Newly single mum, what benefits can I get, sorry am completely clueless.

[totaleclipse]

I am not working now, as I did work nights while H had children. Do I claim income support, or is it right anything income support give you is takrn off your tax credits so there is no point. Am in the process off claiming housing benefit but unsure of anything else.

you will get

income support (for yourself)
CTC (for the children)
child benefit.

if you rent claim housing benefit and council tax benefit.

ring tax credits and let them know change of circumstances.

Thanks misdee, I have also heard of one arent benefit, is that the same as income support? ............told you I was clueless.

TE, am i right in thinking you have 3 children ???

its always worth claiming icnome support as bad as that sounds, as it helps with things like perscriptions and dental treatment etc.

CrackerOfnuts, yes I have

I have 3 children and I get...

Income support £58 ish a week
CTC £117 a week
CB £42 ish a week

I also get full housing and council tax benefit.

wow, sounds good, except I get DLA for ds, I know some benefits take this into account and some dont.

Tbh I think that means you will get all of what I said and a bit more then, but i'm not 100% sure on that.

Have you been on entitledto.com ?? They are normally pretty accurate.

Oooh will have a look now, thanks

IS isn't looked at when it comes to TC and HB benifits (so I was told)

also if you go for income support - the chances are you'll be contacted about the healthy start/sure start/living voucher thingys.

Thanks ever so much ladies, tomorrow I will pull myself together and sort it all out

what rate of DLA does ds get? can you claim carers allowence? if you can, then this gets your a 'preminum' on top of income support as well.

you will get an extra bit on ctc as well.

Oh yes, forgot, I already get cares allowance, ds is on middle rate care, and low rate mobility.

DlA won't affect your entitlement to income support, as strictly speaking the DLA is your childs. Therefore it won't be taken into account.

They dont send out the forms for healthy start automatically. You can get them from your hv. Its going up to £3 a week from next month and the amount of vouchers depends on the ages of your children. Its 2 vouchers per week for a child under 1 or 1 voucher per week for any children up to the age of 4 or 5 cant remember which age is the upper limit.