Merseyside Send Support Network

10/12/2025

10/12/2025

💙 Universal Credit & 2:1 Care — Important Information for Families

Many parents don’t know this, so please read and share.

If your child needs 2:1 care, BOTH parents can be recognised as carers by Universal Credit — even if only one parent receives Carer’s Allowance or the Carer Element.

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🔵 Can the second parent be exempt from work requirements?

YES.
You can ask to be placed in the No Work-Related Requirements group under Regulation 89(1)(b) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013.

To qualify, the second parent must:
✔ Provide 35+ hours a week of care
✔ This care must be in addition to the first parent’s full-time care
✔ The child must require continuous, high-level, or 2:1 supervision

This applies to many families caring for children with complex needs, high-risk behaviour, non-verbal communication, autism with safety risks, medical needs, epilepsy, or significant supervision requirements.

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🔵 What if DWP refuse?

If your work coach won’t exempt you, you can still request:

➡️ A reduction in your work-related requirements

Under Regulation 88 — for carers of someone with a physical or mental impairment.

This means your job-seeking hours can be lowered to reflect the real level of care you provide.

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🔵 What to write in your UC journal:

Parents can copy and paste this:

“I am requesting that my claimant commitment is amended, as I provide at least 35 hours of care per week for my disabled child, in addition to the care provided by the other parent.
Under Regulation 89(1)(b) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013, I request to be placed in the ‘no work-related requirements’ group.
If this is not agreed, I request a reduction in work-related requirements under Regulation 88, as my child requires 2:1 care and both parents provide essential supervision and support.”

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💙 Why this matters:

Families caring for disabled children are already stretched beyond capacity.
No parent should be pushed into unrealistic work commitments when their child needs two adults for safety, supervision, or medical care.

MSSN will always share information that protects and empowers our families.
Please share so others know their rights.

10/12/2025

A number of schools have closed, an NHS leader says people should wear masks and the UKHSA is urging everyone to get jabbed

09/12/2025

I've seen a LOT of comments recently around "holidays" in term time being this taboo, selfish, and irresponsible act...

The word "holiday" has somewhat been demonised. A lot of people seem to have this image of parents whisking their children away to a cheap all inclusive complex that is filled with beer, lots of junk food and "chavvy" activities.

I hate to break it to you, but that's a very stereotypical view. Not all parents just want to get on the all inclusive cocktails as soon as they land and stick their children in the kids club. This isn't TV.

A lot of parents book all inclusive holidays because value wise, it is cheaper than booking everything separately. Parents do leave the hotel to experience the country and participate in enriching activities. Yes, they may take advantage of the all inclusive drinks, but does that make them bad? No, it doesn't.

My point is, holidays mean different things to different people. And that's OK!

The image being portrayed isn't totally accurate. Not all parents say "Why would we leave the hotel? It's all inclusive!" - Thanks to Mick Garvey aka. Steve Pemberton.

The Department for Education has thrown this statement into the statutory guidance. "38. Generally, the DfE does not consider a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure and recreation to be an exceptional circumstance."

However, it is clear they aren't interested in the individual circumstances.

For example;

● Families who cannot take any time off in the school holidays as they either work in hospitality, emergency services, armed forces, self employment, etc

● Life events like cancer in the family. We've seen countless stories where discretion hasn't been used

● Family weddings. We can't all tell our family to book their wedding in the school holidays just to satisfy the DfE 😂🙄

● Mental health breaks. This isn't necessarily a "holiday", but a much needed respite break to face the stresses of a busy, and often overwhelming society

Life isn't black and white. Life isn't perfect. Life doesn't fit neatly into the 13 weeks of rigid school holidays. Life is often messy and complicated.
So next time you judge someone for needing to take a few days out, take a step back and think again. Most parents ARE responsible and can both care about their child's education and their well-being at the same time!

STOP judging!

09/12/2025

We have another amazing mum looking for a special someone for her little boy. Email for this is attached to poster. Ty everyone.

08/12/2025

🎄 To the Parents Who Feel Heavy This Christmas… 💙

Not every Christmas looks like the ones in the adverts.
Not every child gets excited.
Not every family feels the magic.

Some of us spend Christmas comforting children who are overwhelmed by lights, noise, smells, people, routines changing… and all the things the world expects them to enjoy.

Some of us are grieving the Christmas we thought we’d have — the one where our children understood, joined in, or loved the day like everyone else’s seems to.

If this is you, please hear this:

✨ You are not failing.
✨ Your child is not missing out.
✨ Your version of Christmas is still valid, still beautiful, and still enough.

Your child doesn’t need a “perfect Christmas”. They need you — your calm, your understanding, your patience, your love.
And that’s what you give them every single day, even when your heart aches for the Christmas you imagined.

It’s okay to feel sad.
It’s okay to feel tired.
It’s okay to wish things were different.
And it’s okay to celebrate your Christmas in the way that works for your family.

However your day looks, you’re doing an incredible job.
And you’re not alone — so many families feel exactly the same, even if they don’t say it out loud.

From all of us at MSSN:
💙 We see you.
💙 We stand with you.
💙 Your Christmas counts too.

08/12/2025

📣 The Media & Government Are Now Actively Turning the Public Against Autism & ADHD

Every single week, another headline appears designed to paint autistic and ADHD people as “undeserving” or “too costly”.
Today’s example: calls to exclude ADHD and depression from the Motability Scheme — despite the fact that ADHD alone is extremely unlikely to qualify anyone for high-rate mobility in the first place.

This isn’t about “tightening rules”.
This is about shifting public opinion.
It’s about slowly convincing people that neurodivergent families are the problem, rather than a system that’s been underfunded for years.

🔹 Autism and ADHD are not choices.
🔹 Disabled people are not drains.
🔹 And mobility support is already incredibly hard to qualify for.

The real danger is how easily the public absorb these headlines without understanding the reality.
This kind of messaging only fuels stigma, judgement, and division — while families are already fighting every day just to access basic support.

💙 We stand with every autistic and ADHD person and every family being dragged into this political blame game.

MSSN will always call this out.
Our community deserves better than being used as a headline to score points.

08/12/2025

📢 SCHOOL CLOSURES BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE SO SICK… THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ATTENDANCE IS PRIORITISED OVER HEALTH

Across our region, more and more schools are having to close or send children home because illness is spreading like wildfire.
Why? Because families are being pressured to send unwell children in — all because attendance targets have been put above children’s health.

This is the inevitable result of a system that values numbers over wellbeing.

💙 Children are not statistics.
💙 Parents shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for keeping sick kids at home.
💙 Schools shouldn’t be punished for doing the right thing.

When attendance becomes the only measure that matters, children suffer. Families suffer. And now entire schools are suffering too.

At MSSN, we stand with parents, carers and school staff who are trying their best in an impossible situation.
It’s time for the Government and Local Authorities to recognise that wellbeing and public health must come before attendance figures — every single time.

Our children deserve better.

08/12/2025

✨ A Massive Thank You From the MSSN Team! ✨

We want to say a HUGE thank you to every single person who supported our recent fundraising efforts — whether you donated, shared our posts, took part in the Anfield abseil, or bought raffle tickets.

Because of your kindness and incredible community spirit, we’ve raised a whopping £1525.86! 🎉💙

Every penny will go straight back into supporting our amazing SEND community and their families. Your support helps us continue the work we do, and we are truly grateful for each and every one of you.

Thank you for standing with us, cheering us on and helping us make a real difference.

✨ We hope you all have a truly magical Christmas and a wonderful New Year! ✨

With love,
The MSSN Team 💙🤝🎄✨