Financial and Benefits assessment

[Jacqueline14]

My daughter with a learning disability. She is aged 19 had a Financial and Benefits assessment by the local authority. This is because she received some money to meet some of her needs including a part time Personal Assistant which also give us a break. She received PIP and Universal Credit. The local authority has come back to us and said that she has to give the them all of her benefits apart from £25 a week and the mobility part of PIP which is disallowed for the assessment. She is also at college Monday to Friday during term time only. I don’t know how they can only leave her £25 a week and take everything else. Her food costs more than that alone and then there is the extra heating and washing & drying that she needs. Not to mention clothes or anything social or the cost of internet and streaming which she likes to do. (Music and dance) They say the government says she only needs £25 a week to live on and yet the government provides the benefits for her to live on which the local authority are going to take away. I will be retiring soon and it means that in effect, I will be paying for her care as £25 would cover about 1 day, not a week! Is it correct that apart from the mobility aspect of PIP, the local authority can take everything except £25?

[Jofisher]

Jackie speak to the carers association they will be able to help and advise you, or go to the citizens advice bureau or mencap helpline for advice. It’s ridiculous that family carers are having to cope with this financial strain on top of everything else. They’re pushing our loved ones into care as the financial emotional and physiological burden is too great.

[SpeedyH]

There are different charging rules depending on whether your daughter lives in a residential home or not. Assuming she lives at home with you, the local authority has to leave her with at least the Minimum Income Guarantee amount each week which is about £120 or so. This tends to be most of her Universal Credit or ESA. They can take most of her PIP care allowance and in your case it sounds as though they have left her with £25 per week out of her PIP which is not unusual, some people are left with less.

[BenjiB]

Unfortunately yes. I know many parents in the same situation. It’s crazy.

[sl20]

Hi as others have said get an appointment with the citizens advice or similar as soon as possible. When my son was living at home even after paying his care contribution he was always left with approx £120 per week to live on. He had esa and pip. There should be a minimum income guarantee for your local authority area. Get the benefits for your daughter checked as well to make sure she is claiming everything she can. You can ask for a carers assessment as well.