Disability Benefits over 16

HousingA

My Child is turning 16 at the end of the year and currently she is getting Disability Living Allowance (higher rate)
When we turns 16 i want to apply for some sort of income support. she cannot work (there are so many i have no idea which ones their are anymore) if someone can help that would be brilliant

My main question is can i apply for, example universal credit as an individual. So its based off of her income, savings etc excluding what i have 

She till lives with me and does not have the capability to work 

Thanks 

Spoonie_Turtle

She can technically apply for UC in her own right, but it might be a bit of a pain to get it going - and I don't know if she can if she's still at school. But UC is the one to investigate, certainly. 

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility

If you’re 16 or 17

You can make a new Universal Credit claim if any of the following apply:

• you have limited capability for work or you have medical evidence and are waiting for a Work Capability Assessment

That's the tricky bit - to be referred for a WCA you have to be able to open a claim, but to open a claim you have to have been referred for a WCA? You may have to try to initiate this over the phone which is often a nightmare to get through to anyone even in non-pandemic times, and not all staff are intricately familiar with the nuances of UC. Hopefully someone else who has more detailed knowledge about the actual prices of opening an under-18 claim will come along and advise further.

https://wcainfo.net/ has good info about the activities and descriptors used in the Work Capability Assessment

[I'm sure you're aware that they will invite her to apply for PIP instead of DLA and just so you know, the criteria are apparently quite different. Good info here
https://pipinfo.net/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria ]

KxMx

If she is still at school, living at home etc then a claim would likely be unsuccessful. 

She already gets DLA and you presumably get child benefits for her. 

Wait until she is an adult at 18.

Some information here:
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Young-People-and-benefits/Who-is-a-young-person#guide-content

[Deleted User]

At the age of 16 her DLA will stop and she will be invited to apply for PIP, as above re:UC

poppy12345

KxMx said:

Wait until she is an adult at 18.

Even when they reach this age, if the OP claims tax credit etc then these will continue until the child reaches their 20th birthday, providing they remain in full time non advanced education.

Savvy_Sue

Does she still have a social worker? It's worth making the most of them before she is transitioned to adult services. Also worth thinking about her long term future, and yours - there was a brilliant serial on Radio 4 last week about a lad born with serious disabilities, and it finished with him moving into supported accommodation, which his mum had been thinking about for a loooong time. Letter for Louis.