Surely there's benefits for people like me

[Bpdqueen]

I'm a single adult, kids moved out I work 30 hrs a week my take home pay after tax and NI is around £1000 4 weekly. My mortgage payments are £450 a month. Leaving £550 a month for all bills food petrol the only benefit I get is 25% of council tax which brings ct down to £100ish a month. I used to get working tax credit but I apparently earn to much I have lots of medical conditions but I don't think anything enough to claim pip as I'm Mobile and capable of looking after myself and working. Am I missing something or am I expected to be able to live on this.
Aibu - yes that's more than enough to live on.
Yanbu - no you should be entitled to help on such a low income

Just to add to other comments the value of the house you are living in is not taken into account for UC but any savings over £6000 are. I would try applyas Another Emma. Has said

@Geezabreak82

It really bugs me that Mums Net HQ put a warning on some posts advising the responses aren't necessarily from people with any qualifications or expertise, but they don't attach it to posts like this about benefits entitlement which is highly complex and where good advice would make a real difference to people's quality of life.

OP - you've not provided enough information to do a benefits calculation, but it sounds like you are on pretty close to minimum wage so you may well be entitled to some Universal Credit. It will probably depend on whether you have a lot of equity in your house, or decent savings. You can do a benefits check on the Turn 2 Us website and if you give them all the relevant info they will calculate what you're entitled to based on your income.

If you are unable to work full-time because of ill-health you may also be entitled to PIP. As you've noticed the criteria is set high and it can be difficult to access, but it would definitely be worth speaking to a benefits adviser at a local Citizens Advice Bureaux or another welfare advice service to get some expert advice on whether it's worth making a claim based in your circumstances.

PIP is nothing to do with being able to work. Many people work full time and claim PIP. Op has no entitlement to UC, unless the Limited capability for work element was awarded but as I've explained above that can't happen as she earns too much.

@Babyroobs

On Universal Credit you cannot be referred for a work capability assessment unless you earn less than 16 x nmw per week unless you get PIP also in which case it doesn't matter how many hours you work. Unfortunately if earning £1000 every four weeks you are over that threshold so there is no help. If you were renting you may be eligible for some UC but not with a mortgage. You could look at PIP if you struggle with daily living activities and/ or mobility. can you wash and dress yourself, cook a simple meal, communicate, eat and drink ok, go out alone or do you have difficulties with these things or are unable to do them in a timely manner, safely , reliably etc. These are the sorts of things the PIP form will ask for.

I didn't know that Babyroobs (your first point). Glad you posted!

Op cannot be referred for a work capability assessment on Uc as she earns too much. She would need PIP in place first.

Are you working full 47/48 weeks a year? Your take home sounds a bit low based on hours- make sure you are getting minimum wage.

Your obvious option is to work more hours, or look for a better paid option.

Border force are desperately seeking officers

PIP isn't about not being able to work...thought that was clear by now.

@Bpdqueen I’d explore PIP further if I were you. I apologise I don’t have any links to hand but your local citizens advice would be my first port of call.

With PIP don’t let your pride rob you. You need to talk about it in terms of the worst your conditions can cause you.

I’m not confident you could make a successful claim (and many people have to appeal) but it’s worth a go if you feel your health is an obstacle to securing further finances.

Yeah work 48 weeks a year I get paid 4 weekly and the £1000 is after tax,ni and pension taken. I have no savings

PIP is non means tested and it is based around the persons care and mobility needs. There are some people who are too sick to work who don’t qualify for PIP and there are some people who can work full time and qualify for PIP.

Personally I have POTS (among maybe other conditions) and I get high rate for both components. I know someone else with very similar conditions to me who was turned down even at appeal.

I’ve known people claim pip for mental health conditions, I’m sure you can.

[quote Cornettoninja]@Bpdqueen I’d explore PIP further if I were you. I apologise I don’t have any links to hand but your local citizens advice would be my first port of call.

With PIP don’t let your pride rob you. You need to talk about it in terms of the worst your conditions can cause you.

I’m not confident you could make a successful claim (and many people have to appeal) but it’s worth a go if you feel your health is an obstacle to securing further finances.[/quote]
But please do not answer questions based just on your worst day. You need to explain how often a worst day happens . For some that could be a handful of times a year in which case you would not be awarded points for that descriptor as a descriptor must apply to you for 50% of the time to score points.

@Babyroobs

On Universal Credit you cannot be referred for a work capability assessment unless you earn less than 16 x nmw per week unless you get PIP also in which case it doesn't matter how many hours you work. Unfortunately if earning £1000 every four weeks you are over that threshold so there is no help. If you were renting you may be eligible for some UC but not with a mortgage. You could look at PIP if you struggle with daily living activities and/ or mobility. can you wash and dress yourself, cook a simple meal, communicate, eat and drink ok, go out alone or do you have difficulties with these things or are unable to do them in a timely manner, safely , reliably etc. These are the sorts of things the PIP form will ask for.

@AnotherEmma - I wasn't trying to offer advice, I was trying to signpost to places where the OP could get expert advice because I was horrified at the initial posts saying that she probably wasn't entitled to anything!

@CuddlyCactus

* I* get pip as can’t work due to autism so you should look into it

You don't get pip because you can't work. PIP iis based on what daily tasks you need assistance or prompting with. Nothing to do with work.
People can work full time but qualify for pip as they need help to get showered and dressed and someone to get them to their work in morning.

Yes did you see I had put as not and by mistake and corrected that

Sorry, quote the wrong post there

You need to talk about it in terms of the worst your conditions can cause you.

Don’t do this. This is pushed a lot by everyone but it is actually benefit fraud if every day isn’t your bad day. You need to tell them about your bad days on percentages eg I struggle 50% of the time. Or I can do this but it takes me approximately twice as long as the average person and you will still score points.

If you go in explaining everything as if you are on a bad day and you don’t have medical evidence to back it up, or your assessor doesn’t see that, or your social media gets checked then this is what causes problems. Always tell the truth, but make sure you do so in detail.

Universal Credit has a disability element. 2 in fact. I'm on the higher one which is an extra £400 per month on top of the standard UC element

@Geezabreak82

It really bugs me that Mums Net HQ put a warning on some posts advising the responses aren't necessarily from people with any qualifications or expertise, but they don't attach it to posts like this about benefits entitlement which is highly complex and where good advice would make a real difference to people's quality of life.

OP - you've not provided enough information to do a benefits calculation, but it sounds like you are on pretty close to minimum wage so you may well be entitled to some Universal Credit. It will probably depend on whether you have a lot of equity in your house, or decent savings. You can do a benefits check on the Turn 2 Us website and if you give them all the relevant info they will calculate what you're entitled to based on your income.

If you are unable to work full-time because of ill-health you may also be entitled to PIP. As you've noticed the criteria is set high and it can be difficult to access, but it would definitely be worth speaking to a benefits adviser at a local Citizens Advice Bureaux or another welfare advice service to get some expert advice on whether it's worth making a claim based in your circumstances.

I've asked Mumsnet HQ to delete my post because it includes misleading information. What I was trying to do was refer OP to reliable sources of information like Turn 2 Us's benefits calculator and Citizens Advice. In doing so I have inadvertently illustrated my original point that benefits advice is complex and should these types of post should be labelled with a health warning!

@NotthesameNotok

I get pip as can’t work due to autism so you should look into it as it’s not clear cut they will assess you very thoroughly and decide and you probably will qualify for something

Pip is nothing to do with not being able to work. It is an independence payment to enable to disabled people to be independent including working if they can. I receive PIP and the disabled element of Universal Credit (on top of the standard element of Universal Credit) it's called LCWRA

I would absolutely apply for PIP.
My DS gets PIP for a MH situation.
You need to do your reseach, there are lots of online resources which helps you understand the assesement procedure.
I would also recommend getting in touch with a benefits advisor from the CAB- you will be able to book a free appointment , and they will help you fill in the application forms.
These advisors are worth their weight in gold- will know exactly the information that is revelant and important with regards to your claim.
You can get the higher rate of PIP and still work- it is not means tested.

@OhItsSpicyyy

You need to talk about it in terms of the worst your conditions can cause you.

Don’t do this. This is pushed a lot by everyone but it is actually benefit fraud if every day isn’t your bad day. You need to tell them about your bad days on percentages eg I struggle 50% of the time. Or I can do this but it takes me approximately twice as long as the average person and you will still score points.

If you go in explaining everything as if you are on a bad day and you don’t have medical evidence to back it up, or your assessor doesn’t see that, or your social media gets checked then this is what causes problems. Always tell the truth, but make sure you do so in detail.

This is absolute nonsense! I have a neurological disorder and have 3-4 bad days per week and told them as much in the assessment and I was awarded highest rate. How dare you accuse disabled people of benefit fraud?!?!?

I get about £100 a week more than you and I’m a single parent and don’t get any help.

I have got help before but that was the rent part of UC and as you don’t rent you obviously won’t get that part.

You say you live in a 2 bedroom.
Obviously you’re very fortunate to have your own home and it would be a shame to downsize so gave you thought about getting a lodger to help you with mortgage costs?

This is absolute nonsense! I have a neurological disorder and have 3-4 bad days per week and told them as much in the assessment and I was awarded highest rate. How dare you accuse disabled people of benefit fraud?!?!?

What on earth are you talking about? I am disabled myself and also work as a disability advisor for CAB. If you told them you have 3-4 bad days every week then you literally did exactly what I advised in my post?

If you have medical conditions you should be entitled to PIP regardless of if you work or not

My support worker claims PIP, she has a job, helps support other people, is mobile. But still has health conditions that affect her lifestyle.

I’m not suggesting that OP lies or exaggerates I’m saying that she needs to present a realistic picture leading to the conclusion full time work isn’t an option for her. If she presents her case as she did in her initial post then she heavily implies that her conditions do not prevent her working full time.

OP strikes me as fairly stoic and proud, that won’t do her any favours with a claim for PIP if she needs it.

How dare you accuse disabled people of benefit fraud?!?!?

I’m on lots of Facebook groups that help advise with PIP applications and they all advise NOT to talk about it as if it is your worst day, instead highlighting how many days a week you have struggles. I’m not sure how PP advising this is accusing people of benefit fraud?

If you have 4 bad days a week and go into your assessment explaining every day as your worst day is that not lying and likely to go against you?