My step son starting Mencap but does it effect his benefits?

[Watergal]

Hi all, my partners son is starting Mencap in couple of weeks as he has severe learning difficulties, he is 24 years of age, but he has an assessment to go to before he starts, will he get 100% social care funding & not effect his benefits he receives now? If he does get 100% funding, can it just be paid directly to Mencap? His father looks after his benefits money as his son receives ESA & PIP, but what kind of questions will be asked on the assessment as my partner is a little wary that they will try & take over his benefits, which both my partner & his son doesn’t want to happen? Any help or advice would be happily accepted in this matter. Thanks

[Teachginge64]

Hi ,The assessment should be about your step sons needs and how many hours the local authority will give him to attend Mencap services .

This should be paid by a direct debit to Mencap from the local authority .

Your step son may need to pay a small contribution to his care from his benefits but this shouldn’t be a lot .

He will definitely not have any of his benefits taken away .

Be sure to tell them how much his clothing , food , any general household costs ect are as they must take this in to account .

My son receives direct payments for support from a care agency , he receives PIP and ESA .

His benefits aren’t affected but he does have to pay a small contribution a month towards his care ,

It’s worth it though as he benefits so much from the social aspect of going out .

Good luck , hope this helps some .

[Watergal in reply to Teachginge64]

Thank you for your reply & information Teachginger64, really appreciated. My partners son lives with his ex wife who also has learning difficulties & works volunteering for a charity shop. My partners son will be doing 2 & a 1/2 days a week to start, he can’t read, write, spell or have any knowledge of how money works, so although Mencap hopes are for him to start work one day, I can’t see that happening, but like you said, it’s the social aspect & interaction that is the most important as he doesn’t have many friends to be honest bless him. I think Mencap have advised my partner that it is 100% socially funded which is good.

Thank you for your input, it really has helped

[BenjiB]

If your partner is his son’s appointee (which it sounds like he is) he will continue to look after his benefits.

Is this for day services? Overnights? Residential?

He may have to pay a contribution towards services. Depending on who funds his care ie social services or nhs continuing healthcare will determine if he’ll have to contribute.

My son attends a residential college 38 weeks a year. He is funded by nhs continuing healthcare and doesn’t have to contribute to his care. He does receive Universal Credit, PIP. The care part of PIP is only paid when he’s comes home.

[Watergal in reply to BenjiB]

Hi BenjiB, thanks for your reply, really appreciated. Yes, my partner is his appointee, so he will still look after his benefits. It’s for his day service yes, 10am-4pm mon & Tuesday & 1/2 day Wednesday to start. I think on delving into it a bit further & posing the questions with Mencap that it will be 100% socially funded. His son lives with his ex wife, she too has severe learning difficulties, so my partner looks after his money & does everything for him as best he can, as my partner works f/time employment.

Thank you for your input, food for thought.

[Stevens-Sister]

Hi Watergal,

My brother is severely disabled also and moved in with me last year after our Mum passed away.

As he moved local authorities he had to have an assessment even though he was already at a day centre up until lockdown last March.

The affordability form that my local authority asked me to complete asked about rent, council tax and disability related expenditure.

When I entered the rent figure I was told I couldn't charge him anymore than what he would have been entitled to had he lived in a council property with his own tenancy. They didn't allow it.

I then entered a figure for incontinence pants (which we buy as Steven couldn't manage the pads like they had offered many years before) and that wasn't allowed also as they said we should use the NHS incontinence referral.

The mobility part of his PIP isn't taken into account so it was his ESA and the PIP care element that was included as his income.

Once these few expenditures have been taken from his benefits they will leave him with a Minimum Income Guarantee. Stevens was £164 as our council allow an extra 10% on top of government figure. This MIG is to cover food, utility bills, clothing etc. Day to day living basically.

If he receives anything above this figure this will be the amount that they will charge him.

We were also told that we either had to use a broker to handle the payments to the centre or do it ourselves and keep all invoices etc. A broker charges you for this beware.

Steven has to pay £28 per week for 2 days at his centre although that does include a hot meal.

I hope this all makes sense.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Watergal in reply to Stevens-Sister]

Thank you for your reply, it’s definitely food for thought - really appreciate your time