Calling All Young People!

Hi urspecial,

Thanks. The info on benifits after 16 is great I didnt know what he would be looking at. However you can get DLA younger than 16 its just paid to your parents insead of you like child benifit etc.

Thanks again

sam

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Gr8t news SamF,

Don't give up with the assesment also look for maybe a carer's assesment for youself.

You may find it helpful to look what this is at NAS or google it.

Google is my third online best friend after this site of course and mse.com

Hi Katie,

Right I know the feeling, I'm looking at support for myself after I turn 19.

This is usually the age the Government changes funding for children and YPs (to an extent).

Usually, they stop giving your parents money and give it to you but in the form of different named benefits (I'll get to this later..).

Have a look at the following on NAS's website and others. NAS is quite good with giving you hints on what you can write on forms.

1. Disability Living Allowance.

This is a benefit paid to people aged 16 + if they have a disability (ASD is in nearly all cases).

Its there to provide financial help for everyday tasks ASD, for example, find hard (e.g. preparing/making a meal, washing [bathing, toileting issues, IF have OCD link with this, also put in stuff like you may ignore taking care of yourself like brushing your teeth, washing your face on a bad day; which may be true I don't know].

Also maybe washing your clothes [can link well with OCD  - also a disability], using public and private transport (e.g. buses, taxis, mum's car when you might be anxious about something or for example ONLY, your mum might not understand your ASD making the car journey EVEN more difficult).

ADHD-wise find it hard to sit in one place for too long [can happen with ASD too due to anxiety, impulsiveness like you have to do something asap or otherwise you won't move on to something else], this can makes things like going on buses, train, to school/college/Uni/work/training/jobcentre lol very difficult for you. Explain why in detail; if this all happens to you.

Sorry linked too much on transport, remember on DLA include that alot of this stuff can happen at night also. What if you needed to travel in the evening or night on buses, ASD can maybe put you in more risk even if lets say a bus maybe empty. You may need someone to come with you as you may not identify these risks by yourself. Or you might not look both way when crossing the road as may be anxious about going somewhere, anytime of day, may need help of someone - mum!

Much more hints and tips on NAS and google hints for DLA form filling or ASD problems people have and note them down if they relate to you. Check other websites like Mind, other conditions too as they may have generic tips which may come in handy to lots of different people.

Child Tax/Working Tax credits - direct.gov.uk look up - they're benefits for your parents to claim unlike DLA which would be in your name!

Child Tax Credit - parents are working or not and have a YP under 20 and in college or linked up with Connexions (i.e. they know your not in college or doing something like going to work).

2.  Working Tax Credit- this is a benefit if your parent/s work at least 16 hrs a week or more again google this and look up gov website called   direct.gov.uk - really simple and easy to read. NO MAX age for parents I THINK.

Child Benefit - parents to claim. Max age 20 of YP. Must in college if aged 16-20 or registered with Connexions as NEET - not in education, employment or training (i.e. Apprenterships etc).

3.  EMA/ALG - for you to claim if at college, doing programme (college, sixthform) led Apprentership or you can get 16-19 discretionary support fund instead.

4.  Employment Support Allowance - for you, ONLY CLAIM this for yourself after you've turned 18/19 otherwise they take the same money away from parent's Child Tax Credit etc and give it to you. More paperwork, responsibility for you - why when you can give it to your parents for a while longer. lol

This also gives you free NHS dental, eye (glasses, contact lenses, prescriptions) for you. Free till 18/19/20 if in college/school sixth form/ sixth form college/ training etc though.

If you do get ESA and DLA then get £40 16-19 college grant but £10 more than EMA/ALG so maybe not worth it for all the hassel.

FINALLY, look at www.moneysavingexpert.com for money saving tips from a legend, including benefits etc but quite difficult site to look/move around for beginners - soon get hang of it though. Martin Lewis - guy owning MSE comes on daybreak, came on gmtv, comes on sometimes BBC Watchdog - Anne Robinson LOVES HIM lol.  

Look out for grants - familyfund.org.uk for Children aged 17 and under - can get laptop though quite rubbish design - really uncomfortable but does the job.

Local water company, national gas. elec companies - don't usually need to be their customers unless water comp - they give grants to buy white goods - like washing machines, fridges [so does family fund but to under 18s etc], things like that. No upper age limit usually - check before hand on their website or google the company's name like British Gas and charty or grants 4 more details.

Remeber there's no shame asking for help as long as you need the help and aren't absuing the system. By this I DON'T mean if you have problems on public transport you might not have it again, you might, there's always that chance, as long as it happend before (i.e. at least once/twice in a single day etc).

Best of luck,

urspecial 

Hiya, I'm a YP too ;)

Names Katie. Been recently diagnosed with Aspergers now mums wondering/stressing over whether I can get any financial support, any idea's? Seriously any suggestions would be great right about now. xD

Hi,

Congrats on everything you have achieved its really good to hear from someone who has been through the process. You will come across Hagrid  (a new YP) on the site now. He is my son and we are just about to start out on the battle with social work, waiting for someone to contact me regarding an assessment of needs. So we will probably be asking you for loads of advice.

My writing style tends to change depending on how long I have to word it etc

Sam

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