17 year old not going back to school. Loss of tax credit help!

[avroroad]

Please go gentle on me, up until 3 years ago DH and I both worked full time. Him for over 30 years, me for just under. Now we have found ourselves sin a bit of a shitty position.

The upshot is that DS, 17, may not be returning to school but won't be going to Uni until 2021. So this means a loss of CB and my tax credits will drop - I will just have one child on my claim. I get carers allowance (for DH) and up until Covid-19 I was self employed. That income has gone for the foreseeable, mainly due to the industry which isn't going to pick up anytime soon. We are managing but I am really worried about what happens when I lose the money for DS (end of August iirc) There is nothing for him. He isn't ready to get a job, even if there were jobs available, due to being autistic. So does that leave us as we are or is there anything I could do that might make things a bit easier? UC maybe? I have been reluctant to do anything that would trigger a switch to UC because all the calculators told me (haven't looked recently - I'm baffled won't it all now) that tax credits are a better option.

This isn't a simple case of 'get a job' for me. I have a job. I have my business waiting for me when trade picks up again (realistically looking at months though) and I have heavily invested etc. My job suits my circumstances ordinarily. What I do meantime, if anything, I have no idea though.

Re UC my husband claimed because he is self employed unable to work during covid like yourself they have added something to the application about applying for it due covid etc he has been awarded a payment this month (waited 5 weeks) UC may be better in some respects for you whilst theres less work at the minute as you can update your income as you are going along which will calculate your entitlement correctly each month rather than TC providing an amount based on last year's earnings which are irrelevant to today's earnings. Bear in mind though if you do switch to UC they will stop your TC straight away whilst they sort your claim.
Regardless of your son leaving education or not UC maybe a better option anyway given the fact you can't work like you used to do. You'll be entitled to more now and obviously will decrease when you are working more. UC is a minefield though I'm not sure anyone really understands it.

@Embracelife

Thanks you

@Concerned7777

With regards to changing to UC now, I hadn't really considered it as an option, we have been managing meantime and despite being made out to be only here for maximum benefits, I wasn't thinking about what I can claim due to Covid. I'm not the person some people seem to think. I'm just thinking ahead to how things might change later this year. We can manage just now so I don't really want to rock the boat, even if we would be better off.

@avroroad you have had a change of income as a direct effect of Covid you should claim theres nothing wrong with doing so. You and your DH have worked for many years you've paid into society your eligible to claim some of that back now when you need it.
My DH has claimed it for himself I'm not ashamed of it. My post about UC wasn't meant to cause you offence just sharing my experience it has been a god send for us in this initial period I can see some of the benefits of it long term.
You asked for advice about the 2 differences in UC and TC and I gave you my advice based on my own family dealings with both.

I totally get the “not wanting to rock the boat” thing. One reason I panicked when I had the letter about DLA ending and having to make a pip claim was I worried it would trigger me onto UC which I have been advised I should avoid for as long as possible as it’s horrific for people like myself apparently.

I’m absolutely dreading being moved onto UC.

While moving onto UC may TEMPORARILY be beneficial to op as UC claimants are getting more help than those on legacy benefits LONG TERM it may not be the correct option for her family.

I’m sceptical and I think that may be why they have done it that way - to try and “tempt” people to move to UC even if it’s against their long term best interests.

Definitely speak to a local agency like welfare rights or maybe a local branch of an autism charity who may have experience with Exactly this scenario.

I’ve several friends with Children & teens and young adults with asd navigating all this. So difficult and the dwp lack of sympathy and understanding of these conditions really does not help!

One friend has just been through all this with her 18 year old and is dreading having to do it all again when her 15 year old reaches the same point. Both have asd but differing effects/severity.

I know the home schooling won't help with benefits as we've learned on this thread but I don't think your benefits will be affected until August anyway?

So homeschooling could fill the "confidence gap" about not having a formal teaching environment between now and end of term at end June.

I think it would be a good use of time to get your DS accustomed to home schooling as a friend who is a teacher in a Scottish local authority says they are preparing for a winter lockdown. IT MAY NEVER HAPPEN but the fact they are preparing suggests we should too and your DS in particular.

Could the school facilitate zoom/teams/google hang out lessons? Where a teacher delivers a class via video calls? What resources could your school give you now? Under C4E and GIRFEC you have rights, bolstered by your son having autism. An autism charity may also be able to give guidance.

What you need most of all is for your son to feel academically supported between now and end of June so that he can start term happy/confident/satisfied (insert better word here) in August.

My DS goes into S3 on 19th May! Several weeks ahead of schedule.

National Parent Forum Scotland and Connect may be able to advise/support re a better learning/teaching experience for your DS.

Definitely get in touch with the contact people on embrace life's post and these guys here might help too:

www.turn2us.org.uk/

And yes register with connexions/whatever your equivalent is to keep the tax credits in the meantime.

I'd be wary of the better off stuff about UC btw - you've got the waiting period to start with, and even once your claim is up and running it's paid 12x a year rather than 13 plus if you've got savings over £6000 they'll affect your award.

I know the home schooling won't help with benefits as we've learned on this thread but I don't think your benefits will be affected until August anyway?

Yes that's right. This was always me thinking ahead in case he doesn't go back.

So homeschooling could fill the "confidence gap" about not having a formal teaching environment between now and end of term at end June.

I'm happy for things as they are tbh. He is doing plenty and there is no way I can teach him advanced Highers. He teaches me maths and physics most weeks!

I think it would be a good use of time to get your DS accustomed to home schooling as a friend who is a teacher in a Scottish local authority says they are preparing for a winter lockdown. IT MAY NEVER HAPPEN but the fact they are preparing suggests we should too and your DS in particular

If we had a winter lockdown he wouldn't go back, but that's ok and at least we would know. As it is we are all just hanging waiting for August.

Could the school facilitate zoom/teams/google hang out lessons? Where a teacher delivers a class via video calls? What resources could your school give you now?

They are doing as much as they can. Video classes are out with the reach though.

Under C4E and GIRFEC you have rights, bolstered by your son having autism. An autism charity may also be able to give guidance.

I won't lie I don't even know what those things are. This isn't really me looking for help for him though. I am happy to support him leaving if that turns out to be what he wants.

What you need most of all is for your son to feel academically supported between now and end of June so that he can start term happy/confident/satisfied (insert better word here) in August.

I think I may have made a bigger fuss than necessary. As a PP said I should have just asked whether TC or UC would be better with a child dropping off my claim in August. The focus of this thread is so far away from what I was asking. I appreciate you posting, and I am trying to respond to most people, but it's not academic support he needs, it's a brick building. This isn't something we haven't offered out support or looked for help from school over.

My DS goes into S3 on 19th May! Several weeks ahead of schedule.

Ours changed on Monday but it wasn't ahead of schedule, they always move up at the start of May here.

@SciFiScream

Sorry, that's sounded really off of me. The truth is I'm not looking for learning support over and above the input from school just now. It's a pressure he absolutely doesn't need.

And yes register with connexions/whatever your equivalent is to keep the tax credits in the meantime.

I will look in to this . It's not something I could do now, I would have to wait until August. I'm not writing S6 off just yet!

@DrinkVeneer

Thanks, I am concerned about it. I really don't know anything about benefits other than getting tax credits. The whole thing is an absolute minefield.

The whole TC/UC question is complicated - lots of people don't understand it. But honestly do get in touch with contact and turn2us. They're both very knowledgeable and helpful.

I do feel for you OP. I always think it's bad that at the very point in life when the difficulties that disabled people face are exacerbated by the transition to adulthood - which is tricky for everyone anyway - support and financial assistance becomes overly complicated or even drops.

Ooh, talking about transition, there's these folk as well:

councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/transition-information-network

C4E = curriculum for excellence
GIRFEC = getting it right for every child.

I think you are right to think and plan ahead. I'm doing that now for a winter lockdown.

I didn't think you sounded off at all!

Our date change is normally around the 8th June.

I really feel for every pupil who is not getting to sit exams and prove to themselves and others what they have learned (a friend's DS will really suffer as he pulled his socks up after prelims, thinking that they never matter )

It's affecting an entire generation.