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.

Op, you need to contact fightback and have them complete you sons pip claim........

I really don't. He does not meet the criteria.

Avro, I mean this kindly, but if he can’t manage a job at 17, then by definition he has limited capacity for work. And putting it down to immaturity is probably doing him no favours.

Just dropping by to say that the OP requested that we move this thread into Money Matters (from Chat). So we've moved it over now.

Avro, I mean this kindly, but if he can’t manage a job at 17, then by definition he has limited capacity for work. And putting it down to immaturity is probably doing him no favours.

I didn't put it down to immaturity. In fact I don't think I mentioned maturity, unless in response to someone else?

The reason I gave, very early in were emotional, social and the current economic climate.

People seem so black and white here which is rather bizarre when we are talking about an autistic person who actually does think that plainly. I'm struggling to understand why so many people see 'unable to work' V 'able to work' and not a single thing in between.

As for doing him 'no favours' I find the suggestion quite rude. Everything I do is for my boys. Everything. This isn't some half assed situation that hasn't been given any thought. We have been over everything. I was just asking for some advice on where I stand with my benefits because shitty circumstances have forced me into this situation. Supporting my son has not and never will be based on the tax credit outcome. I don't think there was any harm in asking, that's all.

@MichaelMumsnet

Thank you

No one is attacking you - quite the opposite. People are suggesting sensitively that if he isn’t able to work for various reasons then maybe you are being overly dismissive of the idea of claiming PIP. It really isn’t as hard to claim as all the horror stories have people believe. My son receives high rate dla for autism and I receive PIP for chronic autoimmune conditions. If you met me you wouldn’t have a clue I have a thing wrong with me. I never tell anyone in real life that I claim it as I know people can be very judgey about it.

Don’t rely on websites like entitled to for a comparison of tax credit v UC as they’re frequently inaccurate, especially if you’re self employed. Seriously, get some professional advice.

And if your son has a fit note he will qualify for uc whilst he awaits an assessment. He might qualify for limited capability for work - you just don’t know unless you try.

No one is attacking you - quite the opposite.

I haven't said anyone was. Please don't put works into my mouth.

People are suggesting sensitively that if he isn’t able to work for various reasons then maybe you are being overly dismissive of the idea of claiming PIP.

And I am rather constantly trying to tell people he does not meet the criteria.

It really isn’t as hard to claim as all the horror stories have people believe.

It is of you don't meet the criteria. And as one poster kindly pointed out earlier, even if you do meet the criteria it can be a struggle.

My son receives high rate dla for autism and I receive PIP for chronic autoimmune conditions.

That's great. You qualified. You met the criteria. DS doesn't.

If you met me you wouldn’t have a clue I have a thing wrong with me. I never tell anyone in real life that I claim it as I know people can be very judgey about it.

I don't know what this has to do with anything.

Wow. You’re very angry in your replies. I was just trying to help.. I’ll give up.

*Don’t rely on websites like entitled to for a comparison of tax credit v UC as they’re frequently inaccurate, especially if you’re self employed. Seriously, get some professional advice.
*

Thanks. This is what I wanted to know. It's why I asked here the. I have seen some posters get brilliant benefit advice on Mumsnet recently. Knowing the calculators are inaccurate is very helpful.

*

• And if your son has a fit note he will qualify for uc whilst he awaits an assessment. He might qualify for limited capability for work - you just don’t know unless you try.

He won't. There is a world between being unable to work as per the DWP and not being really for a job under current circumstances. I know you are trying to help here but he really isn't going to meet the criteria for claiming UC now.

Wow. You’re very angry in your replies. I was just trying to help.. I’ll give up.

I'm not angry I'm just getting bloody tired saying the same shit over and over. It's boring and unhelpful to the situation. That said there is some great information the thread as well so I'm glad I posted and grateful to the posters who are reading what I post.

I was miffed at you for suggesting I said anyone was attacking me though. I will give you that.

Can he claim universal credit ?

You have been very defensive in your replies.
If he can’t cope with a part time job at 17, then university next year is going to be an almighty struggle, so you might want to start thinking long term

He will qualify whilst he awaits the uc assessment. He literally needs a fit note from the GP and to apply online. Maybe ask a professional benefits advisor for advice on this as well? Citizens advice are still doing phone appointments.

*You have been very defensive in your replies.
*
I have, you are correct. It's a natural response to being told the same thing over and over despite saying it doesn't apply.

If he can’t cope with a part time job at 17, then university next year is going to be an almighty struggle, so you might want to start thinking long term

It's not really as simple as pitting those things against each other though. That is a very rigid thought process. People are diverse and cope differently with a variety of things. He is a high achieving academic which has absolutely nothing to do with the current job climate nor his 'readiness' to join the job market, it will however be really useful when he goes to uni. Incidentally, there has been no suggestion that he won't get a job at all. Just not right now.

If he’s high achieving could he not just start uni in September? It sounds like he would struggle with the social element however and being a year younger might not help with that.

He will qualify whilst he awaits the uc assessment. He literally needs a fit note from the GP and to apply online.

Thank you. I don't know that the GP would give a fit note though. On what grounds? I mean I shall look into it, but the GP has not seen him since he was 9 so I'm not sure what they could say.

Maybe ask a professional benefits advisor for advice on this as well? Citizens advice are still doing phone appointments.

I definitely will do this. Thanks you

avro there is a lot more to coping at university than simply being academic.

Hi Avro
This must be really stressful. My comments are based on finance but I’m Scottish, know the system here pretty well. I wouldn’t encourage any 17yo to go to uni.

However I think you should look at college for a year. If he can find an hnc in the area he wants to do at uni, it will give him a gentler transition to a much more self sufficient way of learning than from a school; it will keep him in a routine for the next year; and it will let him experience life outside school all of which I think are important to any young person, but may be more so for him with his autism.

Sorry comments are NOT based on finance 😳

If he’s high achieving could he not just start uni in September?

It wasn't the plan so he hasn't applied. Nobody knows what is happening with university at the moment so it's not ideal timing for it, no.

It sounds like he would struggle with the social element however and being a year younger might not help with that.

He would probably be fine tbh, but there is a lot of groundwork I need to lay before he is ready and I thought we had another year and a bit so preparation for travel etc hasn't really been started.

avro there is a lot more to coping at university than simply being academic.

I know. It was one example. Just one.

This must be really stressful.

It really is!

My comments are based on finance but I’m Scottish, know the system here pretty well. I wouldn’t encourage any 17yo to go to uni.

Thanks, I'm absolutely it going to. I would t even be encouraging my NT DS to go at 17, never mind my autistic son.

However I think you should look at college for a year. If he can find an hnc in the area he wants to do at uni, it will give him a gentler transition to a much more self sufficient way of learning than from a school; it will keep him in a routine for the next year; and it will let him experience life outside school all of which I think are important to any young person, but may be more so for him with his autism.

He isn't going to go to college. That's his choice and I am fine with that. It would be back to school or nothing. I'm still hoping for school, this was just about finding out what happens in case he decides against it.

@avroroad
If you use this link you can work out what your UC award would be if you switched, manually with paper pen and calculator. It will be 100% accurate the online calculators are not.
www.uceplus.co.uk/how-much-will-my-payment-be.html#

@avroroad do the calculations without including your 17 year old. There will be no no dependent deduction as he is under 21 so just miss him off entirely to give an accurate result.