Finance

SHIRLEYELIZABETH

Hi my autistic child is about to leave school and has been placed in a day centre for 2days a week He gets pip both higher rate and would not be able to have a job Can I claim any other benefits for him He is 19 soon

bg844

Your son could look in to claiming Universal Credit, whether or not there's any entitlement to this will depend on his overall circumstances. If he has savings of over £16,000 he is excluded from claiming, UC is a means-tested benefit. Before he applies, he should go and see the GP to request a fit note. 

You then start the claims process online, it will ask about your sons personal information and details in regards to his current circumstances including other benefits received. As you make your way through the application process it will ask if he has any health conditions and once you have submitted these it will ask if you have a fit note.

After you have made the claim successfully, it will then show a journal. UC is paid monthly but can be paid more frequently in exceptional circumstances. His first payment will be one month and 7 days after applying, although he can get an advance payment in the mean time if he is struggling but be aware this will need to be paid back with a monthly deduction from his payments so is good to avoid if you have enough to get by in the mean time.

Shortly after applying, he will require an appointment with a Work Coach at a Job Centre. If this is face to face and he would struggle to go, you can leave a message asking for this to be changed to a telephone appointment as a reasonable adjustment. Unfortunately, a fit note does not automatically turn off work commitments and it is the discretion of his Work Coach to either turn off these or reduce them. After 29 days he will be sent a UC50 health questionnaire form to complete and return with relevant evidence, you have roughly a month to do this. Continue getting fit notes from your GP in the mean time, ensuring there's no gaps and giving the dates of these to UC.

After an assessment is carried out there are 3 different groups you can be placed in. LCWRA would mean your son would not need to look or search for work and will no longer have a Work Coach, LCW would mean that your son is found to be not fit for work right now but will require appointments at a Job Centre to prepare for work, the other group is fit for work.

Like most benefits, these things can take some time to be processed.

bg844

If you wish to be his appointee, you apply with the steps I have mentioned above in his name and with his details. Once the application has been submitted you then can leave a message on the journal for a 'Work Coach' with your name and request this to be set up for you, someone will be in contact to arrange this and tell you the next steps.

SHIRLEYELIZABETH

😊