Maintenance
Hi, im a single parent of an autistic son who's father has nothing to do with him i get money through child support but have been told that now he has moved in with a new family and taken on her 2 girls thery are taken into consideration but only on on his wages but the mother works full time and she also gets money from csa for her 2 girls where is the justis in that huh at least they have the privilage of going out to work not like me im a full time carer and look at 4 walls all day they also get help with child minding fee's the goverment wouldn't pay child minding fee's for my son cos of his disability surely this is not right...
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Hello gailduncan and welcome to One Space!
Yes, that does sound right what you have been told, and whilst it is true that ANY system will disadvantage one or another group of people, the thing about the new partner's children seeming to come "before" their original children does seem very unfair.
Do your receive DLA at the middle or highest rate care component for your son? If so then at least you will have the extra leeway of being able to stay away from the present "single parents should all go to work when their child is seven years old" campaign as you will not be expected to work until your son is 18 if he receives that benefit.
I am wondering if you get some respite care as well, for example does his dad have your son, or are you given a regular break via school?
Have you ever been in touch with The Family Fund? They give annual grants for people with a disabled child.
Hi gailduncan
Are you in touch with the children's services for your area? You can get in touch via the social services.
I used to attend a parents forum which got me in touch with other children with disabled children (my son has mild autism/aspurger's) which was such a help. It was good to know that there are other parents and carer's in the same boat - and amazingly, many of them are lone parents...
Contact a Family www.cafamily.org.uk are also really good. i've been on a number of parenting courses with them. They also have cinema viewings which are really good, as you can go as a family and don't need to worry if your child can't keep still...
The Family Fund are really good. You can also apply for grants for a break even.
Again in my area, and the local library may be able to help, there is an autism support group.
Don't be afraid to ask for help from the likes of specialist children services. There are groups out there who will be able to help.
Its best I don't comment on the child support side of things. But it is wrong...
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