Disabled Student with Child - Benefit entitlement?

mazza1985

princessdon wrote: »

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.

I totally agree with you! You would think it would be better to keep my partner as a tax payer, rather than making us better off if he quits his job. I'm also sick of seeing addicts getting £270 a week for choosing to carry on with their addiction without ever having paid a penny in tax or NI.

I'm personally pleased that they are making the rules tougher about benefits, work needs to pay! But whilst it does not, this is the situation I am in. People say "oh but you dont have to claim" - people who have a £30k a year private pension dont HAVE to claim state pension, and yet they feel compelled to. To tell someone they are eligible for something but not expect them to take it is sheer madness (no pun intended!).

FBaby

I totally agree with princessdon. I do have respect for you for the work you do in light of your disability. I think being able to provide the support people need whilst yourself dealing with your mental health is incredibly valuable, but like princessdon, I do think the system is wrong.

At the moment, you are not getting the care you are supposed to need, or from what you describe, you are getting it, but in addition to your partner working full-time. I still struggle to see how this amounts to 35 hours as surely you can't be needing a lot of help every night (otherwise, how do you both cope with a full-time job). But regardless of this, the point is that you are looking at the possibility of claiming additional benefits and him becoming your official carer for benefit purposes because what you really need is someone to look after your baby whilst you go to uni. He is giving up a full-time job, paying taxes, to be paid to provide the support he is already giving you.

The reality is that it would appear that the system is such that you are doing nothing wrong by taking this route, but you have to understand how reading this can upset some people who can't afford to go to Uni and retrain, or can't afford to stay at home to look after their baby.

mazza1985

princessdon wrote: »

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.

Do you flood your flat on a regular basis though? My point was that my life is sheer chaos without support in place. I would still be in supported housing if my boyfriend didnt help me. I was told I would never be able to live on my own, and I would never be capable of work, and that was 4.5 years ago. I've worked so hard to get where I am, every day is a battle, and it is even more so now I am pregnant and my hormones are playing havock.

mikey_bach

mazza1985 wrote: »

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.

list here

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_070816

FBaby

Posted just after you without reading your last post! Yes, it is hard to give up something that you know you are entitled to, this is why most people are frustrated with the system rather than the individuals until they come and shout their rights. In the end, I much much prefer to see taxes going to someone like you giving an opportunity to contribute in many ways to society (we desperately need more MH nurses) than someone who never intends on doing any work as long as they get away with it.

mazza1985

FBaby wrote: »

I totally agree with princessdon. I do have respect for you for the work you do in light of your disability. I think being able to provide the support people need whilst yourself dealing with your mental health is incredibly valuable, but like princessdon, I do think the system is wrong.

At the moment, you are not getting the care you are supposed to need, or from what you describe, you are getting it, but in addition to your partner working full-time. I still struggle to see how this amounts to 35 hours as surely you can't be needing a lot of help every night (otherwise, how do you both cope with a full-time job). But regardless of this, the point is that you are looking at the possibility of claiming additional benefits and him becoming your official carer for benefit purposes because what you really need is someone to look after your baby whilst you go to uni. He is giving up a full-time job, paying taxes, to be paid to provide the support he is already giving you.

The reality is that it would appear that the system is such that you are doing nothing wrong by taking this route, but you have to understand how reading this can upset some people who can't afford to go to Uni and retrain, or can't afford to stay at home to look after their baby.

Of course I understand that. He does give me 35 hours a week help, minimum. If you start considering the amount of time he spends on housework, laundary, cooking, shopping, giving me reassurance, nagging me to go to bed, setting my alarm clock for me, putting my clothes away, making the bed, making my lunch. Supervising me if I do cook. It would be far more than 35 hours, that I am sure of.

I know it is upsetting and I'm trying to be as sensitive as possible but it is difficult with people basically accusing me of defrauding the system, which is not the case.

mazza1985

mikey_bach wrote: »

list here

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_070816

You are officially my new best friend LOL

Do you work for DWP by any chance?

sunnyone

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.

She isnt the only DLA claimant on the basis of MH who lives a normal life and yet still claims to need the same level of support as they did when they were in crisis.

This is why DLA is being done away with, to return disability benefits back to ideals of DLA in 1992.

mazza1985

Hmm... not sure if my bursary is for course related costs. Need to check that out with NUS I think. Maintenence loan would be included though.

But why do CTC disregard it all then? Maybe I should give them another call.

mazza1985

sunnyone wrote: »

She isnt the only DLA claimant on the basis of MH who lives a normal life and yet still claims to need the same level of support as they did when they were in crisis.

This is why DLA is being done away with, to return disability benefits back to ideals of DLA in 1992.

Sorry I was not aware you had a spy cam in my house and my work place and could see that I no longer have crises :rotfl:

Oh wait a second, you dont.....

To qualify for DLA, you have to need to support for 5 or more days of the week on average. Maybe you would like to read up on how bipolar disorder works?