Disabled Student with Child - Benefit entitlement?

FBaby

You can't be surprised that someone would question someone being elligible for middle rate care when they are able to fulfill a full-time job that is known to be extremely emotionally and physically demanding, and able to attend full-time university. I thought to get CA you needed to provide 35 hours care. When is that care provided if you work full-time?

Is it a case that you were assessed at this level when you were at the worse of your illness and hasn't been reassessed recently? I'm just saying this because you do need to take into consideration that a new assessment could lower your entitlement, which means that your partner would not be able to get carer's allowance any longer.

Good luck with your course though. I really admire people doing your job. It's a very tough one. I did it for a number of years but couldn't keep it up. You have to be very selfless and be prepared to give a lot with not always much coming back. It takes a lot of humility to do this job well.

mikey_bach

am not a hundred percent sure
put your figures in here
good luck with your studies

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

sulkisu

OP - who receives CA for you at the moment? (apologies if this has already been answered). Can't they continue to do so?

mazza1985

FBaby wrote: »

You can't be surprised that someone would question someone being elligible for middle rate care when they are able to fulfill a full-time job that is known to be extremely emotionally and physically demanding, and able to attend full-time university. I thought to get CA you needed to provide 35 hours care. When is that care provided if you work full-time?

Is it a case that you were assessed at this level when you were at the worse of your illness and hasn't been reassessed recently? I'm just saying this because you do need to take into consideration that a new assessment could lower your entitlement, which means that your partner would not be able to get carer's allowance any longer.

Good luck with your course though. I really admire people doing your job. It's a very tough one. I did it for a number of years but couldn't keep it up. You have to be very selfless and be prepared to give a lot with not always much coming back. It takes a lot of humility to do this job well.

Thank you :-)

My DLA claim was reassessed april 2012. I wrote on my claim pack what areas had improved, and what areas I continued needing support with. I was able to give examples of things going wrong when my boyfriend goes away, eg flooding my flat after forgetting to switch my taps off, nearly setting my flat on fire, getting lost driving a friends house for 3 hours when I've been there twice before, the signal on my satnav/phone went! Forgetting to take my bank card to work and running out of petrol, having to get my scooter towed to a garage. Not eating properly, not sleeping properly as i forgot to go to bed. Struggling to choose clothes for work, failing to find belt, forgetting to charge mobile phone up. Lacking motivation to wash up or do any housework. He leaves me for 3 nights twice a year, and I fall apart when he does! So when they got my form they renewed my old award for 5 years! I couldnt beleive it I was so sure I was going to lose it.

I cant explain it really. Somehow at work when I'm dealing with others I seem to be able to pull it together. I just wish I could take some of my own advice and tips, but it all goes out the window when it comes to me.

It just surprises me how many people assume I must be commiting some sort of fraud, and that makes me sad. I'm just trying to improve mine and my babies future, and do something useful and positive with my life. There are 168 hours a week, and I only work 40 of them. That is plenty of time for my care needs to be met. I know there are a lot of trolls on here but I'm certainly not one of them.....

mazza1985

sulkisu wrote: »

OP - who receives CA for you at the moment?

No-one does, my partner and I both work full time so not eligible as earn above the upper earnings threshold.

mazza1985

mikey_bach wrote: »

am not a hundred percent sure
put your figures in here
good luck with your studies

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

I'm still not clear on what income is disregarded for HB purposes, so not sure how much income to put in there, that is my difficulty.

sulkisu

mazza1985 wrote: »

No-one does, my partner and I both work full time so not eligible as earn above the upper earnings threshold.

Sorry, I am having trouble following this thread. Who meets your care needs at the moment and is it not possible for them to continue to do so? Perhaps I completely misunderstand what CA is for. I did read the thread, but I think I'm having a blonde moment so again, I apologise if this has already been answered.

mazza1985

Its ok I included my whole bursary, but not my grants or loans. This is what it came up with.

Said about IS based ESA but I'm not sure why if I'm not entitled to IS?!?!?!?!
Benefits and tax credits you could be entitled to - current circumstances

Note that the amounts shown are estimates only, based on the information you have given today. Actual entitlements can only be confirmed once you have applied to make a claim with a benefit claim form.
You may be able to claim the following benefit(s), which we have estimated for you:
Child Tax Credit£62.09 per weekMore information about Child Tax CreditOpens in new windowHousing Benefit£106.59 per weekMore information about Housing BenefitOpens in new windowCouncil Tax Benefit£16.34 per weekMore information about Council Tax BenefitOpens in new windowChild Benefit£20.30 per weekMore information about Child BenefitOpens in new windowCarer's Allowance for your partner£58.45 per weekMore information about Carer's AllowanceOpens in new windowOther income£154.00 per weekTotal benefits you have declared£70.55 per weekTotal weekly income£488.32 per week

You may also be eligible for the following benefit(s), which can't be estimated within the benefits adviser:
Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)Opens in new window
Employment and Support Allowance (Contribution Based)Opens in new window
Disability Living Allowance - CareOpens in new window
Disability Living Allowance - Mobility

princessdon

mazza1985 wrote: »

Thank you :-)

flooding my flat after forgetting to switch my taps off, nearly setting my flat on fire, getting lost driving a friends house for 3 hours when I've been there twice before, the signal on my satnav/phone went! Forgetting to take my bank card to work and running out of petrol, having to get my scooter towed to a garage. Not eating properly, not sleeping properly as i forgot to go to bed. Struggling to choose clothes for work, failing to find belt, forgetting to charge mobile phone up. Lacking motivation to wash up or do any housework. So when they got my form they renewed my old award for 5 years! I couldnt beleive it I was so sure I was going to lose it.

Whilst I appreciate your genuineness - it's hard objectively to look at someone who works full time, is capable of full time study in a demanding profession and see them as disabled. I am not saying it is right people see things that way, but it is life and reality. take above. Nearly all of that^^^ applies to a lot of us, I have left pans on, flooded, reguarly forget to charge phone, hate housework, eating (can go days without food) etc. I have limited understanding of Mental Health - so this is the niave approach here - but people like me do struggle to comprehend what we don't live with.

Still the positive is that it doesn't make one jot what we think, what you are doing is permitted and even though I don't understand how you can both give up work and receive benefits to go Uni - If the DWP allow it, then the issue is their system and not your issue. I'd happily give up work to return to study if they allowed it, so not going to be hypocritical and say I'd not do what you are doing given the chance.

If they are not going to review your DLA (and let's face it allowed it whilst you worked full time), then go for it and I hope it works out for you.

But on a personal level I do think the *system* is wrong to allow this as it seems very contravening, but as I say - that's the problem to take up with MP's and Govt - not those that follow rules.

mazza1985

sulkisu wrote: »

Sorry, I am having trouble following this thread. Who meets your care needs at the moment and is it not possible for them to continue to do so? Perhaps I completely misunderstand what CA is for. I did read the thread, but I think I'm having a blonde moment so again, I apologise if this has already been answered.

Its ok! My partner currently meets my care needs. He is going to continue doing this. He cannot claim CA at the moment as he earns too much. But the intention is that he is going to give up his job to care for me and our baby whilst I go to university. At that point he will become entitled to CA.