Thread by @RachelAdamSmith

A story about universal credit. This month F turned 20. I was receiving £880 child element & disability element plus child benefit. All that has gone. I received £151 instead (they deducted £50 as they state they overpaid me one month).🧶

Will I have enough to pay for our home & all associated costs. Anxiously I’ve waited to see what she’ll receive. Gone through all the assessments for limited capability for work. Contacted welfare rights who advised me what she is entitled to. Was this all necessary? 🧶

I’m a carer to a severely disabled child. She’s not suddenly got better. She’s just become an adult (who lacks capacity) but I’ve had to go through all these assessments. And today, I found out how much she’ll receive £265. That’s a drop of approx £559 in one month... 🧶

It’s meant to be according to welfare rights £619.59. Where am I going to make up that money? I can’t work, I’m her carer. Obviously, I’ll appeal. But in the meantime am I meant to go into further debt, lose our home? What exactly am I meant to do. The whole system is absurd 🧶

It causes unnecessary anxiety, endless paperwork and endless justifying someone’s disability. Whilst caring for her, I’ve now to deal with an appeal, whilst going further into debt, and worrying how I am going to financially manage. #CostOfLivingCrisis .🧶

The system is totally unfair on those who commit their lives to caring for their relatives for no pay by this never ending need to justify their relatives disability.Leaving them anxious and terrified when they should feel supported #universalcredit

Need to add. I’m messaging in her UC journal as her mum, appointee, carer but each time they address the response to my daughter, Dear F. F can’t read, write or speak, been assessed as limited capability for work but they still insist on writing to her & asking her the questions

She might have turned 20 but she can’t suddenly read, write, speak. Nothing has changed but the DWP/the Government plunges those most in need, most vulnerable into financial crisis by insisting on this change.

All that changed was her age not her disability (or care needs)