Any other single parents with an only, on income support who can answer me a quick question??

[TheLifeOfRiley]

Hi I am wondering if anyone can help me with a quick question

I am a single mum to DS and am on income support

he is autistic and I currently receive DLA for him and carer's allowance for me, since the budget I am worried about cuts and wondered how much my income would be if I didn't receive DLA and was just receiving income support, Child benefit, and child tax credit. Also as DS gets older I would hope he would not be eligible for DLA as he may be closer developmentally to his peers, however in my ideal fantasy world I would also be able to work in this scenario so would be less concerned about my income. Hope that makes sense!

Anyone in these circumstances currently who wouldn't mind telling me their income? (Can CAT me it if would rather not post on the board.)

I DO NOT want this thread to descend into a bunfight about politics / benefits / SAHM vs WOHM / single parents etc. Thanks.

if you dont get DLA you would not be able to get income support if your child is over seven as i understand it as if not employed you would go on to unemployment benefit also if you stop claiming DLA your child tax benefit would also go down as you will currently be getting a premium for a disabled child also if you start working you would change to working tax credits so the amount you would get would depend on your income. not sure if this helps at all!

No he is only 5 yrs old kittycat

Yes I knew about disability element of CTC but am not sure of what difference it makes to my income of CTC which is why I wondered what the single mum of a neuroligcally typical child would receive as receiving DLA means I get an extra element of CTC, and that I can claim carers. However claiming carer's affects the amount of IS I get too so that amount would also be different.

Would like to get back to work if DS's new school year gets off on the right foot but I just don't know at the moment, it is a case of wait and see and I feel all worried. If I knew what amount my worst case scenario income would be I could at least see if it is liveable (I'm a bit of a worrier).

thought you would probably know most of that anyway! just depends on what income you may earn doesnt it. in the same boat as you have two on dla one autistic one with visual imapirment . so i hope someone will come come along soon and give you an idea of the tax credits you would get if working and at what amount they earn . best of luck

well I get child tax credit of about £210 a month, IS of £65 a week and Child Benefit of £80 a month. I don't work so don't know what WTC you might get. My ds is 4. The budget said that when child reaches school age then lone parent would be moved off IS onto JSA (same amount but expect you actively look for work). Of course, looking for work is not the same as actually getting a job.

It isn't a lot to live on. I also get exemption from council tax, mortgage interest paid, free prescriptions, healthy start vouchers, oh no not any more now ds is 4. Would get free school meals for ds too.

The new rule state that once a child reaches school age IS will stop and switch to JSA - you then have to satisfy them re job hunting etc. If still on JSA after 12 months HB is cut.