DD20 learning disabilities, what benefits could she claim?

[Leela2]

My daughter has mild/moderate learning disabilities, and is currently doing a course at college for people with extra needs. Her tax credits will finish when she finishes in June this year.

What would she be entitled to apply for please? The chances of her being able to getting a job are slim. She has been turned down for PIP, not enough points.

Is she still classed as a dependant? I have no idea who to ask for help.

She should apply for ESA once her tax credits finish. How old will she be when she finishes the course? She probably won't be considered a dependant once she's no longer in education.

It's worth looking into mandatory reconsideration/appeal for her PIP; many people get turned down initially but succeed on appeal. But she can also claim ESA as well as PIP, they are completely different benefits.

Thank you. She will be 20 when she finishes college this year. I will look into ESA for her.

Leela sorry I don't think I will be able to help too much as my DD - 25 yrs of age - has SLD along with severe ASD and a dangerous form of epilepsy.

If it helps in any way, my DD is paid the following:

ESA - no way would she be able to work of course - along with a severe disablement allowance

PIP - DD qualifies for high rate both for care and mobility

Housing Benefit - DD lives in her own apartment close to us on a supported living plan but within a managed, small complex for young adults with LD's.

I would have thought your DD would qualify at the very least for ESA if living at home, (Employment Support Allowance.) I find it outrageous that she doesn't qualify for any PIP allowance bearing in mind she is classed mild/moderate. 😡. I had to complete the paperwork for DD to switch from DLA to PIP earlier this year and have to say the questions, in some areas, are absolutely bonkers and the criteria is ridiculous. My DD had her high rate mobility extended for a minimum of 10 yrs - she had an auto lifetime allowance with DLA - not because her epilepsy means she cannot walk at all during seizures which are always in clusters and occur without warning, but because she is incapable of planning a route to somewhere and because she has to be accompanied at all times. She was awarded zero points for the former but 12 points for the latter!

I found the Citizen's Advice Bureau web page advising how to complete the paperwork incredibly useful. Can you possibly reapply? Would certainly be worth a shot.

Does your DD have an adult social worker at all? They can also prove very useful with things like this.

So sorry for waffling on and not sure how helpful I am being but I didn't just want to read and run because I certainly understand the worry/sleepless nights experienced being the parent of a disabled adult.

Sorry, X posted with Whitepipe!

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

The above is the web page which I was referring too. Definitely worth a read!

Carers association can also advise re benefits and help complete forms

She'd need to claim Universal Credit as non contributions based ESA is no longer available to new claims. She will need a fit note from her GP and will then be assessed as to whether she is fit for work. Also the severe disability premium (not SDA, that is a different benefit) is no longer available for new claims.

As mentioned she should either submit a mandatory reconsideration or new claim for PIP, depending on when the original claim was refused.

Are you her appointee? If not the DWP can arrange that so you can deal with them on her behalf.

Thank you all. Yes I'm her appointee. The first time we applied it went to tribunal and we won. Then we had to change from DLA to PIP and they decided as she could text on a mobile phone, and managed to get to college, she wasn't entitled. I will look into reapplying again for her. I have fibromyalgia and M.E. and I was turned down for PIP, didn't have the energy to appeal. I'm in a bit of a panic now as I won't be able to continue to rent here, I won't be able to afford it with no CTC or child benefit, help with rent etc.

I would get some support with reapplying for PIP. I’m surprised she was turned down. Can she manage random journeys? For example if you told her to get a bus to a new place would she be able to plan and execute the journey without support?

Is there a branch of mencap or similar in your area? They would be worth contacting for advice on next steps once she has finished college.

Are you able to claim as her carer, to help with the costs a bit?

Carers Allowance will not be applicable if the daughter is not in receipt of PIP.

Dang

WrongKindOfFace....no, she wouldn't be able to plan and go on a new journey on her own. Apart from not being able to mentally do it herself, the planning etc, she has social and general anxiety and panic attacks.

Thank you all so much for your help. I'm nearly in tears. I've tried so, so hard to get help for her, and no one is interested. She just isn't 'bad' enough. She got a bit of extra help at school after a long battle. She needs prompting to eat properly, she'd just eat sweets otherwise. She needs prompting to wash herself and her hair, changing her clothes, brushing her teeth. She has a reader at college for tests etc. The college are trying to sort out an Education, Health and Learning plan, but I don't know what that will help with.

The Tories fucked it all up so it's UC for her now. I'm so sorry.

Don’t panic about it being UC though, it’s really just the equivalent of claiming ESA - she’ll need to submit sick notes and go for an assessment. When you make the claim be clear about her disabilities and what support she needs. And ask to speak to a disability advisor at the job centre. They may be able to refer her for support?

I’m gobsmacked that she was turned down for PIP, she should have got at least enough points for standard rate mobility on the travel alone. See here for info about the categories and what you need to evidence, but do get some help. pipinfo.net

My daughter gets ESA and DLA. We had to appeal for the dla but not the ESA. We have not yet had the demand to swop from dla to pip though they keep saying we will get it soon.