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Original poster

How should I save DC DLA

15 replies

MoneyConfused · 16/11/2021 11:01

I’m currently trying to get us better organised as a household in terms of money.

DC receives DLA. He’s autistic. We used it for therapy for him when I was a sahp.
Now I work so we just pay out of our income and what he doesn’t need as much intervention as he did when younger. It’s now over £10K.
I’m hoping that it will go some way in helping his independence when he’s an adult . Do help buy a house, etc whatever is needed then. I don’t know how independent ( or sensible! 🤞) he’ll be so I would like it to be in a safe place where he can’t just access it and blow it when he’s 18.

It’ll keep growing hopefully as he’s preteen.
What’s my best option? A trust?

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 16/11/2021 14:06

Just be careful, dla isn't supposed to be saved - if your DS qualifies for support a later date when's he older he might not be able to access some stuff.

Original poster
MoneyConfused · 16/11/2021 17:44

@notapizzaeater

Just be careful, dla isn't supposed to be saved - if your DS qualifies for support a later date when's he older he might not be able to access some stuff.
Hmmm that’s true. Definitely something to think about …..
OP posts:
stingofthebutterfly · 17/11/2021 14:21

Yes definitely be careful. If he's going to be reliant on benefits when he's older, he will be expected to live on a percentage of anything over £6k and won't be entitled to full benefits. Anything over £16k and he won't get universal credit at all. Obviously that might change by the time he's an adult.

It depends whether you think he'll be able to manage his own money at 18. If not, I'd save it in your name and buy him things as he needs them.

Noeuf · 17/11/2021 14:25

How old is he? Bear in mind it might reduce if you have to reassess and his needs have changed. I’d probably save it for driving lessons and a car / insurance. At 16 he will need to apply for PIP, and manage it himself unless they appoint you to manage his PIP.

gunnersgold · 17/11/2021 14:31

Don't save it , it won't help him in thr long term , we decided to use ours for that reason ! They will be entitled to support as an adult with learning difficulties but with savings it may be a problem .
A solicitor actually told me it would be better if he had nothing and we have cut him out of my parents will .

redwasp · 17/11/2021 14:44

I'm an appointee for my adult DS who claims PIP and UC and I save part of his money into a pension, as that's not considered savings for UC. Of course, he won't be able to access it until he's much older, but I hope we'll be around to support him before then so we would be able to help with living costs directly. I haven't looked into trusts much as they're quite expensive to run so don't seem to be worth it unless you have a sizeable amount.

If I was saving for him and didn't want to lock it away for so long, I would put it into an account into my own name.

Babyroobs · 17/11/2021 16:10

Thought PIP/ DLA was to help with all the additional needs that a disability brings.

Noeuf · 17/11/2021 18:03

‘Babyroobs

Thought PIP/ DLA was to help with all the additional needs that a disability brings.‘

Yes, but that puts you in a similar (haha eyes up credit card after a lengthy hospital stay) position to if the disability wasn’t there. As it’s not means tested for some people I imagine you can save some of it. I don’t think people should have to fund those every day costs out of income based on means testing tbh.

claymodels · 17/11/2021 18:10

I would like it to be in a safe place where he can’t just access it and blow it when he’s 18.

He may need it to live on as he won't get UC or wherever they have them if he has savings. Just use the money. It's there to be used. I never differentiated between the DLA we used to get (DS lost it when he was 12) and any other income, it all just went into the pot.

Original poster
MoneyConfused · 17/11/2021 20:50

@redwasp

I'm an appointee for my adult DS who claims PIP and UC and I save part of his money into a pension, as that's not considered savings for UC. Of course, he won't be able to access it until he's much older, but I hope we'll be around to support him before then so we would be able to help with living costs directly. I haven't looked into trusts much as they're quite expensive to run so don't seem to be worth it unless you have a sizeable amount.

If I was saving for him and didn't want to lock it away for so long, I would put it into an account into my own name.

I think that’s what I’m going to do- save it in an ISA or other savings under my name.
OP posts:
Original poster
MoneyConfused · 17/11/2021 20:51

@stingofthebutterfly

Yes definitely be careful. If he's going to be reliant on benefits when he's older, he will be expected to live on a percentage of anything over £6k and won't be entitled to full benefits. Anything over £16k and he won't get universal credit at all. Obviously that might change by the time he's an adult.

It depends whether you think he'll be able to manage his own money at 18. If not, I'd save it in your name and buy him things as he needs them.

It’s tricky tbh. I’m hopefully that he will but you never know.
OP posts:
Original poster
MoneyConfused · 17/11/2021 20:54

Thank you all for your thoughts. I’ve decided to put it in an ISA in my name for now. I’ll let DH know too and now I need to think about how to best pass it back to him in future.

OP posts:
Bagelsandbrie · 17/11/2021 20:55

You can do whatever you like with dla so ignore posters saying you can’t save it. No one checks what you do with it and in theory you could just pay it into your normal account and then transfer money from savings to there - how would anyone know which money was which?! But anyway be careful about saving money in general for a disabled childs future - currently if they need the support they will get it under council funding and if you do have savings they may get swallowed up for the wrong thing.

tootiredtospeak · 17/11/2021 20:59

I have saved a fair bit of my sons DLA he is autistic and just turned 20. I used it to pay for driving lessons a car and his first years insurance nearly 7k but sooo worth it. Its took him 3 years but the level of independence its given is huge. He can now drive to college and his supported internship and no anxiety re travelling.

PicaK · 19/11/2021 15:20

I'd change how you think about it.
He gets dla. You buy things or it supports the family bills etc.
You save your salaries for the good of all the family.
When DD was smaller we spent it on posh gym membership for whole family. With full blessing of our social worker. The restorative benefits of soaking in jacuzzi meant we could be better parents to DD than when we were frazzled. And that's what she needed more than interventions etc. At that time it's changed now.
Look at your family from a holistic approach esp if you have other kids

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