Beverly W

So my son's transition from school to university has well and truly caught us on a back foot here.

I did the right thing by getting a benefit check then informing UC of the change of circumstances, as the school year ended and he was leaving. Obviously, I contacted child benefit about it too.

I know child benefit is due to continue until the start of the new school term on the first of September. I assumed we would be OK until September. However I wasn't aware that UC has been engineered to finish paying us the child element the month after he leaves school. So technically as of now. This leaves us with in the region of £550 less to both live on. That means from August till mid September we'll have approximately £100 ish less per week to live on as though his current and future welfare doesn't matter one bit anymore. Either that or I'm expected to support him in the meantime.

In my opinion the expectation that he is, to leave school then walk into a job the following day, is unlikely unrealistic and unbelievably short sighted of the dwp.

Frustratingly I've spent easily triple that amount so far on kitting him out with essentials for student life, even with the purchase of cheap or second hand goods. And we all know how unwise and uneconomical it is if you "buy cheap, buy twice". But that's all we could afford on top of driving lessons/ tests and prom gear I paid for. It just never ends. He already needs an entire wardrobe as he's out growing things, and worn his trainers out, Not to mention exam results day looming, and as any loving parent wants to do so, there's an opportunity to shower their child with treats to celebrate exam success or console failure.

We haven't even factored in how to transport all of his belongings to the campus in one small vehicle yet. I had hoped to stay overnight somewhere cheap before returning home the following day. It will be too much for me to do everything otherwise.

How the dwp automatically expect him to have a, job to support himself with, only a few days after leaving education is ludicrous. Indeed he's been applying for work only nobody is willing to take him on with him moving away in September.

In addition we've applied for every scholarship and bursary available to us and I've just submitted another application for a DHP so fingers crossed, we get something from somewhere, because he still need pots and pans etc, a full week's grocery shop a deposit on student accommodation. Not to mention transport to get him and all his belongings there.

So there it is, a deliberate mess and another bit of meanness from the powers that be.