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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Any other LP returned to work recently?

21 replies

VelvetGecko · 21/01/2014 12:50

I've only been out of work for 3 months, was self employed prior to that. Start a new job next month.
However, the first month I will only get 2 weeks salary so 6 weeks before I get a proper wage. Have been told I can't apply for tax credits until the day I start work.
So what the hell am I meant to live on in the meanwhile?
Oh and I have to continue to seek work or my jsa will be stopped despite the fact I have secured a good well paid position and signed a contract .

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ShowMeSaturn · 25/01/2014 01:03

You still continue to receive JSA whilst in your new employment?

FloweryFeatureWall · 25/01/2014 02:24

She will receive JSA until she starts her new job next month (as long as she continues to seek work just to satisfy the criteria). Not while she actually works.

noisytoys · 25/01/2014 04:09

I lived off my credit card for the first 2 months while tax credits were sorted. Good job I had the card because nursery fees need paying in advance but salary is paid in arrears

Original poster

VelvetGecko · 25/01/2014 11:18

I don't have a credit card unfortunately. Went to jobcentre and council yesterday and bottom line is, there is no help available. There used to be but 'due to cuts' there isn't anymore. Woman at jobcenter said she could give me a buspass, a frigging bus pass! I asked how that would feed my child and pay my rent to which I was met with a blank stare.
Council were even more useless and told me as soon as I informed them of my change in circumstances that my housing benefit will be suspended and I would definitely not receive any at all in February as reassessment takes at least 6 weeks! I'll only get 2.5 weeks wages in February so basically am supposed to live on nothing until end if March.
So much for helping LP's back to work.

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FloweryFeatureWall · 25/01/2014 11:41

Sneaky council. Do they not do the run on of housing benefit or extended payment for a month? My friend got this when he found work (in 2012 though) but he had to specifically request it. The council didn't tell him about it. He got the full amount of HB for another month until his wages started coming in properly.

Original poster

VelvetGecko · 25/01/2014 11:52

I will still get some HB flowery once I start work and it will get backdated but I still have to find almost £700 to pay February's rent! When I sold my business and started claiming JSA my HB claim was suspended and I went several hundred pounds overdrawn when my rent came off, they hadn't told me it was being suspended and luckily I noticed the same day and arranged an emergency overdraft avoiding charges. When I asked if there was anything I could do to speed up the claim she just said to call every day but I know from experience it takes at least 40 minutes to get an actual person on the phone and I'll be at work most days so not really possible.

OP posts:

FloweryFeatureWall · 25/01/2014 12:01

But there's a switch over period too where you get the full amount still to help you adjust. You have to apply for it with the council but it means you'd get the lone parent, not working, rate of HB for an extra month.

splishsplosh · 25/01/2014 12:06

I started work a few weeks ago after not working for a while, and was worried too. I too was told that due to cuts, there was no longer any help starting back at work. Though according to a letter I received you can apply to the social fund for help.

Your child tax credits will still continue, and I phoned up to claim the working tax and child care elements - luckily it only took a week to receive the extra money so that's helped - you can get that paid weekly too.

They are so keen to talk about looking after hard working families - yet they remove the help to get back to work...my benefits stopped but I needed to pay for suitable work clothes, travel and child care immediately while waiting 5 weeks for my first payment from work.

Original poster

VelvetGecko · 25/01/2014 12:07

I'm not sure that's available here. HB, or local housing allowance as it's called here is calculated purely on income, being a LP makes no odds other than I get a percentage of the 2 bedroom rate due to having a child.
I will certainly look into it though so thanks for the info.

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Original poster

VelvetGecko · 25/01/2014 12:13

Thanks Splishsplosh, that's what I was thinking, some kind of social fund loan or something. It was like pulling teeth trying to get any information from the woman at the jobcentre. Think I might go to CAB for advice, hopefully they'll be more helpful.

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splishsplosh · 25/01/2014 12:32

I think you have to have been claiming benefits for 26 weeks or more to qualify for he 4 week run on in hb. You could try looking at this info re any social fund help:

www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/social_fund.aspx

daisystone · 28/01/2014 17:41

I started back last Monday. So a week and a bit in for me! It is hard. DD is three and does a few half days at nursery and my parents are doing the rest. I will be eternally grateful to them. My ex does not see DD at all. It is just little old me doing the juggling. It will get easier as she gets older but my brain is ridiculously full at the moment. I get home, put DD to bed and read stories then shower and get into bed. I cannot manage anything else!

ShowMeSaturn · 29/01/2014 02:38

Bump.

I've always wished there was more traffic on this Lone Parents board, especially with this specific topic. I'm a lifelong Mumsnet fan but the LP board is so empty compared to the Parenting board :(

Are there any other lone parent/returning to work forums out there anyone can recommend?

Original poster

VelvetGecko · 29/01/2014 09:07

Tis true Showme. Not sure why it's so quiet here, going by threads on other parts of the site there are quite a few LP's on here.
Just wanted to say don't believe everything the jobcentre tells you! I was told I couldn't apply for WTC until the day I started my new job so I called tax credits to confirm/check what information they'd need and was told I could claim 7 days prior to employment commencing!
My main problem is going to be the council, I'm expecting to have to call LL to tell him I'll be late with next months rent.
I just don't understand how they can't sort a claim out in less than 6 weeks!

OP posts:

FloweryFeatureWall · 29/01/2014 09:54

6 weeks! Is that because they have to wait for your first proper pay slip? Our council does a same day assessment if you have all your paperwork and the one where I used to live did a week assessment if you have all your paperwork. Are you sure yours doesn't and you didn't just speak to someone who wasn't clued up?

Original poster

VelvetGecko · 29/01/2014 10:04

No, they don't need payslips initially. I have a copy of my contract with salary etc.
That's just how long my local council take to process claims. That's actually the minimum, I know people who have waited months!

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nessus · 29/01/2014 10:33

You could always try the MSE forum.

I note you said you don't have a credit card and I take it you have no savings whatsoever (don't forget you can draw out money even with 90 day notice accounts. You just stomach the loss of interest penalty). What I would suggest is taking out a card like MBNA offers because they are currently offering £4000 cash paid into your account on a 0% Apr until 2015. This would cover you and with the well paid new job (congratulations) you can easily pay it back. It is the best deal on a loan as far as I am concerned. Of course if you can get help through the social assistance schemes then even better.

I too am a LP and when I was on benefit there definitely used to be a social fund application that could be made. Google it or just head over to MSE to start a thread.

Original poster

VelvetGecko · 29/01/2014 10:46

No I don't have a cc. Got into a lot of debt with them when I was younger and vowed to live within my means since then. All my savings are tied up in insurance policies, I have one that matures next year but I'd lose too much money cashing it in now. Will have a look at that forum, thanks.

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FloweryFeatureWall · 29/01/2014 12:52

Blooming heck that's shit. Ours can take months (my couple claim did because we missed a piece of paperwork and went round in circles) but the advised time is 5-10 days or a day in person. It's so unfair that they just expect you to sit tight for six weeks or more

Original poster

VelvetGecko · 29/01/2014 13:36

I know flowery, am just hoping my LL will be understanding, he's a reasonable guy and I've never been late with my rent before so here's hoping!

OP posts:

nessus · 29/01/2014 17:50

Came across this in the latest mse newsletter and thought of you immediately...

In hardship? Are you eligible for a Government 0% loan? If you're desperate, these are far better than payday loans, as they're interest-free. There's no credit check, but they will check you can repay. Full info on these loans in our Debt Help guide. In a nutshell...

Local council support schemes: These used to be called 'crisis loans', but are now administered locally, so sadly it's a postcode lottery as to whether you can get one. They're usually for those with no savings in emergencies.

Budgeting loans: If you're on some income-based benefits, you could be eligible for a loan of up to £1,500 to help you meet essential living costs. You can apply online or through local Jobcentres

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