I wanted something I had to work for it. I've tried starting up my own businesses, working for smaller companies understanding of autism, but nothing has ever worked out for me. I've even got some support from autism UK but it never got me anywhere. It's easy to judge, I know. I'm judging myself heavily right now, but I don't know how I can get out and survive on the £500 a month for rent, food etc. I've NEVER relied on my family or partners family for money. Ever. Partner worked to enable us to stay here which is why I was never asked to pay rent. I did my bit around the house, I cleaned and cooked. Everything I have I've sustained from my PIP which was used solely for food and clothes for me and my toddler. I try to sell a lot on ebay and Vinted which I use for Christmas and birthdays. I hope I cleared that up a bit

Please read the above. I have avoided claiming UC for as long as possible, because I never felt I needed it. I've tried so hard finding a job which would work around my needs and accommodate my autism, but I've never been successful. I've been told I need to flee as my partner is financially abusive which I didn't realise, so I'm not sure how I can get out without some help. I'm not intending on staying on it forever. I just need to get out and get myself together

Look on Entitled to.

It was very accurate for me, but amounts will vary depending on the number of children, location etc.

It's a very easy website, which asks very clear questions and has clarifications to explain what they mean. It will ask about your current benefits (PIP and ?CB?), age, age of kids, health etc. You can also find out the housing rate to look for private rental by googling 'housing element UC' and the area you live in. You could use this to put an expected rent amount into Entitled To as well. Look at average rents for your area (google) and the housing allowance for your area. You should be able to work out from that how much you will have in income and how much you will need for rent (in many areas, you will need to top up your rent from other benefits to get anywhere). Then you can make a proper plan.

Best of luck.

Op with the greatest of respect there aren’t points for not claiming. Not claiming should be the default. You’ve chosen to get pregnant, twice, when you’re in no position to financially provide for a baby let alone have pets etc

if you’re so disabled you need to claim benefits and not work then I’m surprised you feel up to have a baby and raising it which is by far more physically and mentally gruelling than an admin or cafe job.

The reason none of these decisions have been properly thought through is because you know the taxpayer would step in and sadly you’re probably right.

If I wanted to rely on the taxman I would've done it when I had my eldest. It wasn't up to me to decide I wasn't fit to work, I've tried applying for multiple jobs over the years but none of which ever took me on. I've been under the support of autism UK who helped me get me into college and I did volunteering for a while. But nobody have ever offered me a job role. So I've been trying hard trying to start businesses and doing things from home which were never successful. This is a last resort, just so I can get out and get my own place until I get back on my feet. My toddler isn't eligible for free nursery until January, so until then I'm stuck anyway and I don't think anyone would want to hire someone noticeably pregnant. I find looking after my son difficult on the demanding front, but I found the jobs I trialled were much worse. Especially as I was verbally and physically abused quite badly by one employer, which took a while for me to start trusting people again. And that was after a one week trial. I have no luxuries, I don't even have WiFi or a washing machine because I only buy what we NEED. Never what I want, because that isn't what I feel PIP is for. I sell stuff on ebay and Vinted to save up for Christmas and birthdays. I'm ashamed to have to be in the position where I need some financial help, but I don't know how else I'm supposed to get on my feet again as I have no savings (ex spent it all)

Where do you get stuff to sell if you have nothing? I'm still not sure if you have some documentation that you are unable to work, or you just haven't been successful in getting a job. What businesses have you tried to start?

Where did you live before moving into soon to be exes parents home?

Always the same. They can never work but always fine to look after kids/ grandkids/ manage the stress on the body of giving birth etc. I suspect this is just another wind up post like most on this site.

@Mslongears a washing machine is an essential, not a luxury.

I understand you’re very attached to your pets but start mentally preparing yourself for the very likely possibility you’ll have to (at least temporarily) rehome them. Most places that will place you on temporary accommodation won’t allow pets, or if you’re offered a flat they normally won’t allow pets either due to communal areas, even if it’s unfair.

Yep, always a plethora of excuses

Just old clothes we don't wear, toys etc. I bought a secondhand cricut years ago and I tried making custom stuff on to sell on etsy but it's so over saturated which I didn't realise at the time. I also did a dog behavioural course to become a dog walker, did my animal care level 2 to do pet home boarding. Also several beauty courses (which turns out I was useless at). It's just finding someone who's happy to take me on being able to accommodate my needs. But obviously I won't be able to do anything now until I get free nursery funding so I've just made life really difficult for myself

With my grandparent who's now passed away. Before that I lived with my parents but they aren't in a situation to let me stay which is understandable as they couldn't cope with a toddler and a baby. Ex was planning on buying a home for us in the future, but obviously that won't happen now

Yes I have homes lined up for my cats, the others are being collected next week or already gone to new homes now

Believe what you want. Atleast I've tried unlike some. Do let me know if you know of anyone willing to take on someone with autism who isn't going to be discriminatory or verbally abusive, and somewhere I can bring my toddler as he isn't entitled to free nursery place until January. I'll be happy to hear your suggestion