My daughter cannot afford her supported living home.

[Maurdek]

I would like know please what other pay for the supported living . My daughter recieves pip with higher rate mobility which we have a car and we use it alot for my daughter taking her away most weekends . The problem I have she share the house with other who want to buy a car for the home and asked me to contribute . My daughter only receives £720 a month I pay £150 pm for utilities £70 per week on food . I pay £120 for transport to her day centre and £158 contribution toward her care package . I am being asked to contribute to a car that they can share £123 per month and gardening services £50 pm , as you can see this way more than whe she receives. My worry is if I die she will not have a penny left for clothes and days out . Does 5his sound right . I love my daughter so much and would love to give her everything a holiday once a year but I have to work to give her extras . Does this seem right

[sl20]

Hi does your daughter also claim universal credit? ( or employment support allowance) it may be worth getting a benefits check to make sure she is receiving everything she is entitled to. If her supported living house were to buy a car would they be able to drive her to her day centre? ( removing one of her bills) are there enough staff who are able and willing to drive a house car otherwise it will be sat on the drive unused. I would check the bills my son only pays £30 per week for food and £92 per week for utilities. Is the cost for gardening £50 per month between everyone or each? If each that sounds very expensive. I would suggest you therefore make sure she gets a benefit check and makes sure she is not paying excessive bills.

[sl20 in reply to sl20]

Sorry I meant £92 per month for utilities!

[Sallyyana]

Definitely get a benefits check. This doesn’t sound right

[BenjiB]

Yes sounds about right. My son receives £680 UC and £240 pip mobility. Obviously no car as he lives in a residential home. He will pay almost £600 towards his care (presently funded by nhs continuing healthcare but not for much longer). There won’t be much left for anything else.

The only thing you can do here is give up the car so she has the extra mobility allowance. I appreciate that may not be possible but every person that lives in residential or supported living and is funded by social care will be in the same position.

[BeckiiD28]

why do you need to contribute to a car when you have a car? I’d say no absolutely not.

Staff are so lazy these days! Pretty sure they could push a lawnmower around once a fortnight! Or family members could share the load to save £50 a month!

[class9F]

my son lives in supported living along with 9 others. Converted house in 10 flats. 6 of the residents have motability cars, the others use the bus. The care staff drive the cars to take them to day services and outings. He pays £38 a week to the landlord to cover utilities, communal cleaning and gardening. ( Housing benefit goes direct to landlord for the rent) and £47 a week to local authority towards care. He gets ESA and PIP and pays for his day service 2 days a week. After food, petrol and broadband he has about £120 a month for activities, clothes etc. That is plenty for him. I would not contribute towards a house car. Support staff should be able to drive your daughter’s car to take her out. Motability will do an any driver policy if requested. You just need a letter from care company on headed paper. If they want to go out together the other person can contribute towards the petrol cost but they can’t use the car without your daughter. Don’t give up the car. It is such a good deal with not having to worry about any maintenance costs and insurance.

[49Twister]

My son receives ESA and Higher rate Pip. He pays £155 per week contribution for support, £120 for food and social activities, £50 utilities weekly. Do you live near your daughter, could you transport her to and from day services. If it's her money being used for the car it really is her car and should only be used for her. This is how I understood this to work and prevented me from going down this route, Apologies if I'm wrong, but even when applying for free tax it says only if used for that person.

[Bergersil400]

We had a different situation for our daughter. She is in a complex of 10 separate flats each with their own support. When she moved in 18 months ago the supported living complex had a mini bus to transport residents and staff on trips etc. About 9 months ago I noticed it was no longer in the car park, and when I questioned staff, they said they couldn't afford the repairs.As my daughter doesn't have a mobility car I asked staff how she would get further afield than just in the locality. Additionally we lost her day care in the town we live as it closed and the NHS support team said they couldn't fund daycare, for supported living residents.

I went straight to the top and was able to be given a further £100 per week fo 14 hours support, added to her budget to pay for transportation for staff to and from any activities . If they drove her it would also pay for petrol. Seems to work well, and they have to itemise how it is used as it will be subject to an audit.

We are lucky in that she is 100% health funded, and we have her home most weekends.

I do find I have to keep on top of how money is used however as there is a lot of waste.

I wonder if your utilitiy costs are a bit excessive.?We pay £56 per month, but was reduced from £100 per month after a smart meter was installed.

Food also we buy most of it & spend £35 -£50 per week inclusive of toiletries and cleaning products. We give the staff £20 - £40 per week for activities and any food top ups. There is plenty over for any clothes, presents throughout the year, plus a contingency for any new items for the flat. As her appointee I manage her budget as she has no capacity .

[parasiticworm]

I'm quite lucky. I live in supported living and pay £300 a month for bills and TV package. I share with 3 others in a large house. I get ESA and PIP. I get 21 hours one to one a week and day centre 4 days a week. I don't have to pay for these. I have £1000 free a month I can spend on what I like and I like saving this for holidays with me and my staff. I'm going to Turkey with them in April for 10 days. I know I'm lucky.

[FoodBankKnitter]

She needs a financial review, as well as pip she may qualify for ESA.