Disabled 18 year old, sorting his money out

[elliejjtiny]

Ds1 is 18, diagnosed with autism aged 9. He gets PIP, standard rate for both and I am his appointee. Until last week he was on my universal credit claim but he has just left full time education so he had to come off my claim. I need to set up a claim in his own right but I know it will be less than we were getting for him on our claim. I'm also worried about him being hassled by the job centre because I don't think he will cope with that. He is self employed but really doesn't earn much and can't do the job he does without a lot of support from both me and dh. Any tips on how to do this? I was planning on registering his UC claim with a new e mail address that I control so I don't have to keep asking him for the codes etc. Any other ideas?

No help on the UC, but if you use a new email you can set it up to forward everything to your own email so you don't need to check 2 accounts.

Help him apply for LCWRA/LCW he will still be able to work with no restrictions as he gets pip.
Also you will be his UC appointee to it applies to all dwp benefits so you make the claim and manage it.

If you are appointee you manage the UC claim. If DS can’t work full time, request a fit note from the GP to submit to UC in order to pursue LCWRA.

This is brilliant, I didn't realise I could do that, thank you.

Thank you. Would the gp do a fit note when she hasn't seen him for years? I think he's only ever had about 3 gp appointments in his life. He could technically work full time of there was the work available but he would need dh to be with him full time as well.

I think you need to be quite careful here. He’s now an adult and so the things you could automatically do for him as a child will change. One of the biggest changes will be the ability to manage his benefits for him. A colleague of mine realised this when her DS turned 18. She actually had to apply to the Court of Protection for Guardianship and it was a long, protracted affair.

No that is what an appointee is you manage the benefits for someone over the age of 16. The situation you are talking about is different and relates to control of finances.

I do it for my DD with her agreement. She is capable but hardly uses emails and was missing work requests from her casual job.

Then when my DPs needed separate emails for NHS app I did the same for them. Works a treat.

DS is an autistic adult and I've been his DWP appointee for benefits since he got DLA as a child. He lives at home and will likely do for at least another decade. We haven't had any dealings with the Court of Protection.

When he became an adult he got PIP and I started a UC claim for him. We had to attend one interview at the Jobcentre with ID and that's the only time he's had to attend in person. He will probably need photo ID (I always recommend getting a provisional driving licence for ID even for someone who won't drive, it's cheaper and less likely to get damaged carrying around). We got a sick note from his GP and then we got a form (UC50? ) to apply for LCWRA. I completed the forms on his behalf and sent evidence, and he was awarded LCWRA with no face to face assessment. He had an EHCP and had gone to special school, so we had lots of evidence.

His claim just continues every month with no need for him to log in or complete any tasks. For your DC it will be more complex with self employment - I think the admin side can be a bit of a headache. My DS has his own email address but I set up another one for official stuff like this and I administer it all, with everything forwarded to my own email, as pp suggested.

We also have 2 bank accounts for him. One for him to access independently, and one where his benefits get paid in. I do all the admin for the second account, although not in any official capacity - I know the login and run it as DS, with his permission. I transfer a small amount fortnightly to his first account which he cam spend on whatever he likes. At the moment I still pay for boring purchases like clothes, food and toiletries. I transfer a monthly amount to my own account to pay towards household costs (labelled as groceries or board). This helps to make sure his bank balance doesn't build up, and ensures that any audit will show that we are spending his money for his needs. His phone bill goes out of that account too.

@pastaka sounds similar to what my friend does for her child now 18

How much do you charge your son for board as my friend d doesn't do this but sounds like it's a good idea as 1) helps you /her 2) showing your child how to budget and pay for stuff

My friend hopes her daughter may move out to a kinda sheltered accommodation where obv will start having to pay one water gas council f electricity etx

So wants to start by taking a small about for bills

Hope that makes sense

The GP may want to see DS but if he isn’t able to work full time they should give you a fit note.

Deputyship (Guardianship is for those in Scotland) isn’t necessary if the only income is benefits because being appointee will suffice.

@elliejjtiny on a different tack you say your DH would have to be with your DS if he was to work full time. Are you aware of access to work which may pay for a support worker?

I know it may be necessary for it to be your DH but if someone else could provide the support your DS needs now or in the future may help you all.