DWP Entitlement - don't know where to start

[CassyJ]

Hi, I'm hoping that somebody can offer a bit of advice as I'm banging my head against a brick wall. My son quit sixth form last year due to mental health problems (which is another cry for help from me covered on a different threat). He then start college last September and loved it, but has now quit this too as he said his mental health is stressing him out again. He's 18 so no longer a child. Given the fact that he's now not working and sitting at home 'trying to get better', I need to declare this to the DPW as I won't be entitled to child benefit or child tax credits which I had been getting. I work full time but don't earn enough to cover what I have been getting, so does anybody know what benefits my son could claim in his own name? He has a mental health assessment in a couple of weeks so may be able to get something in writing to support any claim he makes, and I'm hoping that this is just a temporary glitch, but I'm worrying how I'm going to manage once the tax credits stop. Thank you in advance.

He can start his own UC claim. Like job seekers allowance , he'll get around £250pm I believe.

He’ll need to make a claim for Universal Credit.

Entitled to has a calculator to work out entitlement.

He'll be entitled to £265 a month in UC.

When he starts his claim, there will be a question along the lines of "Do you have a disability or health condition that puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job?". If he is too unwell to work, he should answer "Yes" to that question and get FIT notes from his GP.

This will start the work capability assessment process, and he'll get a medical questionnaire to fill in, and ultimately be called for an assessment. If he's found to have "limited capability for work and work-related activity", his UC will go up by £354.

If he's really unwell, he may be entitled to PIP. Check out the criteria here PIP descriptors and points and see if you think he might get 8 points in either daily living or mobility, and if so, get him to ring for a form. And get help from CAB or similar to fill it in, he's much more likely to be successful if someone who knows the regs and case law helps with it, especially as he doesn't have a physical disability. It could give him another £64 a week.

While you're at it, if you're renting it would be an idea for you to see if you're entitled to any other help. There are several online calculators, I think entitledto.co.uk is the most user-friendly.

If he's quit you need to tell them immediately otherwise you'll occur an overpayment of tax credits & child benefit.
He can claim UC in his own right and maybe pip depending on his care needs.