To ask you to help me work this out?

[Lulu2021]

My head is a mess as I'm going through some relationship difficulties with a young baby and I'm trying to make sense of my entitlement to financial help.

I've done a UC calculation a few times but it comes out with an amount that i think is an overestimate.

My details are;

• FT salary of £47,126, net monthly income £2,516 after deductions.
• 2 DC (ages 15 years and 6 months) - no childcare costs for eldest, costs of £700 pm for youngest when I go back to work from mat leave.
• child maintenance of £120 pm for the eldest child only.
• private rented property
• no other benefits claimed
• no significant savings

It's telling me I'd be entitled to in the region of £650 pm as a single parent. Does this sound right? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

It doesn’t sound like you would get free school transport.
My DD lives quite far from her school as we used to live closer but then had to move and she doesn’t get transport, although it may depend on different LA.

I would really try and sort out your expenses and how you can cut costs. Obviously it’s easier said than done but I’d write down all your outgoings and see what can and can’t be changed.
UC is awful for reducing or stopping payments randomly so you don’t want to be caught out.

@Bigeggsinapackoften

Is your teen at her closest school? You won’t get transport if she isn’t.

I think I've more than clearly explained this one.

Hi op
I see your daughter is not 16 until next year
In that case I would look to try and rent a property close as is feasible to the LHA rate as is feasible.

I know some will say cut everything to the bone
But also know you would not be unreasonable to try to maintain some of your your living standards as far as is practical especially re your eldest daughter.

You will all be going through an immense change so anything you can do to keep some things the same ( eg continue to buy her lunch rather than packed lunches ) you may find have non monetary value for her ( familiar).

you have a great foundation to be working from this uncertain time re finances will not last forever.

@Lulu2021 excellent thread, learnt so much. Ignore all the troublemakers - it's times like this that I feel lucky to live in a country with the benefits system - it's designed to help those in need. All the best and if you don't mind, please do post after your call on Monday. Thanks

@needtogetfit21

I've learned a lot too! I'm very glad I was brave enough to post (despite the nasty posters).

Yes I will definitely update on Monday.

If you are entitled to UC you can get cheaper broadband from BT.

Anyone on UC either working or not is eligible as are anyone on income related ESA or JSA or Guaranteed Pension Credit.

£15 for broadband and landline with free 700 minutes per month calls.

If you already have a broadband contract with BT, you can ring them and switch with no penalties. If you have another provider, I think that you would have to wait to be out of contract until you move over, but it is worth checking.

www.bt.com/exp/broadband/home-essentials

Also if you have a TV licence, get rid and just use the internet. You only need a licence for Live TV and the BBC iPlayer.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence

Use cashback sites as much as possible for purchases, it will soon build up.

If you need to, use a food bank.

www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/

@Angiedx

The LHA rate a pp kindly worked out for me is only £349 pm. There is no chance I'd find somewhere suitable for that, unfortunately. I'd be looking at between £500-600 for what the 3 of us need.

Forgive my ignorance but what difference would it make for me to rent closer to that figure? Also, when my DD1 turns 16 I'm aware my entitlement might change again but I don't fully understand why. Can anyone explain this?

Thank you again to the helpful and very patient posters who have contributed so much - you have really helped me make sense of all this.

@Whatamesssss

Extremely helpful tips - thank you. £15 broadband sounds very reasonable!

I also didn't realise I don't need a TV license!

If you are entitled to UC you can get cheaper broadband from BT.

I never knew this!
Thank you for posting.

[quote Lulu2021]@Angiedx

The LHA rate a pp kindly worked out for me is only £349 pm. There is no chance I'd find somewhere suitable for that, unfortunately. I'd be looking at between £500-600 for what the 3 of us need.

Forgive my ignorance but what difference would it make for me to rent closer to that figure? Also, when my DD1 turns 16 I'm aware my entitlement might change again but I don't fully understand why. Can anyone explain this?

Thank you again to the helpful and very patient posters who have contributed so much - you have really helped me make sense of all this. [/quote]
I'm sure posters said that once your eldest turns 16, you will be elegible for a 3 bed opposed to a 2 bed

@toocold54

If you are entitled to UC you can get cheaper broadband from BT.

I never knew this!
Thank you for posting.

I think it only went live in June, so you haven't missed much.

@toocold54

It doesn’t sound like you would get free school transport. My DD lives quite far from her school as we used to live closer but then had to move and she doesn’t get transport, although it may depend on different LA.

I would really try and sort out your expenses and how you can cut costs. Obviously it’s easier said than done but I’d write down all your outgoings and see what can and can’t be changed.
UC is awful for reducing or stopping payments randomly so you don’t want to be caught out.

Thank you - I am going to do just this tomorrow and Monday. I've already cancelled my gym membership. I'm quite sad about this as it's my only real outlet and "me" time. But I have to think of my girls and what they need first.

[quote Whatamesssss]If you are entitled to UC you can get cheaper broadband from BT.

Anyone on UC either working or not is eligible as are anyone on income related ESA or JSA or Guaranteed Pension Credit.

£15 for broadband and landline with free 700 minutes per month calls.

If you already have a broadband contract with BT, you can ring them and switch with no penalties. If you have another provider, I think that you would have to wait to be out of contract until you move over, but it is worth checking.

www.bt.com/exp/broadband/home-essentials

Also if you have a TV licence, get rid and just use the internet. You only need a licence for Live TV and the BBC iPlayer.

www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/telling-us-you-dont-need-a-tv-licence

Use cashback sites as much as possible for purchases, it will soon build up.

If you need to, use a food bank.

www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/[/quote]
Can you elaborate on the tv licence? I thought Martin Lewis said it's not worth taking the risk as you can be fined massively as there is no way to prove you don't watch live tv if you have tv's in your home

I think you were very rude to me when I was only trying to help. I may have missed a page and I apologise for that but there’s no need to be snippy with me.

I'm sure posters said that once your eldest turns 16, you will be elegible for a 3 bed opposed to a 2 bed

Yes - but I'm not sure what difference this make to my calculations? I'm planning to rent a 3 bed house regardless, as soon as I leave. So I'm wondering what will change after my DD turns 16? I'm not sure whether that makes sense!

@Bigeggsinapackoften

I think you were very rude to me when I was only trying to help. I may have missed a page and I apologise for that but there’s no need to be snippy with me.

Please point where I was rude to you?

@Lulu2021

I also didn't realise I don't need a TV license!

Just untune your TV, and fill out the declaration. That should last you 2 years and then they will contact you again and just declare again.

I know it's not a huge amount, but when you are skint, every penny counts.

If your LHA only gives you £349 a month then your total UC would only be £387.
You said the benefit calculator came out at £650ish? which would indicate that your LHA is around £600ish unless there were updates to your original post which I missed. .... I did skim through all of them but may have missed something.

I got about £350 on a calculator but that is including child benefit which is £152.32. Best thing to do is make a claim and see what happens as them calculators can be slightly wrong

I think I've more than clearly explained this one

Snippy.

When your DD turns 16 she's entitled to a room of her own under LHA rules. If you have a look at the LHA calculator I linked above it gives a breakdown of the rules.

@MiddlesexGirl

If your LHA only gives you £349 a month then your total UC would only be £387. You said the benefit calculator came out at £650ish? which would indicate that your LHA is around £600ish unless there were updates to your original post which I missed. .... I did skim through all of them but may have missed something.

Yes - so when I worked out £650 I didn't know my rent allowance as I didn't understand that part. A pp helpfully calculated it for me when I PMd them where I live. That's how I have the revised more accurate figure of £380 (or whatever it was).

@Lulu2021

I'm sure posters said that once your eldest turns 16, you will be elegible for a 3 bed opposed to a 2 bed

Yes - but I'm not sure what difference this make to my calculations? I'm planning to rent a 3 bed house regardless, as soon as I leave. So I'm wondering what will change after my DD turns 16? I'm not sure whether that makes sense!

I think im being really thick but doesn't it just mean the rate will be slightly higher ? Not sure how it will impact the overall figure because of the whole deduction thing / potential cap

@Bigeggsinapackoften

I think I've more than clearly explained this one

Snippy.

Not snippy - just my view.