CAB New covid rules do not affect travel
Q: I have booked a holiday in a cottage on the coast for the October week with the rest of my household. Do the new rules announced on Wednesday mean that we can’t go? Will we be able to get our money back?
A: Although people living in our health board area of Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been encouraged not to make unnecessary journeys outside this area, there is no outright travel ban.
While making new plans to go away on holiday during a period of 16 days from Friday is not encouraged, those who already have bookings don’t need to change their plans.
You will just have to follow local restrictions wherever you go. In these circumstances, unless the holiday provider is unable to provide you with your accommodation any more, you would not be due a refund.
Q: My son is 14 years old and has his father’s surname on the birth certificate that I registered with my ex-partner. My ex-partner has not been involved in our child’s life since shortly after the birth, and we don’t even know where he is living now. My son has been asking to have his surname changed for a long time and I feel he is old enough to make that decision now. How do we go about this?
A: As your son’s father is named on the birth certificate, it seems highly likely that he has “parental rights and responsibilities” along with you.
This means that it will be very difficult to formally register the name change with the Register General, as everyone with parental rights has to sign the form agreeing to the change.
The official process is separate to the use of deed poll in Scotland, where people who can’t change their name can register that they are to be known by a different name.
However, even for deed poll changes you need everyone with parental rights to agree where the person whose name is being changed is under 16.
There is nothing to stop a person choosing to be called by a different name, without going through any legal process, as long as this isn’t being done for fraudulent reasons.
You could inform the school, doctor and any other official agencies that your son wishes to be known by a different surname.
Perhaps this would be a good solution at least until your son turns 16, at which point he can get a form from the local registrars and make his name change official. The current fee for this process is £40.
Q: I have been offered a new house by the council as my walking is now very bad and my current flat is on the second floor. However, I am worried about taking it as I have been told that I might need to move onto Universal Credit, and my income would be significantly reduced. I live alone and am getting Employment and Support Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Housing Benefit at the moment.
A: As long as you are moving home within the same local authority area (ie you’ll still be living in Renfrewshire) you should simply need to report a change of circumstances to the council to have your Housing Benefit amended to cover the new home.
If you are moving to a different area, it may be possible to make a new claim for Housing Benefit – meaning you wouldn’t have to claim Universal Credit – if your current award of Employment and Support Allowance includes an amount called a severe disability premium.
You’ll need to be getting an award under the Daily Living part of PIP to potentially qualify for this amount.
Call us about this if you are not sure how your current money made up, or if you want us to check you are on the correct benefits.