To apply for benefits?

[Shandied]

I have name changed (not really sure why) but have been a member for a while and haven't joined to do a first post intended to be goady or anything!

I have no idea about benefits, but getting really, really short of money now so wondering if anyone could advise what they would do- I did consider another forum but wasn't sure what it would come under!

I had a fairly high flying job but it was a sizable commute, 2 hours door to door each way, which although managable before having DS (unplanned but much loved) it's too much. My DH is often away with work (just home at weekends, often is away for longer periods so I'm on my own for months sometimes), which means that no childcare provider locally can provide 4 hours plus a whole working day, it wouldnt be affordable anyway. Our money is shared but be doesn't earn much in honesty, it doesnt cover all of the bills (and we took the smallest mortgage possible for the area; it was half of what we were eligible for), but things keep rising. DS is now one, I left my job when he was a month old because I knew it wouldn't be workable despite trying to think of every possible solution, and I didnt want to receive and have to pay back maternity pay. I recieved the basic level.

Anyway, I have been applying for jobs for the past 6 months, anything and everything- full time and part time although I can't do evenings because noone to have DS. I was naieve as to how hard it would be to secure any job, not because I think I'm great but just as I've always been lucky before I guess. Money is now very tight, I'm still applying but no idea if I'd be eligible for anything? Close to not being able to pay bills, I know I should have thought of this before but it was a bit of a whirlwind and definitely didn't realise the relentlessness and challenges.

Would I be eligible because I voluntarily left my job? Even if no money, are they actually useful in helping you search for work?

We have considered selling the house,but renting is more expensive here and a lot of the deposit would be wiped out in legal fees for selling.

So if you earned more than your DH, why were you the one who gave up work while he continued? Surely it didn't make financial sense?

Could he look for a better job that is either more pay or less time away from home?

Your benefit eligibility depends on various factors but you might be entitled to some universal credit, look at the calculators on Entitledto or Turn2us.

How old is your child now?

So you chose to have a child, voluntarily gave up your job and would now like to claim benefits to support your lifestyle instead? I wonder how many people would love to do this and if they did, how long the benefits system would be sustainable.

Definitely apply and see if you are entitled to anything. I think there is a calculator on the turn2us website, where you can check.

I don’t mean to be nosey but if your DH doesn’t make much, is it worth him being away all week? Could he not get a similar or better paid job nearer home, and maybe you could work PT in the evenings?

Cloudyyy don’t be a dick....... so she was supposed to keep a full time job with a 2 hour commute, while looking after a baby alone as her husband works away during the week???? 🙄

How much does your DH earn? It depends on his wage.

Oh sorry I see he is 1. No you won't get sanctioned for leaving work to look after a baby. But I don't understand why you resigned instead of just taking maternity leave and keeping the option open to go back. If you were worried about having to pay back enhanced maternity pay you could have put it in savings or something. Anyway too late for that now.

Go back to work and employ me as your live-in nanny?

Whose idea was it for you as the main earner to give up work, rather than him looking for somewhere local or him staying at home?

Can’t DP be the stay at home parent if you’re the bigger earner?

He would have had to give at least a years notice to leave (probably easy to guess what he does!), and in the current climate it is a more secure job than mine. He has been looking closer to home, but few and far between at the moment. He was living a commutable distance until he was posted early, so during pregnancy we didn't think it would be a major issue. I worked for a private firm which although had good benefits, as a lot of other places is shedding jobs all of the time to 'streamline'. @Cloudyyy yep I did all of those, I'd also love to be back at work, I have applied for everything I have seen from cleaning (which I have done previously before university), to jobs which somewhat align with my experience and quals. I am not fussy as long as it pays, in honesty I don't enjoy the lifestyle of being at home all of the time despite loving my DC.

I'm sure you can apply for job seekers allowance contribution based which is £146 a fortnight. I think you can only get this for 6 months as long as you're job hunting. It would depend on what you're dh earns whether you would qualify for any other help.

I don’t see how anyone can be unreasonable for applying for benefits - you’re either entitled to them or not.

@19lottie82 I think she should have taken mat leave, saved the money and looked for something else meanwhile. Retrained? Moved house? Told her DH to give her year’s noticed whilst on mat leave? Anything other than just packing in a job without knowing how else to support a child.

You do realise that other than Child Benefit, all benefits are now Universal Credit for new applicants? The threshold to qualify for it is quite low. You might be eligible for some assistance with childcare once you're in work but for help with bills, it's not likely to be forthcoming under UC. You can put your DH's income into the DWP's calculator here. If you have liquid assets over about £6k you are not eligible for UC.

Go onto:
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou&ved=2ahUKEwjxisq_1IHoAhWWSBUIHTXGBOMQFjACegQIBhAC&usg=AOvVaw3znf0eVHPR-0Krzf9QBAOs&cshid=1583353798066" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou&ved=2ahUKEwjxisq_1IHoAhWWSBUIHTXGBOMQFjACegQIBhAC&usg=AOvVaw3znf0eVHPR-0Krzf9QBAOs&cshid=1583353798066
Or
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.entitledto.co.uk/&ved=2ahUKEwj647zi1IHoAhVNThUIHeFCCZAQFjAAegQIBhAD&usg=AOvVaw14CIGnabUGI6mzUjMu2unA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.entitledto.co.uk/&ved=2ahUKEwj647zi1IHoAhVNThUIHeFCCZAQFjAAegQIBhAD&usg=AOvVaw14CIGnabUGI6mzUjMu2unA

If you are entitled to anything, then put in a claim.

You have responsibilities with UC that are different from legacy benefits, such as meeting with work coaches to discuss how you plan to get back to work and entirely off UC.

Hi OP,
No-one can know if you are eligible for benefits without knowing your income/outgoings including your partner's income - so as suggested by a previous poster go on the website and check it out. If you are eligible then claim. I'm sure you will be working again as soon as you can but for now do what you need to do. If you do start work i think the calculators can also help you work out if you can get money towards your childcare bills.

If he is away from home and you no longer have a job tying you to the area, can you move with his postings? I have no idea how married quarters works (especially when you have a house) but can you look into that?

I don't think you'll be expected to look for work until dc is 3 so long as one of you is working which is the case for you, however I don't think you'll get a lot if anything as dh earnings will be taken off the amount you'd be entitled to as a family and even a low paid job is usually more than benefits so realistically yes I'd apply but I couldn't give you any idea if you'll get anything.

@Cloudyyy you're entitled to your view, every penny I earnt on mat leave went into the household, if I would have spent anything above statutory I would have had to pay it back. I sold my car, some clothes/shoes etc, electronics and my phone to downgrade and go SIM only (DH is frugal anyway but he was careful with money). Retraining or moving house would have cost money we don't have, and he has been looking for work more locally for a while, even though a year is a long time and he would likely find something, it's probably not entirely unreasonable to be worried about him ending up in the same position as I am. If someone offered me a job tomorrow I would take it, so I'm happy with my decisions. Not ideal but there we go.

Thank you for the useful links and advice, I'll have a look. I did have a telephone interview on Monday which seemed to go okay and have applied for another job today so fingers crossed.

You can apply for universal credit and based on household earnings and savings you may be eligible for some help. There’s a Facebook group called Universal Credit Essentials that have a good calculator www.uceplus.co.uk/how-much-will-my-payment-be.html

If you have capital of £16k or more then you won’t be entitled but could try to claim New Style JSA instead (basically like old contributions based JSA) which does not take savings into account.

@Ellisandra yes we have been looking at that, perhaps selfishly I would like to stay in the area as I help my parents look after my brother who requires a full time carer (me and my mum 'swap' sometimes and she takes DS out to give me a breather and I help with my brother). If nothing else works then we might have to, but being 5 hours away is really a very last resort in honesty. Again, prepared to be judged for that as it is potentially technically an option!

If your DP is in the MOD, have a look at a tax relief claim for travel expenses (you can back date it 4 tax years). He can claim back the taxable element of his travel costs from his home to temporary workplace (so his base if he is living there). It could bring you (him) in some extra money.

I don't think you'll be expected to look for work until dc is 3 so long as one of you is working which is the case for you

No, but you'll be expected to attend interviews with your work coach once the child is one and once the child is two then interviews and usually activities like CV building and the like. Very different from legacy benefits because the expectation is that you both go back to work and are not in receipt of any benefits at all.

In addition there's a 5-week wait for the UC to be paid out so use one of the calculators, the DWP link I posted has a calculator as well, and see what you could be eligible for, but again, it's quite a low threshold.