Both redundant,disabled son, clueless about benefits

Armorica

The redunancy pay looks pretty low for a job with a £75k salary. It sounds like the absolutely minimum - if he's not accepted it yet, check his contract and consider negotiating for more. For high earning jobs with major employers you'd expect something like a month pay for each year employment or six months after 5-10 years service etc. [And is just he being made redundant or is it part of a much bigger restructuring or the company going under?]

TELLIT01

Armorica wrote: »

The redunancy pay looks pretty low for a job with a £75k salary. It sounds like the absolutely minimum For high earning jobs with major employers you'd expect something like a month pay for each year employment or six months after 5-10 years service etc. [And is just he being made redundant or is it part of a much bigger restructuring or the company going under?]

That used to be the case but many companies cut the package drastically following the financial crash. I left a major financial organisation a couple of years before the crash and did get 1 month per year. Those who have left since get the bare minimum.
Redundancy payment is rarely negotiable unless it's part of a voluntary package.

mummyroysof3

Just so you know the claim for dla is not related to income at all. It's for costs related to your sons disability so apply ASAP and that can pay for internet and nappies out of it plus costs of getting to appointments etc. Carers allowance can be paid to you while not earning so helps a little.

Firstly work out your minimum living costs to see how long redundancy will last or how long it will take to reduce to less that £6000 for the relevant benefits to then be claimed.

Contact mortgage company to see if they can help in any way while you get back working again.

patman99

You need to remember that a great deal of benefits are means-tested.

If you have both paid 2 years worth of NI contributions as PAYE, then you are entitled to contribution based JSA for the first 6 months.
After this, JSA becomes income based and this includes savings and other benefits.

As you sold your car and will have over £16k in savings as a result, you will not get IB JSA. If you had kept your car, then you wouild get some benefit.

For your referance, you get full benefits as long as your savings are at £5,999 or below. Once your savings go above £6,000, your benefits reduce by £1.50 per £250 above the £6k. Benefits cease at £16k.

Tigsteroonie

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

Just so you know the claim for dla is not related to income at all. It's for costs related to your sons disability so apply ASAP and that can pay for internet and nappies out of it plus costs of getting to appointments etc. Carers allowance can be paid to you while not earning so helps a little.

As others have said - put in a claim for DLA for your son as it's completely unrelated to your income as parents; once you get the award, inform HMRC so that you can get any related increase in tax credits. Inform tax credits of the change in income now - you generally receive tax credits based on the previous year's income but if you have a massive change, you can ask for a re-consideration. Apply for Carers Allowance for yourself for looking after your son. And try to find out about your local Continence Service - either through HV, GP, or even self-refer (we did) - as you can get free nappies/pull-ups for a child over 4.

edit. Also you may be entitled to reclaim the costs of travel to any appointments for your son - google Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.

It sounds as though you really don't know what benefits you may be entitled to claim. Check out the Turn2Us website, or get in touch with your local CAB to find out.

If you feel you need a little 'moral' support, the Netmums chat forum has a lively board for children with Special Needs

Indie_Kid

RNIB should be able to give you benefits advice too.