income support

[jozanna]

hi can anyone tell me if i would be entitled to any benefits once me and my husband have seperated, i foster two girls and have a 15 year old son thanks x

[Collaborate]

Subject to income/capital considerations, and the ages of the children, yes.

[LadySybildeChocolate]

I think it's job seekers allowance once your children reach a certain age, not income support. Have a look on entitledto.com

[Septembergold]

Its job seekers if your children are over 7 and income surport if there under.

[CrystalEclipse]

i think yo need this: government benefits calculator

you need to put in your circumstances as if you were separated, it takes a while but you will know exactly where you would be financially

[Whitecherry]

It's not over 7 anymore

It's 5. Once they turn 5 it changes to jsa

[jozanna]

thanks so much but as im a foster carer im sure i wont be able to get jsa as im self employed x

[AmberLeaf]

As you are a foster carer you may be entitled to income support rather than JSA.

Check the calculator on entitledto.com

[Collaborate]

If self employed you won't be entitled to working tax credits. You should be getting a fostering allowance from the LA, and getting child tax credits and child benefit. You won't get income support unless your income is below IS levels.

[AmberLeaf]

2/3 of fostering allowance is classed as expenses so not counted as income.

It has always been the case that you could claim income support if fostering.

[AmberLeaf]

Foster carers may be in a position to claim any of the following benefits, according to circumstances

Income Support
Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Disability Living Allowance
Working Tax Credits


Source

[LadySybildeChocolate]

I'm self employed and entitled to working tax credit.

You could do with popping to the CAB, OP. They will do a benefit check for you.

[LFCisTarkaDahl]

Won't you need to be reassessed if you split - surely you foster together ?

[AmberLeaf]

Single parents/people are allowed to foster.

[LFCisTarkaDahl]

Yes, I know that, I'm a carer. I wondered if she had to be RE assessed, I would be if dh and I split - or rather foster dd wouldn't automatically come with me.

[floatyjosmum]

I think the benefit issue depends if you foster for the la or an ifa.