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Learning disabilities and benefits
Lizj
Posts: 6 Forumite
I am in need of advice on behalf of my son, aged 20 and with moderate learning difficulties. As an indication of his abilities he has autism, dyspraxia and an IQ of 72.
He left college 6 months ago with Level 1 qualifications, the best he is ever likely to achieve. He is claiming JSA with Disability Premium, and seeking work. He sees his DEA about every 6 weeks, who updates his Job Seekers' Agreement and sends him out to carry on looking for a job.
The trouble is he can't cope with the system and is not able to organise his time and jobsearch. His handwriting is illegible, so he can't fill in application forms. He forgets appointments and can't organise his time. The staff at the jobcentre just tell him he needs to try harder or lose his benefits. They seem to think he could be normal if he wanted to.
Now he has been referred to a Mencap worker, who just says the same things - if you don't apply, if you don't attend, you will be sanctioned. I am having to do everything for him, take him everywhere, keep a diary for him, just so that he can keep his income. He's not lazy, he just struggles to cope with paperwork.
He did get a temporary job at Asda at Christmas but they let him go because he worked hard but couldn't keep up with the other staff. I think that in the right job he would be OK, but the jobcentre keep sending him for jobs he could never cope with, and it's a waste of everybody's time.
What I want to know is, should we persist with JSA, or would things be easier for us all if he was on ESA? And what are the chances that he would get ESA if we tried? Is there anyone out there in a similar situation can give some advice?
He left college 6 months ago with Level 1 qualifications, the best he is ever likely to achieve. He is claiming JSA with Disability Premium, and seeking work. He sees his DEA about every 6 weeks, who updates his Job Seekers' Agreement and sends him out to carry on looking for a job.
The trouble is he can't cope with the system and is not able to organise his time and jobsearch. His handwriting is illegible, so he can't fill in application forms. He forgets appointments and can't organise his time. The staff at the jobcentre just tell him he needs to try harder or lose his benefits. They seem to think he could be normal if he wanted to.
Now he has been referred to a Mencap worker, who just says the same things - if you don't apply, if you don't attend, you will be sanctioned. I am having to do everything for him, take him everywhere, keep a diary for him, just so that he can keep his income. He's not lazy, he just struggles to cope with paperwork.
He did get a temporary job at Asda at Christmas but they let him go because he worked hard but couldn't keep up with the other staff. I think that in the right job he would be OK, but the jobcentre keep sending him for jobs he could never cope with, and it's a waste of everybody's time.
What I want to know is, should we persist with JSA, or would things be easier for us all if he was on ESA? And what are the chances that he would get ESA if we tried? Is there anyone out there in a similar situation can give some advice?
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Comments
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I don't have anything very constructive to say, I'm afraid, but felt bad at your orphan post.
If you don't get any constructive replies to this, I suggest you contact the board guide for this board, and ask for it to be moved across to the benefits boards, where people might have more idea about JSA v ESA
Ex board guide. Signature now changed (if you know, you know).0 -
Liz, check your PM's0
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Are you in touch with the Autism Society? I know of one occasion when they very firmly explained that no, the person in question would not be able to act normal, not even if he tried hard...But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,Had the whole of their cash in his care.
Lewis Carroll0 -
have you been in contact with social services to see if he could go to the local day centre for people with learning difficulties, as it sounds like he has multiple needs so may be allowed to go to there:T:T :beer: :beer::beer::beer: to the lil one :beer::beer::beer:0
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Prehaps get him onto some voluntary work. From what you have said, and his experience at ASDA, he may only ever be suitable for a narrow range of work so JSA may not be the way to go.
Have you checked the ESA criteria to see if he qualifies?Save £200 a month : [STRIKE]Oct[/STRIKE] Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr0 -
Hi OP, suggest you post this on the benefits board where you're likely to get people who've been through this:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=139
KiKi' <-- See that? It's called an apostrophe. It does not mean "hey, look out, here comes an S".0
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