Severe Disablement

FudgeCake

Sorry if this will be long, I'm just confused right now.

I'm on long term income support(incapacity) and I get disablement premium and also severe disablement. I also get disability living allowance mobility and care. I have bipolar.

I am a lone parent and my daughter will be 19 in December. She is on a college course that ends next January. I get child tax credit and child benenfit for her, until then.

Last year, before she was 18, I rang DSS and asked if any of my money would change and was told no...as that is for me and they don't pay for her anymore (child tax credit does).

I had a letter from income support this morning asking when she finished her course. Can't ring them till Monday, so I rang benefit line and asked why income support were bothered, as they don't pay for her and haven't for a while. I was told that it's because of my severe disablement. They told me that not only will I lose child tax credit and child benefit when her course ends...but the severe disablement too. In fact they said, I should have lost it when she turned 18.

So, now I'm worried sick. Have they overpaid me for nearly a year? Even if that's ok...come January, I lose about £130 a week and have no idea how I will manage.

If I lose the severe premium, is there nothing else I can get to top it up? I don't know how carers allowance works. I don't know what happens if she goes on Job Seekers, or gets a job. I don't even know how it affects my housing and council tax benefit. She's been talking of moving out...will this just stay as normal then if she does? Would she still be allowed to stay over here at weekends, if she did move?

I'm so stressed. I hate asking this as it sounds like begging for money, I'm just so worried that my outgoings per week will be more than my incomings.

tcr_3

I'd query that with your benefit delivery centre.

Persons in your household aged 18 y/o or above are generally classed as non dependants. But there are exceptions to that rule. One exception is for "qualifying young people" on a non advanced college course for which CHB etc is still being paid. They're classed as still being in your family and therefore not a non dependant.

Phone Income Support on Monday morning & run your daughter's circumstances past them. Tell them you don't agree with the decision.

FudgeCake

tcr wrote: »

I'd query that with your benefit delivery centre.

Persons in your household aged 18 y/o or above are generally classed as non dependants. But there are exceptions to that rule. One exception is for "qualifying young people" on a non advanced college course for which CHB etc is still being paid. They're classed as still being in your family and therefore not a non dependant.

Phone Income Support on Monday morning & run your daughter's circumstances past them. Tell them you don't agree with the decision.

So, as soon as her course finishes in January, I will lose that premium? It just seems a big drop to lose £130 a week.

thorsoak

What is your daughter planning to do when she finishes her course in January? If she plans on working, then she will be able to keep herself - so you won't have to pay for her upkeep etc - and she will be able to contribute to household expenses and pay you housekeeping - so you should not find yourself too much out of pocket.

FudgeCake

thorsoak wrote: »

What is your daughter planning to do when she finishes her course in January? If she plans on working, then she will be able to keep herself - so you won't have to pay for her upkeep etc - and she will be able to contribute to household expenses and pay you housekeeping - so you should not find yourself too much out of pocket.

She does plan on working, if she can find a job. She's already told me that she won't pay me as penny though (she doesn't like me). And she won't move out either. I do feel a bit trapped.

Indie_Kid

Kick her out then?

thorsoak

FudgeCake wrote: »

She does plan on working, if she can find a job. She's already told me that she won't pay me as penny though (she doesn't like me). And she won't move out either. I do feel a bit trapped.

I'm sorry but she sounds like a Proper Little Madam! Tell her - she pays - or she goes - she will be an adult and should start to take responsibility for herself!

FudgeCake

sh1305 wrote: »

Kick her out then?

Easier said than done. She has ADHD and is very immature for her age and has no coping skills. My head tells me to kick her out but, as a mum, I'd worry.

FudgeCake

thorsoak wrote: »

I'm sorry but she sounds like a Proper Little Madam! Tell her - she pays - or she goes - she will be an adult and should start to take responsibility for herself!

I've had that talk with her so many times and it always turns into violence (from her...not me).
I'll try again when she gets home after the weekend.

thorsoak

Well - if you have had the conversation with her many times, I would give it one more chance. Then no more.

If when she finishes her course and she gets a job - or signs on and gets benefit - she does not give you any money for housekeeping, arrange to change the locks on a day that she is out (or over a weekend as it seems that she goes away for the weekend, pack all her clothes etc in bin liners, put said bin liners on front door step - and see what happens...

It might be as well for you to arrange to be "out" when she does come home - or have a friend or relative with you at home ...

FudgeCake

thorsoak wrote: »

Well - if you have had the conversation with her many times, I would give it one more chance. Then no more.

If when she finishes her course and she gets a job - or signs on and gets benefit - she does not give you any money for housekeeping, arrange to change the locks on a day that she is out (or over a weekend as it seems that she goes away for the weekend, pack all her clothes etc in bin liners, put said bin liners on front door step - and see what happens...

It might be as well for you to arrange to be "out" when she does come home - or have a friend or relative with you at home ...

Honestly, not a week goes by without me asking her to look for somewhere. As a mother though, I won't throw my child out onto the street...especially just for an extra £50 a week.

I do have a lot of guilt, as she had a hard childhood...due to my mental illness. But, I will talk with her and hopefully get something arranged. Thank you.