After three years of trying to secure a social services assessment for my two disabled children, and more years before that of trying to get my husband's needs assessed, as well as my own.... I finally sent in a formal complaint, and we were all assessed. I thought we were finally getting somewhere.
They have come back with two hours of direct payments per week for each child, so I can take them to activities, which only lasts for six months. A request for me to complete a housing application for my husband to move out and live separately, because he's not coping in our current home. And I, apparently, don't need any more than the two hours of direct payments to help me to care for three people, and run two homes, bearing in mind the difficulties around supporting my PDA husband remotely. No respite. No consideration of all the extra work they have just given me (taking kids to activities, completing housing applications, meetings to arrange the housing etc etc).
And, there was even a question about whether I felt I needed an assessment of my own needs as a disabled person, because I have fibromyalgia, but I am sure they already know I wouldn't meet their thresholds, and that any issues I am having are because I have had to give up on my career, and my own health to care for my family. I am furious at the inference that I would be coping with this situation fine, if only I wasn't disabled!
Oh and I should mention that we currently live on a boat, because my husband wasn't coping in our last house, and thought he'd be better here... so when he leaves I will have a whole raft of heavy, practical jobs that he has been doing, to add to my existing workload.
I would like some advice/suggestions before I respond. I feel like telling them I won't be able to care for my husband once he moves out, but make it clear that I will still advocate for the provision of his care, so they know I will be a complete pain in their arses! Not sure yet, if that's something I'm actually prepared to do...
