Do any of you charge 'rent/board' for your SN older teenagers?

[bigbluebus]

DD is 17 and severely disabled. She is still at school but in addition to DLA at higher rate, she receives Employment & Support Allowance. We no longer claim Child Benefit for her. She is tube fed, so we don't have to buy her food, but obviously uses a share of the electricity,Water & a considerable amount of heating. We intend that she stays living with us for the forseeable future and even when she leaves school, her income will not change.

I was wondering if any of you have children in a similar situation and if any of you charge a set amount each month for 'board and lodgings' (as I would consider doing if I had a NT 17 year old who lived at home but who was working.)

tiredness. We relinquished Child Benefit when DD turned 16 as we didn't qualify for any tax credits, so a 'better off' assessment showed that we should allow DD to claim benefits in her own right rather than us claiming child related benefits on her behalf. So I guess it is almost logical that we should 'charge' her as we have now 'lost' money out of our bank account but she gets more into hers! (Warning for anyone reading this though, the rules re claiming ESA may have changed since DD turned 16).

Part of my reason for asking is also because DD is undergoing Adult Social care assessments and part of this includes means testing for contribution towards her care. I'm not sure exactly how this works but if it is based on disposable income, I would like to make sure that a fair and reasonable amount of her income covers her living expenses and is taken into account in the assessment - but have no idea what would be considered fair and reasonable -- so was hoping that others on here ay be able to help.

And yes, I still get Carers Allowance as she still lives at home and gets qualifying rate of DLA. Whatever help we get from Social Care, I'm sure it will fall way short of the hours that I put in!!!!

Funnily enough I had this conversation with Ds a couple of days ago - he's only 14 but knows he will get asked if he wants to manage his own DLA and i was saying that he would need to give some of it to me as I did to my Mum and Dad.
In reality he has little concept of money or budgeting (although that could change) so I envisage still being his appointee and giving him pocket money!

I don't but once DS leaves secondary I will no longer get any maintenance from his dad, so I'll certainly have to charge him something for his keep at that point. It does seem strange, but it will have to be done.

I think it is standard to charge rent. But SS should tell you about that! (Not surprised they don't!)