Grandson’s matured Child Trust Fund affecting benefits eligibility and living costs

[Beetrootking]

Grandson’s Child trust fund has just matured. He is autistic and unable to work . But it appears he is not eligible for benefit as the sum is above £16000. It seems against the principle oft CTF that it has to be spent on basic living expenses until it is down to £6000😡

The world has changed lot since then.

Universal credit is reduced once £6000 in savings but he can still claim, it’s just tapered depending on his savings amount. It stops at 16k but he’ll soon be under that easily.

PIP isn’t means tested so he could claim that.

Why is it against the principle of the child trust fund? If he has money in savings he needs to use that to live until down to the eligible amount.

Well done for saving so much for him. The fact it’s hit over £16k is brilliant. He can use it to support himself while he tries out working

Why shouldn’t he fund living expenses through his savings? Why should taxpayers fund it when he has savings?

Have a look at Disabled Persons Trust Funds. I’m not sure it would apply in this case but it’s worth a look. Run by Mencap.

If he is from a family that could afford to give him that level of savings then yes, he should use it.

My son’s CTF was £500. His friend’s was £300.

This, what do you think he should be spending that amount of money on? Benefits to pay for day to day living and that for nice stuff?

My kids used theirs for accommodation… what do you think it should be spent on?

Same, my son used it for an accommodation deposit.

Please don’t think I’m not being sympathetic. Both my two are autistic and for many years we thought my son would never work.

Some people have to use them to supplement living costs for university, which is surely no different

Yes, thats right. If someone has over 16,000 pounds they are deemed not to need benefits at that point. Which is fair enough imo.

Is he claiming pip? If not, he should. He should also claim uc and keep them notified of his savings as the amount lowers each month. If it is decided he has lcwra then he has an extra entitlement.

My younger son is severely autistic, lacks capacity and will never be able to live independently.

He gets enhanced rate pip plus uc lcwra.

Once he moves into secure supported accommodation in a few years they will no doubt take all of that and give him a personal allowance. Fair enough. It will cost a lot to keep him safe and keep people around him safe.

lol at the scrounging attitude. Yep, I’ll go to
work and pay tax and can’t afford to save as get no benefits while your family
member lives off me and gets to save too.

I don't think it's against the principle. If you're referring to the ones that were started up by the government I think that is exactly what they were for, a boost to help them pay living costs as they enter adulthood. What did you think it was for?
I can understand your frustration, my youngest is autistic. He is 5 so had not government ctf but I've set up an ISA. I am mindful that it it gets above £6,000 and it's looking like he won't be able to work I'd be better off saving in my own name for him. My older two also have ISA's that I hope they will use towards a house deposit

My sons was 550 once it matured.
He is lucky to have 16,000. Why should he get money from the state?

There are means by which trusts can be set up for disabled people.

Have you explored that option?

Benefits are there to support those who can’t support themselves, and at the moment he can. Can you not understand there has to be a cut off before they start handing out money?

Benefits are a la

I think that’s fair enough. The rest of us shouldn’t have to support him if he has his own savings.

I think people forget that their benefits come out of other people’s wages and there’s no such thing as “government’s money”.

Posted too soon! Benefits are a last resort and he doesn’t need that last resort right now, does he? Support him to use it in the best way to set himself up for the future.

My kids got about £500-700 each. They used it for living expenses. What do you think your dgc should be using his for? My kids use it for basic living expenses and your kids….what?

I understand where you're coming from as essentially you feel that it's your money. That said, I also understand where the majority of posters are coming from as it's money that the young adult now has and can use. People with disabilities aren't exempt from paying their way.

What principle do you think it is against?

I'm sorry op for this additional stress. When aids and adaptation cost an arm and a leg.