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Original poster

Will I end up in a tent ?

79 replies

user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:11

Married 29 years . One child nearly 18 . Disabled . Going through a divorce . I am a carer. He is not far off retirement . I’m younger .
There is not a lot of money in the pot to share out .Judge said no spousal support and clean break.He keeps his pension .
I will have to claim universal credit for me alone
i wont be able to afford to live ,eat , or pay bills .I will only get universal credit (single person ) as child will be over 18
I need to know what other woman do in this position as I will lose most of my income is related around my life as a carer and a mother .ie child maintenance ( solicitor advised it will end at 19 years) child benefit will end . My child will have to make their own claims for any benefits .
I also have a terminal disease .
So all I would be left with is £73.00 a week and carers allowance ( not guaranteed )
I feel that giving up my career to look after a disabled child is seen as “a choice”by this government and the courts .when in reality if I would not off been around to care for my child , they would not survived . I feel at a loss completely , I could seriously end up sleeping in a tent , if I could afford one .

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 20/04/2023 22:15

Sorry can't quite understand. Are you a carer for your disabled child? Can they claim their own benefits or will you be their appointee?
Why wouldn't you get housing benefit or your own benefits?

Theunamedcat · 20/04/2023 22:19

Do you claim pip?

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 20/04/2023 22:22

Have you actually done a benefit check on something like EntitledTo?

Without full details it's difficult to give exact info but on the surface it sounds like you may be eligible for Universal Credit, disability support for yourself, carers support for your son, possibly housing support if you're renting.

What advice have you been given and who by in terms of benefits eligibility?

Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:47

Hi
i and my son are disabled .He will claim his own benefits at 18 .
I don’t get housing benefit because I don’t live in a council property .
I get PIP at the moment .

OP posts:
Beautiful3 · 20/04/2023 22:50

Do you claim dla for her? I'd keep most of that to house/feed and clothe her. I'd give her pocket money too. If she wants all of it, then she'll have to pay you rent and contribute towards food/bills
If she doesnt want to.do that then she can move out into sheltered accommodation, then you can rent out her room.

Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:51

My Universal credit will go down , because my son has to claim in his own right at 18 . Universal credit is £73.00 a week single

OP posts:
LeavesOnTrees · 20/04/2023 22:51

Why aren't you getting any if the pension ? Have you got your own solicitor to argue for you ?

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 20/04/2023 22:52

Are you renting or do you own your house. Private rentals are not exempt from housing benefit just capped

www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/what-youll-get

Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:53

Still awaiting a decision

OP posts:
ineedafairygodmother · 20/04/2023 22:53

You will be entitled to the housing element of universal credit if you go into rented accommodation whether that labour council or private rented. Go into entitled.com and that will give you a near enough calculation of what you will be entitled to

Myusername2015 · 20/04/2023 22:53

user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:51

My Universal credit will go down , because my son has to claim in his own right at 18 . Universal credit is £73.00 a week single

Would you meet the criteria under UC for limited capability for work and related activities? That gives you a higher UC amount

Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:55

Hi well having a terminal disease you would think so , but because I’m “ going to die in less than 6 months “ they don’t consider a terminal disease ….terminal
so I would have to undergo another assessment to see “ if I fit for work “ …

OP posts:
Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:56

Edit “ NOT going to die within 6 months “

OP posts:
Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:57

We are still in his house at the moment .privately owned

OP posts:
Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:58

Because the judge said he was near to retirement age , so he would need his pension .

OP posts:
Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:59

Sharing the same house with him at the moment .privately owned

OP posts:
Original poster
user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 23:00

I cannot afford to rent . Renting a 2 Bed here is upwards of £1000.

OP posts:
Whisper23 · 20/04/2023 23:15

user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:57

We are still in his house at the moment .privately owned

His house? Is it not jointly owned?

scoobydoo1971 · 20/04/2023 23:29

PIP for your own medical condition, and look at Employment support allowance. Also, child can apply for PIP and you can then get carers allowance. You may qualify for council tax discount as well. Your local authority may have a community care team who can advise you of local funding for carers. Entitled to can give you some idea of your potential income, but a welfare advisor from the citizens advice bureau can give a more precise projection.

Testina · 21/04/2023 00:03

What was the ruling on the value of the equity in his house?

Babyroobs · 21/04/2023 00:05

If you cannot work because of either your illness or because you are a carer then you would either get the carers element on UC or possibly the Limited capability for work and work related activity ( LCWRA ) element of UC after assessment.
Your disabled child will be able to claim UC themselves and if they can't work could potentially get almost £600 a month and their PIP on top, so a decent amount for you both to live on as I'm assuming from potentially almost 1k in benefits for your disabled young adult, he will be contributing to the household assuming he is going to be living with you. Plus you won't have any council tax to pay or very little if just on UC and your young adult is disabled. It won't be a lot to live on but do-able with your son's benefits too. I am assuming he would not be fit to work ?

Babyroobs · 21/04/2023 00:09

Is the house jointly owned op ? If so is it going to be sold? Your half of the capital in the house can be disregarded for 6 months for UC purposes if it is on the market, and longer possibly if it takes longer to sell.

Babyroobs · 21/04/2023 00:10

user1488308965 · 20/04/2023 22:56

Edit “ NOT going to die within 6 months “

It sounds like you may well still qualify for the LCWRA element of Uc though- it may just take a bit longer to be awarded it, as like you say you need to go through an assessment.

Testina · 21/04/2023 00:17

What was the CETV for his pension?
It seems really odd that there was presumably a reasonable amount of assets to get to the point of judge being involved (not just mediation and/or solicitors) yet you say there wasn’t much in the pot.
By pot, do you mean actual cash savings separate to house and pension?
I can’t believe that after a 29 year marriage you wouldn’t have been awarded 50% of the house equity.

Testina · 21/04/2023 00:20

Did you have your pen pension CETV?
29 years married with an 18 year old is at least 10 working years. If that happened to be in an NHS or local government / civil service pension, from back when they were Final Salary, that’s potentially quite valuable.
I’m thinking aloud, how you could have been awarded so little.

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