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Original poster

Sons gone into residential section 20 home to get the right support...how is this going to affect my benefits?

71 replies

2024cansuckit · 10/02/2025 13:12

Hi all!
Please help.

My son has gone into a residential care home (section 20) for the max of 1 year to get the help and support he is desperate for.

I get DLA for him, uc with disabled child premium, child benefit and child maintenance (when dad pays very irregular). Its only a temporary thing, not full care, and I am still expected to keep my house to ensure he has a home and bedroom for when he returns home.

I don't really know how my money will be affected and I'm stressing! I private rent. I do work 2 days a week but my employers are very very nasty.

If anyone has any ideas or has been through this please let me know

Thank you

OP posts:
Mainoo72 · 10/02/2025 13:18

Can you not work more than 2 days a week?

NerrSnerr · 10/02/2025 13:21

You can contact your local authority for a financial assessment. That's probably your best bet as his DLA might go towards his placement.

hopeishere · 10/02/2025 13:23

How old is your son?

MemorableTrenchcoat · 10/02/2025 13:25

What makes your employer very, very nasty?

Chewbecca · 10/02/2025 13:25

Will some of your household outgoings go down as a result of him not living with you? Will you stop paying for therapies or anything? Tot that up and compare to the amount you stand to lose.

Relaxaholic · 10/02/2025 13:30

Is there a reason that you only work two days per week? The obvious solution is to work more to support yourself but I don’t want to assume that this is an option in case you are unable to work more.

Miley1967 · 10/02/2025 13:38

You would need to let UC know that he is no longer living with you and ask for guidance on what elements you will lose. Do you ahve other dependent kids living with you ? I presume his DLA would stop or go towards paying for his placement. You really need expert advice on this asap - CAB, social worker etc as you don't want to end up with overpayments. Is he going to be home at all at weekends/ holidays etc?

Lovelysummerdays · 10/02/2025 13:45

I think you need to contact UC. I’d also turn to CAB / charities for help. I’m sure this will not be the first time this has happened to anyone so there will be precedent and guidance. Id also ask social worker for support navigating. I’m sure benefits will go down but given he is expected to return in a year you can’t downsize or go into shared accommodation as may not find accommodation next year.

HackAttack · 10/02/2025 14:00

You have 6 weeks from the point of your son becoming cared for to inform relevant benefits agencies and at that point your entitlement will cease.

Jellycatspyjamas · 10/02/2025 14:06

You will lose benefits associated with caring for your son, unfortunately. I’d speak to his social worker - there should be a department that deals with income maximisation that can help you work out what you keep and loose. Alternatively speak to CAB.

Nonametonight · 10/02/2025 14:13

For your rent, you could ask for help from a discretionary housing payment from your council

TERFspice · 10/02/2025 14:19

If your employer is "very very nasty", are you looking for a new job?

Dror · 10/02/2025 14:43

@Jellycatspyjamas why is it unfortunate?

Miley1967 · 10/02/2025 14:54

Dror · 10/02/2025 14:43

@Jellycatspyjamas why is it unfortunate?

Of course it's unfortunate for op. She presumably has been a carer for her son with significant needs and based around this only works part time. It isn't always easy just to up hours when circumstances change, especially given that in a years time she may need to drop hours again. If op loses her son's DLA she will lose most of her UC and her work allowance if she doesn't have other kids. Having no kids on her claim will also affect her rent element despite her still needing a bedroom for her son to come back to. If she's claiming carers allowance then she would also lose this and it could take many weeks to get it re- instated when he comes home. This could all have a potentially massive affect on her benefits. There may be special circumstances for people in this temporary situation and I really hope there is some leniency and UC work coaches don't suddenly demand she starts looking for extra hours etc

Jellycatspyjamas · 10/02/2025 14:59

@Dror its unfortunate her son needs to go into residential care, it’s unfortunate he can’t get the support and care he needs in the community, it’s unfortunate that the OP has had to reduce her earning capacity to care for her son, that there is insufficient practical support to enable her to work while also caring. It’s unfortunate that as a result the bulk of her income is state dependent and it’s unfortunate that she’ll be in significant financial hardship while also needing to maintain a home for her child to return to. It’s unfortunate that she’s having to face that financial hardship while also facing the temporary loss of her son.

Is that unfortunate enough for you?

Mainoo72 · 10/02/2025 15:02

But of course any benefits that went towards caring for her son will stop now he’s moved out. It’s fair, not unfortunate.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 10/02/2025 15:05

Dror · 10/02/2025 14:43

@Jellycatspyjamas why is it unfortunate?

Seriously?

It's unfortunate because OP has made her whole life about caring for and looking after her son. She now has a gap of a year - not enough time to build a career, or do something she actually wants to do with her life. She has to continue paying for housing to accommodate her son, without having him there. And now she has 6 weeks out of the blue to dramatically increase her income, again only for a year when she'll need to quit the job, again.

I'm not saying she should cruise on benefits for eternity, but surely you can see you could have a shred of compassion.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 10/02/2025 15:07

Mainoo72 · 10/02/2025 15:02

But of course any benefits that went towards caring for her son will stop now he’s moved out. It’s fair, not unfortunate.

Despite the fact she needs to continue paying for the house for him to move home afterwards? So she will actually have costs related to him, unless she fucks off and leaves him entirely to the state - which I guarantee will cost far more than a few benefits.

Yes, it's unfortunate.

Original poster
2024cansuckit · 10/02/2025 15:15

Mainoo72 · 10/02/2025 13:18

Can you not work more than 2 days a week?

No I have a disabled 6 year old also

OP posts:
Original poster
2024cansuckit · 10/02/2025 15:16

hopeishere · 10/02/2025 13:23

How old is your son?

13

OP posts:
Original poster
2024cansuckit · 10/02/2025 15:17

MemorableTrenchcoat · 10/02/2025 13:25

What makes your employer very, very nasty?

Using time off for dependants against me and very bullying, was signed of sick few months ago and my manager saw me in tesco and getting fuel and documented it on my sickness absence...stuff like this

OP posts:
Original poster
2024cansuckit · 10/02/2025 15:18

Chewbecca · 10/02/2025 13:25

Will some of your household outgoings go down as a result of him not living with you? Will you stop paying for therapies or anything? Tot that up and compare to the amount you stand to lose.

No. Household bills will remain the same apart from slightly less electric and gas and water (washing machine showers baths) but not a substantial amount

OP posts:
Original poster
2024cansuckit · 10/02/2025 15:19

Miley1967 · 10/02/2025 14:54

Of course it's unfortunate for op. She presumably has been a carer for her son with significant needs and based around this only works part time. It isn't always easy just to up hours when circumstances change, especially given that in a years time she may need to drop hours again. If op loses her son's DLA she will lose most of her UC and her work allowance if she doesn't have other kids. Having no kids on her claim will also affect her rent element despite her still needing a bedroom for her son to come back to. If she's claiming carers allowance then she would also lose this and it could take many weeks to get it re- instated when he comes home. This could all have a potentially massive affect on her benefits. There may be special circumstances for people in this temporary situation and I really hope there is some leniency and UC work coaches don't suddenly demand she starts looking for extra hours etc

Edited
Show quote history

This!!!!

OP posts:
Dror · 10/02/2025 15:24

Jellycatspyjamas · 10/02/2025 14:59

@Dror its unfortunate her son needs to go into residential care, it’s unfortunate he can’t get the support and care he needs in the community, it’s unfortunate that the OP has had to reduce her earning capacity to care for her son, that there is insufficient practical support to enable her to work while also caring. It’s unfortunate that as a result the bulk of her income is state dependent and it’s unfortunate that she’ll be in significant financial hardship while also needing to maintain a home for her child to return to. It’s unfortunate that she’s having to face that financial hardship while also facing the temporary loss of her son.

Is that unfortunate enough for you?

Your post was about it being unfortunate that OP won't get a specific state benefit for a year due to not being a carer.
It's good that her kid is getting the help he needs.