I am a single parent to a wonderful, funny and intelligent 14 year old boy. He has Asburgers syndrome and was diagnosed when he was 11. The reason why I am here is because at present I am being shoved from pillar to post by the ‘lovely’ UK government system and me and my son are completely at their mercy. I have always worked, apart from the first few years when my son was a baby. I have currently 3 jobs two of which are casual one full time. I was in a job 32hours per week at minimum wage, I didn’t earn much but it was a job and it fitted in with his school times with no issues. Last February I had correspondence from universal credit (due to being on a low income I was also on government benefits). I was told that I had to earn more, to either ask my employer for a higher wage or find better employment. As it was not an option to ask my employer for a better wage, I did a course in security to get a better job. Last September I got a job which I love, however the hours are a lot more (48 hrs per week ) and I am unable to take my son to school two days a week. Thinking, that with my son’s autism and how dangerous the road is where we live, I thought that given the circumstances the Education Authority would step in and help out. How wrong was I! I applied for alternative social housing closer to the school two years ago and still no joy. I have fought the transport office for a year in my local area to get him a bus from the door to the school and have gotten nowhere. I have got in touch with the Autism service who agree that the road is too dangerous for my son to walk. He is missing two days off school per week when I am in work because I have to leave the house at 5am to do a 12 hour shift. I cannot be in two places at the same time and I’m dammed if I do and I’m dammed if I dont. I enjoy my job I don’t earn much more than what I was. However It’s the first time in my life I don’t have to count the amount of food going into the grocery trolley. But my son is missing two days a week for a proper education and in the most important years. I am stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea. I have the education welfare officer telling me he needs to go to school or they will take me to court and fine me. They won’t help bring him, but agree that the road is unsafe. Then I have universal credit office telling me I need to earn more or they will ‘sanction’ me. Do I quit my job and severely struggle financially for our basic needs to take my son to school for the two days or do I keep going the way I am where he misses out educationally and socially and I will get fined by the court. I cannot split myself In two no matter how much I want to. He’s safely would be a great concern if he were to walk the single file road due to heavy lorry’s from a quarry just up the road. If I reduce my hours I will be in the same position a was in last year with universal credit. I am here to ask for financial help for a deposit for a house closer to my son’s school and cut out trying to fight for scraps from the government. I am currently renting a social house, I have asked for a transfer but there is no housing available. The current private rental rates are so expensive it would be cheaper for me to pay for a mortgage. However being on my own and hammered already by the amount of hours I’m not at home, there literally isn’t enough hours in the day. I am currently saving up a house deposit but I’m finding it difficult to gather up enough for a good deposit due to my circumstances. I have £2000 at the moment. By the time I do save up enough, my son will be already out of school. ANY help for us would be amazing!! My son is such a good little man and he doesn’t deserve to be left behind and we both don’t deserve to struggle financially on benefits either due to no other support available. I would even be happy with a considerable loan from someone and low repayments if that is even an option.
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Thank you so much for reading this far sending lots of blessings