Hello all
I am a single parent. 3 kids. I have always worked bloody hard and got made redundant last year from my job in education. I was on income support (for 1st time in my life) for about 7 months.
I have now come off income support and am working 16 hours. Again in education, helping people, using my qualification. I have 3, 9 and 11 yo's.
Whilst on IS I was capped for being a working age person but not in employment. When I contacted DWP and Tax Credits to tell them I was starting eployment again, my housing benefit and council tax got suspended.
I had to re-apply all over again and the lady in the housing office said she was sure I'd be better off now as the benefit cap would be lifted. I also inputted my details in entitled.com and received a figure (very different from the calculation I have just received from HB).
I have just had my HB top up re-instated and was shocked to see they have reduced my HB by 65% even though I am earning very little for 2 days a week (only £700 pcm). I cannot understand their calculations. I would have been better off staying on Income Support and I did not want to do that...
Previously in my last job, I was earning at least twice as much and my HB top up was more than I am now receiving. Why am I receiving less help when I am earning less??? Any advice here...
Have policies changed in the last year?
How can single mums get back into work with these ridiculous calculations? I am also WTC but cannot understand how I can even afford a rental property with even 1 bedroom now for the 4 of us on the private market...