Baffled, Bewildered and Befuddled

PhilT81

Hi All,

I like to think I know my way around the benefits system having been disabled all of my life. It used to seem so simple but I currently have smoke coming out of my ears - if that’s true unfortunately I’m not sure that it scores any PIP points.

The reason I’m confused is that we are due a change in circumstances. Our son currently attends nursery. Some of this is funded as he’s of the age where you get free hours and we pay the rest - and thought we were getting some of it back in tax credits but it turns out the way things are calculated they pay very little and housing benefits pay some of it but we pay the rest. The problem is it’s not the first chunk they pay for - it’s the last chunk. It may be that if it cost us £200 per week they’d pay us £100 but if it costs £100 then they’d pay zero. Obviously we want to find the balance between getting the help we absolutely need with avoiding spending money if we can. It’s difficult to work out at what point they start paying.

We have two changes in circumstances we’ll need to report as my wife will shortly be starting a temporary promotion at work and our son will be starting school. He’ll be attending a morning breakfast club at £4.50 per day but we’re trying to work out how many afternoons at £12 (£15 on Friday) as well as other care he’ll need during the holidays. This complicated things as our costs will change based on when it’s term time or even in-service training days.

I Aldo feel it’s important to point out that my wife has chosen to work. Whilst I fully support this decision because she’s willing and able to work - we were several thousand pounds per year better off claiming benefits - various reasons such as ‘carers premium’ in applicable amounts, no childcare or other costs, net v gross income etc.

The fact that she works and I’m disabled leaves me wondering if we’d be better off on Universal Credit? I’ve always avoided it as I’ve heard so many nightmare stories - but it was the same with ESA & PIP and the transition couldn’t have been easier. I’ve tried entitled to and I don’t trust the info it’s giving me. It does seem to indicate that with high childcare costs they’re about equal but the lower they get the more universal credit would be better. I don’t know if this is just a glitch or I’ve put in inaccurate information.

Do we have any real benefits nerds that could help me? Especially any that have experience with similar circumstances so have an idea what I’m going on about.

calcotti

I think trying to get a definitive answer will involve sharing more details of your exact circumstances than seems sensible on an open forum. Do you have access to a Citizens Advice or other advice agency you could visit?

PhilT81

When I tried the RNIB and CB in the past they both found our case too complex. I don’t think the system is designed for our circumstances - the very fact my wife chooses to work knowing it’s costing money is proof of this. There are several good reasons for this including setting an example to our son, she can so she should, one day she’ll hopefully be promoted to the point where she’s better off than on benefits... and I also have a life limiting condition and the benefits system isn’t very generous to non-disabled widowed single mothers. Of course, I have no plans to die any time soon but I know I certainly won’t be needing to learn to navigate pension credits.

calcotti

Unfortunately trying to get a definite answer to a complex situation over an forum such as this, is in my opinion, fraught with risk. A complete breakdown of your finances would be needed in order to attempt an answer.