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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think i will have too much money on benefits.

325 replies

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:07

OK so dh and i have split up.He is staying with a friend and is finding somewhere else to live.We have 5 children.He is a relatively high earner and i have always been at home with the kids.

I have applied for everything i am entitled to (income support,child tax credits,child benefit,housing benefit, i will not have to pay any council tax- was not entitled to any of these before)

On top of this i will be receiving maintenance from Ex.

All in i will be receiving £3,300 per month!

That is only a couple of hundred less than dh gets paid.

I am porting this partly because i am sure i have missed something,should i not be getting maintenance from dh as well?Everywhere i have looked says i can.

Partly,i just think its bad.I mean i wont be claiming these forever,i have been accepted on a course (again which i wont have to pay for,which i will be given a grant for childcare)and after that i will be working again,so 3 years max.

But now i can see how easy it must be for someone to just see this as a lifestyle.

OP posts:

WorraLiberty · 23/09/2014 12:09

Don't you have to be on benefits for a minimum of 6 months before you can do a free course?

Or has that changed now?

LaurieFairyCake · 23/09/2014 12:10

It sounds like you will fall into the very small category of people that benefits supports well due to the fact you have so many children and no current employment .

You are also in a very small category of people that will get a large maintenance payment that won't affect your tax credits - I think it affects your income support though so you may not be as well off as you think

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:12

It used to affect income support but the man i spoke to on the phone said it changed a couple of years ago.

The college didnt say anything about that to me worra.

Guess its because of all the kids!

OP posts:

Vitalstatistix · 23/09/2014 12:14

5 children and includes housing benefit and council tax etc? Yes, sounds about right.

Obviously the cash amount is less, but including like you say, rent etc I can see how it could be that.

It's good that you can access courses that will help you find work. That's what they're there for. Good luck with the course.

I think you will probably need to check when (if?) the caps come in. I read something about universal credit and total cap of max £500 a week? that includes HB etc. I don't know when that takes effect but I am sure you will have done your course and found work by then.

Myhusbandishardwork · 23/09/2014 12:14

I think you should be on the breadline when on benefits, not living in luxury.

This is were the system is wrong.

I have a family who have lived on benefits all their life, most have never worked because they will openely tell you that there is no incentive

MrsWinnibago · 23/09/2014 12:15

If DH only earns a couple of hundred more than 3 grand a month then he's not a "very high earner" is he?

It won't be forever and if this has been calculated then that's correct. You do have 5 dc I suppose. But you can't have calculated housing benefit without having somewhere to live first...so not sure how you did that.

jacks365 · 23/09/2014 12:15

Don't think you will get as much as you think for starters you will need to topup council tax you may also need to top up housing benefit. I also suspect you will get caught with the benefits cap. Also never ever rely on maintenance payments as they are unreliable which is why they aren't taken into account.

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:15

See i thought the caps had already taken place but apparently its only some places up north.It said it will take place down here by 2017.

OP posts:

juliascurr · 23/09/2014 12:16

yes, it's all means tested
being a single parent of 5 is hard work
your kids will be our doctors, cleaners, librarians so we will all benefit from the work you do raising them
hope you have enough for a reasonable life while you're on benefits

SaucyJack · 23/09/2014 12:16

You're not legally obliged to claim any benefits you think you won't need due to your ex being one of a very very very small percentage of NRPs that actually pays enough maintenance to genuinely support their children.

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:17

I do have somewhere to live,i liver in my house,dh has moved out.

He is on 65 k a year,which after tax is £3,736.77

OP posts:

OhMyArsingGodInABox · 23/09/2014 12:20

Today 12:15 MrsWinnibago

If DH only earns a couple of hundred more than 3 grand a month then he's not a "very high earner" is he?

Arf! Only on MN would a 60k salary be described as not a very high salary.

LaurieFairyCake · 23/09/2014 12:20

If you live in your house you will only get the interest part of your mortgage paid and only short term

You won't get housing benefit to actually pay off your mortgage

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:23

its rented not owned.Its 1195 a month and i will recieve 286 a week hb.

OP posts:

jacks365 · 23/09/2014 12:24

You are confused between benefit cap which is nationwide and universal credit which is being trialled in certain areas. You will be affected by that.

Do you own or rent your home? How big is it. If privately rented can you even stay in it long term. If owned you are going to have far more expenses than you think.

jacks365 · 23/09/2014 12:25

Very few landlords will accept hb tenants so expect your tenancy to end once it is up.

MrsWinnibago · 23/09/2014 12:26

Arse Oh I know I know...but it depends where you live really. And with five children and a mortgage it's not that much. I think "really high" is more like over a hundred grand a year. Most of the people I know earn about 50-70 grand (yes they talk about it)...I don't....so I'm not crowing or anything...I earn a pittance.

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:28

no its fine have already sorted it with landlord.have been here years so she knows we wont mess about.I have just signed a 2 year contract.

OP posts:

MrsWinnibago · 23/09/2014 12:28

Jack what nonsense! She will be paid the housing benefit directly and the landlord need not know she's on benefits!

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:28

Mrs winnibago

I actually said "relatively high" .....

OP posts:

MrsWinnibago · 23/09/2014 12:29

I have to say OP...while you're in a good position now...use it and save a little towards a new deposit if the house should suddenly get put on the market. It's horrifying when you're given notice with children. (Been there)

basgetti · 23/09/2014 12:29

I thought the benefit cap was already in effect?

MrsWinnibago · 23/09/2014 12:30

Fair do's 5 it is relatively high. I am glad you're going to be ok. Divorce is stressful enough....without money worries.

Original poster

5toocoolforschool · 23/09/2014 12:31

Well the people i have spoken to have told me the benefit cap isnt in effect everywhere yet.

I will be putting some away,it was always dh that did that so i wll need to get used to saving some money.Plus like people have said,it wont always be this much.And you never know what will happen with maintenance.

OP posts:

basgetti · 23/09/2014 12:34

According to CAB it came into effect on 15th July last year, I think you need to seek out more advice.

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