Single Mum - Losing Benefits

sheffieldlass

I’m 41, and a single parent to a (soon to be) 18 year old son.
My son is just about to finish his College Course and is wanting to get a job ASAP.
My problem is that I’m on benefits due to health reasons and I’m so scared of how much income I’m going to lose when he leaves college.
I’m currently receiving ESA, PIP, CTC, CB & HB. I know that the CTC, CB and any maintenance from his father will stop soon and I’m so scared how I’m going to survive when all these are taken away......I’m already dreading the day I get rolled onto UC as I know that could happen at any time....does anyone know how him working FT, will affect my current benefits? And if he is able to find work ASAP if him claiming any type of benefit will affect mine?

sheffieldlass

Last part of my post should have read If he is UNABLE to find work ASAP how will him claiming any type of benefits affect mine?

Kentish_Dave

How is his job search going so far? I hope he’s not waiting to finish to start looking, he should have something organized well in advance.

Is he able to find evening or weekend work now, to start putting some money aside? Are you able to do any work at all?

sheffieldlass

Hi Kentish Dave,
He has a friend who is currently working FT and he’s asked him for an application form as there are apparently vacancies there. He is also going to apply online.
I am unable to work due to multiple mental health issues, but I feel like I’m being backed into a corner when some of the benefits stop due to his age/education ending. I know I’m not mentally ready to go back into working full or part time as I’m on multiple medications and am also awaiting therapy.

elsien

If he's working full time would he not then pay you keep to cover the shortfall?

sheffieldlass

The shortfall (estimate) is going to be £400+ a month and that’s BEFORE he gets a job (due to him finishing college and being almost 18) so when he begins FT work I’m assuming I’ll lose even more from my benefits??? I’m also assuming he’ll be on minimum wage if he even gets a FT Job so how can I justify £400 a month from him? I just don’t know what to do....it’s making me very scared and anxious.

poppy12345

Are you receiving daily living part of PIP? If you are do you receive the severe disability premium in with your ESA? If you are then once the child benefit ends for your son then you will lose this premium ( £65.85 per week) This is because you will no longer be classed as living alone.

If you have a daily living award of PIP your housing benefit won't be affected because the non dependent deductions won't apply to you.


You will also lose your 25% single person reduction in your council tax and you'll need to report those changes to your local council.

elsien

sheffieldlass wrote: »

The shortfall (estimate) is going to be £400+ a month and that’s BEFORE he gets a job (due to him finishing college and being almost 18) so when he begins FT work I’m assuming I’ll lose even more from my benefits??? I’m also assuming he’ll be on minimum wage if he even gets a FT Job so how can I justify £400 a month from him? I just don’t know what to do....it’s making me very scared and anxious.

Rather than estimating, have you run the figures through a benefits calculator for the both of you to cover the different possible scenarios?

Minimum wage for a 40 hour week gives him a monthly take home pay of 1K, give or take according to the calculator I just looked at.

If he was living independently he'd be paying more than £400 to rent somewhere and cover all his bills on top. £100 a week really isn't a lot if it's all in.

calcotti

sheffieldlass wrote: »

I’m already dreading the day I get rolled onto UC as I know that could happen at any time..

A small scale pilot is taking place in Harrogate this year. It’s going to be several years before the transfer process is completed so really don’t worry about this at the moment.

Kentish_Dave

sheffieldlass wrote: »

Hi Kentish Dave,
He has a friend who is currently working FT and he’s asked him for an application form as there are apparently vacancies there. He is also going to apply online.
I am unable to work due to multiple mental health issues, but I feel like I’m being backed into a corner when some of the benefits stop due to his age/education ending. I know I’m not mentally ready to go back into working full or part time as I’m on multiple medications and am also awaiting therapy.

His job search so far is asking one friend to get him an application form?

Have a sit down with him tonight and explain to him that when he’s not studying he needs to be spending every hour sorting himself out with starting his career.

He needs to think what area he wants to go into, what skills they are looking for, and how to best make himself appeal to a prospective employer. This includes reading up on the job and the company, working out what he can out on his CV for each job, and getting some help from college with practice interviews.

I understand your worries, I don’t understand why your son is taking what you are suggesting is such a casual attitude to helping out.

sheffieldlass

I used the Turn2us website a few months ago to to do a rough check but I’m worried how I’m going to convince him to part with £100 a week ! I know he’d be paying more than this if he had his own place but he has some underlying mental health issues (undiagnosed) I don’t want to have to have to push him to get his own place as he’s everything to me - but I need him to understand that I can’t afford to run a home on such a limited income - I’ll have to try the gently, gently approach as he doesn’t cope well with change....