Benefits advice

[BonnieScotland]

Hi. My niece came to live with me a few years ago after my sister died of alcoholism. It has since become apparent that she has foetal alcohol syndrome and is finding it incredibly difficult to find work. We're at the stage where we need to be applying for benefits, but don't have a clue what she would be entitled to or where to start? I would be grateful for any advice. Thank you

[petejmarshall]

Good morning BonnieScotland

Sorry to hear that your sister has passed away. Is it your niece who is suffering from foetal alcohol syndrome? I don't know what benefits you are entitled to in Scotland because your benefit system is different to us here in England part of the UK.

But if you live in England you can claim universal credit which you have to do online via. gov.uk you will also have to verify yourself through a website which the government website will link you to. But I must warn you that you will have a long wait for you to be able to verify yourself because I have had recently to do it for my disabled son Joe who because he is 20 years old now that he has to claim in his own right. But can't do it himself. So getting back to the verfly yourself I had to wait from 11am until nearly midnight in the queue before I could verfly him

Then the Department of Work and Pensions get in touch with you via your online Journal which is created when you register with the government website. It sounds like that you or your niece might be limited to the work she can do because the condition that she has will limit her in what employment that she can do. Back to the Universal credit Journal which you will have. If the verfly system is not working properly the DWP will message you via your online Journal to arrange an telephone interview with them on a day and time for them to ring you. You will need your National insurance Number and documents to prove who you are. Depending on your sister's age and if they or you have medical issues. You can get child benefit for her until she is 18 years old if she is full time education or doing a course with an potential employer. Which will also entitled you to child tax credits as she is a depantant on you. For her upbringing etc. You can also get child benefit if she decides to go into education full time or do a apprenticeship for an employer.

And if she needs care for her medical issues which you have to provide for her She can claim Personal independence Payments award money but the above is for people in England. Scotland will be different I think but you yourselves will have to find out about it via the website of the department who deal with benefit payments in Scotland.

I hope that the information that I have given you helps you and your niece to get help and advice from the department's concerned. Best of luck to you both. Take care of yourselves and stay safe always. Peter

[Sarah_Mencap]

Hello and welcome

You're doing a great job with your niece. It is a good plan to find out more about the support that she (and you) may be able to get

We have a lot of information about benefits on our website - mencap.org.uk/advice-and-su...

Another good place to start is the benefits calculator on the Turn2us website - turn2us.org.uk/Benefits-Cal...

It may also be worth contacting your local citizen's advice to see if they can help. They may not be offering a full service at the moment, but I am sure they will do what they can to help.

Best wishes

Sarah