How can we manage financially as Universal Credit support reduces?

[elliejjtiny]

We have 5 dc aged between 19 and 11 all with disabilities. Dh was a manager up until youngest was born, then he became unwell and had to take a massive pay cut. I'm a Sahm and get carers allowance. We get UC. Dc1 in his first year at uni, dc2 about to start in September.

We are just about managing at the moment but barely. In September we are going to lose the child element of universal credit for dc2 and I'm worried how we are going to manage. When the dc were younger I thought I would be working by now but I'm only getting 4 hours sleep a night and my 11 year old needs constant supervision when not at school so I don't know how I could fit work in. Dh has to work away about 15 weekends a year (from friday morning until late Sunday night) which leaves me completely exhausted each time. We spend 9 weekends a year picking up/dropping off/visiting dc1 and I imagine spending the same amount of time with dc2. There is no childcare for children my dc age with SN and they have to be picked up and dropped off at school. The dc have appointments about once a week on average and dc4 stays in hospital about 1 night a year when I don't get any sleep at all.

Realistically I can't think of any employer who would employ me with the amount of time off I would need and on so little sleep. At the moment I spend the time dc are at school doing the housework, cooking the dinner and trying to catch up on a bit of sleep.

I'm trying to think of anywhere we could save money but I can't think of anything. Dc1 doesn't cost any less money while he is at uni.

I’m not talking specifically about the OPs children’s reasons for getting DLA as neither I, nor you, know what they needed extra support with.

My friends child gets DLA for her OCD. It helps to pay for things like counselling (which my friend couldn’t provide herself).

OP is unlikely to get FSM as the criteria until
September is £7k a year or less in earnings - incredibly unlikely her husband earns less than that.

Again not for the OP specifically as I have no clue what her children need but a child with a specific dietary requirement is often far more expensive than one without, DLA could be used towards that.

Or an adult claiming PIP might need adapted cooking equipment, pre prepared food/meal delivery as an extra cost.

Maybe in your relationship.

It really isn't. And I find it shocking that you think it is.

Not just food, but also clothing. And some ND kids chew through clothing so it needs to be replaced a lot more often than just growing out of it.
Also, replacing broken items if/when they have meltdowns.

Why? for suggesting that someone should have to work to increase their income?

You misunderstand. You're talking nonsense.

I’ve always had an impeccable time management.

Perhaps change your name to “unwillingtolearn”?

This is a new low isn't it...? The tax payer commenting on benefit claimants sex lives. I am surprised Farage has not put that in his manifesto.

I don't have to shut up because you don't like what I'm saying.

I don't like what you're saying. I don't like your expectation that I have to be happy about people exploiting the system, when I worked my ass off caring for my children without ripping off the taxpayer - maybe that's why I was so tired and not shagging as much, creating more children.

I expect people to take responsibility for the children they create - planning and saving for them, caring for them because it is their duty to do so and working as much as possible to feed them, alongside their other parent.

I know it's an old fashioned view. It's probably 'shocking' or 'offensive' to you, but your views are abhorrent to me.

I honestly cannot believe that OP’s sex life is under scrutiny. This thread gets more and more shocking.

Give him time...

Do your DC have to go to Uni - it’s only worth it financially they’re studying stem subjects. It is so expensive when they go away - accommodation, food and so on

The thread should be taken down. I think op has long gone and I do wonder what was the purpose of the thread given that op is likely still getting a lot of money in benefits, her home comes with dh's job and he is working as well. I'm sorry but knowing what I do about UC, the disability premiums and DLA I can't understand how they are struggling unless kids are on the lowest levels of DLA. I mean even in seven / eight years time when all the kids are off the claim they will still have dh's salary to live off and her carers allowance. The kids, if they are severely disabled will be able to claim UC with LCWRA in their own right plus PIP and can contribute to the household. If the kids that are at Uni get awarded PIP, or the eldest gets his re-instated they can contribute to the extra travel costs that the parents have to support them because that is what PIP is awarded for. Lots of disabled people have to use a portion of their disability benefits to pay for care and this is not different, they need to contribute.

I mean the fact that you talk about children's entitlement to disability benefits, which are intended to go some way towards reducing disadvantage caused by that disability as "ripping the taxpayer off" says all anyone needs to know. That's before you police people's sex lives too.

You are coming across quite badly here.

About 'reducing disadvantage'

We have many many children with a whole range of disadvantages - disability is only one of these.

Where is the payment for children who have experienced domestic abuse or grown up with neglectful parents, who barely see their parents as they are both working full time to pay for what they need.

We need to provide ALL children with a decent lifestyle - not just a special few.

My four year old who we are waiting for an autism diagnosis has ripped off all the doors of our kitchen cupboards, ripped off all the wallpaper in our front room amongst other things. Also flooded the kitchen and bathroom numerous times. We have just been awarded DLA. Although he isn't going to be on the severe side of autism he is very hard work! Also DLA helps with parents (mums) who can't work much. We need to pay for the repairs!

Having a disability immediately puts a child at a disadvantage. My son starts school soon. He mainly speaks single words. He is way behind. I wouldn't call that a special few.

How about doing just a few hours on a cleaning job? I do this to top up my income and there are hundreds of cleaning jobs advertised every day,some are minimum wage but some are good pay! Also ask around friends/ family/ neighbours see if anyone needs a cleaner/ gardener you never know unless you ask! Good luck and hope things work themselves out for you and your family.

But the state isn't paying OP 'so much' as you put it? She's having financial problems so it cannot be that brilliant being a UC claimant?

5? Really?

Agree, In my last job I've been working with elderly people and all they want to spend their attendance allowance on is a reliable gardener or cleaner.