Benefits - where to start?

[needtomoveon]

H is moving out mid Jan. He now has place to go to for definite. I think I was in denial about the reality before even tho it is the right thing to split.

I have been using the online benefits adviser and on four separate occasions got four totally different estimates of benefits payable from "just about scraping by" to hundreds of pounds short.

The thing is I went to the local CAB equivalent (local charity) and the guy was really off with me. God knows why. I want to work again - used to PT work with some obligatory evenings but obviously harder to do that as a single parent so better looking for daytime work. I have got no unofficial childcare (family/friends) and this is a crap time of year to look for work anyway. My DCs are 4 and 2 and older one going to school in January so that makes childcare easier. H has been paying salary sacrifice vouchers for her childcare (had to do some of my paid work at home)

I just don't know where to start - Jobcentre, just apply for benefits, try another CAB for better advice

Don't bother with CAB. I have no idea why bloke was off with you.

First thing you need to ascertain is MAINTAINANCE from your husband. How much and when is going to be paid to you.

Second thing to ascertain is whether your accomodation is affordable - is it rented, owned, mortgaged, will your husband be paying the mortgage?

Thirdly you can then calculate any entitlement based on the above figures.

Mediation service have told him to expect to pay 20% of his take home pay. He has always been pretty tight so is unlikely to pay out more. That works out at maintenance of just over £300pcm.

The mortgage is £450 pcm. when I get work that might be possible but I don't know when that will be - have been on job sites for hours and they all want evenings and weekends at the moment

I think after 13 weeks the council will pay the interest on your mortgage if you aren't working.

I am pretty sure he might be eligable to pay towards the mortgage but might be wrong. I don't know.

You will be better off if you apply for income support, because then although you will only get £20 a week of your maintanence, you will get £65 a week income support, and about £90 a week child tax credits, pluse your £30 a week child benefit. SO, £205 per week, at a rough guess? You'll have to pay any mortgage out of this, utilitites , phone, food etc.

Income support is the 'opener' for other benefits like milk/fruit/vegetable vouchers (£6 per week), council tax benefit (which they will probably pay aall) and free school meals. It will give you a low-but-reliable income while you are seeking work, and unfortunately you cannot receive a lot of the benefits if you don't claim income support as you aren't deemed 'poor enough'. Even if you have less money

If you can work, you need to be looking for either 3/4 hours per week as long as you won't have to pay for child care (as you are allowed to keep £20 of your wages) or over 16 hours, as tax credits will help you with childcare then. Anything in between will lead to you working for free. They won't help you with childcare and you won't be allowed to keep your wage.

If you CAN get a job of over 16 hours a week, you will be much better off so it is worth striving for.

Thanks for that information it is really helpful. It is crazy isn't it? I have found something at 21 hours pw to apply for this afternoon but it is working for a big employer locally and I have tried to get work there before and never even got an interview. They tend to promote from within a lot. I don't know how I would cover the childcare for one of the days they want but the money isn't bad. The thing is I'm not looking to say I can't work when I am willing too but it seems you get more ifyou disqualify yourself ont he grounds of being a lone parent. Surely me working part time, paying tax and national isnurance plus keeping my skills up to date is better than me being on IS - role models for my kids??

I went to apply for income suppost last week.Dh just left got 2 kids. Got told wouldnt get anything as i work 13 hpw. Was advised to up this to 16hpw to qualify for WTC (apparently worth £140 per week!) and then I would be eligble for childcare payments of up to 80% too. Got this info from job centre and am still trying to get an extra few hours from work.

Hope this helps.

married - are we married to the same man???

It seems crap that you get no help for already working. Hope you get the hours increase. I am applying for jobs at the moment but I am still going to claim income support to keep me going in the meantime. It is just about manageable in the short term without moving and even with my recent run of luck I will surely get some work soon

"I think after 13 weeks the council will pay the interest on your mortgage if you aren't working."

Sorry but this is wrong, If you are working more than 16hrs per week you will have to meet the mortgage yourself. Obviously you will receive tax credits etc.

The rest of what Colditz has written is a pretty accurate reflection of what help is available. However the figures are slightly different.

Maintenance will be paid to you and works out at approx 69.23 per week. Income Support disregard the first £20 and take the rest (49.23) into account against the maximum £64.30 per week. This means you will receive approc £15.07 per week I.S.

After 13 weeks you will receive the interest only on your mortgage based on a standard interest of around 6.08% and a maximum of £200,000 mortgage.

CTC approx £90 ish a week plus CHB.

Personally I would claim as soon as he leaves. Wait until you know exactly what you are receiving then start looking at work and whether you will be able to do it financially.

When you do start work any maintenance is disregarded for WTC.

Hope that helps.

Hi needtomoveon
1.Apply for IS.

2.Keep up the job search.

3.Once IS is awarded, ask about available training and help with looking for a job.

1. Don't mind the CAB guy - I reckon there's a clause in their job description that states they must be able to make applicants feel guilty (as with Jobcentre gals) - poor souls! However, you have every entitlement to receive benefits...so don;t be put off. Indeed, apply for benefits as soon as you can - and always lodge an appeal if you're not happy with the resultant award.

1. By the way, make sure your solicitor gets you the best financial deal going from your ex.

6.Keep positive with the job applications. Something will happen.