Not entitled to housing benefit

[Lovelyivy]

So I'm going through break up. I have a baby who is 8 months. Unfortunately I'm not entitled to housing benefits. I live in London and currently pay 1100 on rent . I work weekends getting paid around 800£ a month. I know I can get tax credit child tax credit - about 300 + child benefit. Unfortunately it's not enough to survive. What to do? Is there any way around so I can get housing benefit? Or anything else? I'm desperate😓 Thank you

How many hours a week do you work? Could be a benefit cap issue. If you get wtc the benefit cap won’t apply

Sorry to hear about your breakup. If you havent already, try and make an appointment with CAB, they will do a full benefits check and help you get what you can. Are you in a Universal Credit area? If so you can use the on-line tool to check what you could receive. Good luck.

Who said you can’t get HB and did they explain why?

How many hours a week do you work? Under 16 hours you should get income support, over 16 hours you should get Working Tax Credit.

Either way, you’ll definitely get Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits.

What about child maintenance from the father, has that been agreed? If not you should check the minimum he should be paying.

As a single mother on a low income you would meet the eligibility criteria to apply for social housing (which has lower rents than private rented), so I’d suggest you apply, although whether you get somewhere any time soon will depend on availability.

Sorry I didn't explain - I've been in UK only 3 years...that's why I'm not entitled

What’s your nationality and immigration status?

I'm polish so ea national :). Right to work and live here. Unfortunately the entitlement for housing - you have to live here 5 years

Are you sure there is a time based eligibility? See www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/eligibility

I know these things change quickly, but MIL is immediately eligible after she returned to the UK. (After like 30 years living overseas). She applied for state pensions first and once that’s been approved, she moved out and got housing benefit. There was never a question about how long she has lived in the country. That was only 2-3 years ago.

Are you in a Universal Credit area? You would be entitled to housing support under that.

Hi OP, Why do you only work weekends? Will the child's father be paying maintenance?

Perhaps you could look into a houseshare with another parent or an understanding flatmate.

That explains why because you aren’t a British citizen. It’s not the 3 year that’s the problem. British citizens are entitled as long as they can prove they are settling. Hence why the state pension claim first.

I work only weekends because the baby is too little and with my education I make only 9£/hour - nursery costs 6£/hour in my area so it wouldn't make sense to put child in nursery. Plus I would get less on tax credit

My partner makes minimum wage so we agreed on 200£/month

Defiiniteky double check. Could understand if you got
Nothing. But not one set of benefits and not the other.

Are you a student in the week? You could theory look for flat share and maybe exchange childcare for their child in week for no rent. Then work weekend (presume your child is with its dad?)

Unfortunately you're going to have to work more OP to pay your bills. I'm also a lone parent and worked full time from when my son was 8m old.

You can do cleaning jobs that pay £10ph and are very flexible so you can split the childcare with your ex.

I think there’s only 2 options. Move further out of London were rents will be lower or work more hours.

If you're in employment (i.e. supporting yourself) you can make a claim for housing benefit. You need to demonstrate a history of being in employment and/or be responsible for a child regardless of having been here less than 5 years.

Who told you that you’re not entitled to Housing Benefit? They’re wrong. EEA workers are entitled regardless of how long they’ve been living here.

See www.housing-rights.info/02_4_EEA_workers.php

I don’t know who you’ve been talking to but I suggest you visit or contact Citizens Advice.