Any know what benefits we may be entitled to?

[HellyBelly]

Some of you may have seen my post of Christmas Eve saying my dh had just been sacked. Well, we're trying to take the company to court etc. but in the meantime, we have a financial crisis.

Dh has been hitting the job agencies, applying direct to companies for jobs etc. and although we knew it would take time, we were hoping he could get some temping work. That's not worked out so far

So, we are down to a household income of £6500 per year (£546 a month) and so dh is having to go to Jobcentre on Monday to claim jobseekers allowance. We've been trying to get hold of CAB since last Tuesday but there's never any answer. I've emailed them too but in case they don't reply by Monday, I thought I'd come to good old mumsnet for advice.

Anyone any idea if we are entitled to anything else to help us out whilst we try and sort this mess out? We've had to cancel all dd's with the bank to stop 'double charging' for bounced payments so we aren't even paying the mortgage at the moment.

Need any help you can give please

Was going to change my name but really can't be bothered (plus, I've done this before and replied with my real name - not doing that again! )

do you have children?
Have you let child tax credit know,they will increase your payments.
The benefits office will help you out. there is a web site to find out what you can claim. someone on here put it up once. will google it

Child tax credits.
income support (for you if you arent working, not sure though)
errrrr

Get straight on the phone to child tax credit.

check here

the dss should help you with anything as well.

also you may be able to get an emergency payment if you need it.

try looking on this site entitled to

You may be entitled to council tax benefit. And yes definitely apply for child tax credit and working tax credit. But please remember to inform the Inland Revenue immediately of any change in circumstances or you may end up being hit for overpayments.

I do have a ds (nearly 3). Called the tax credit people but they wanted details of what dh will get from jobcentre before they can work it out . Might ring again as wouldn't be surprised if I get a different answer from someone else (they have always been rubbish with me!)

Thanks for the links, will have a look at those!

If he's claiming contribution-based JSA, he'll get £56.20 pw (assuming he's over 25, it's less if he's not). As you have an alternative income, he probably wouldn't qualify for income-based JSA, but you could check this.

Not clear if you are working. Assuming you are, he'll probably just get contribution based JSA.

However, be aware you might have some problems if your dh has been sacked. They might decide you should not get JSA for a bit (called a sanction). If they do, get advice and appeal, but also be aware that you should get some money (a hardship payment) even if he is sanctioned, because of your ds. When claiming JSA he should make clear that he is taking the company to tribunal and give as much detail as possible, this is the best way to avaoid a sanction.

After 26 weeks, you should get help with your mortage interest paymnets, if applicable. (they assume you have insurance).

Depends where you are, but if you want to see the CAB I'd suggest going in and waiting. Alternatively, try a law centre?

My dp was made redundant in october and he claimed job seekers, after 2 months eventually he got 30 odd quid. If your earning money its not worth the hassle as they dont give you anything if your earning over what they would be giving you...a paltry amount, the 30odd quid was for the few days dp didnt have a job.
Hes now earning under 200 a week and we get help with rent and council tax and tax credits took 3 months to deposit 800 quid in my bank. Sure ill have to pay it back so not spending it yet.

Thanks. Just about to put ds to bed but quick response to Filyjonk, I am a childminder with 1 mindee at the moment and I get £546 a month. We don't get tax credit at the moment due to them thinking we were overpaid in the past (which we are appealing as our income has only gone down, not up - in the past).

Jobcentreplus confirmed he IS entitled to the JSA and he's got his interview on Monday. Thanks for the update on the amount he should receive.

So, as I am working, even though it's a total of £546 a month (with expenses to come out as I buy food and cook evening meal etc), we may not get any extra help? I thought they would class £6500 a year a low income

May have misread some of these posts as rushing, will re-read when ds is in bed.

Thanks again

You will get money but it will be from Tax Credits, maybe not JSA.

Update........

Went to CAB today - told us to claim JSA and speak to coucil about possible Council Tax relief and/or Housing Benefit but not sure if we'll get?

Phone Tax Credit People - they need loads of new figures which we are not in a position to provide until next week when dh's final pay comes in. AND......if we are due extra, we won't actually get it until next year as that's how their system works I said if we are really rich next year and dh is in a job that pay £million a year, we'll get loads of tax credit as we suffered badly this year - she said YES! You have to struggle by, possibly loose your home etc. but they will help a year later!!!

Sorry, sooooo annoyed with bloody tax credits!

do you already get CTC? if so then just update with yur ds new amount for the tax year so far. what she said is bollox, unless your dh has earnt over the higher limit already this year.

Sorry for the angry post - had just got off the phone!

We are set up for tax credit but stopped getting it some months ago as we've apparently been overpaid. I'm disputing this as I can't see how this is possible. The lady confirmed that we still owe them £437! But, having said that, she confirmed that she agrees the system is silly but they work on paying based on year before figures (regardless of whether or not we've been overpaid).

She said current payments (05/06 tax year) are paid based on 04/05's actual figures - they use these figures to estimate the earnings. So even though we're living off £546 a month now, she said that we'll see more benefit from this drop in income next year. I said we're living off a credit card at the moment and ALL direct debits have been cancelled etc etc and she just agreed that's it's crazy but that's how it works.

[confused and fed up]

dh was on £18000 so wouldn't have thought he's earnt more than the higher limit? (not sure what the limit is?)

Give them the figures off his P45, anything you have that has it on paper that your income is 546 per month, then hopefully they will update your details and you will get some cash. It did take 3 months for ours to be done however...
How much had you earnt up until he was sacked?

Won't be sure until he gets his P45 (next week hopefully). As for me, I'm new to being self employed and have no idea what my 'actual' figures are yet! Started 6 months ago and know what I've received but I have lots of expenses too. I've been told I shouldn't end up paying tax for the first year but I still don't know what figures I need to give them??? Thank god my db is having ds tomorrow so I can sort some things out. I'm a childminder so with children around all the time, it's hard to work these confusing figures out (so tired by the end of the day that even though I've tried to work it out, I've got nowhere ). Hopefully the break tomorrow will help me get it sorted.

Tax credits don't base your payments for this year on your last years income, you have every right to tell them your estiamtd income is going to be lower this year than last year at any time, the same way you have to tell them it is going to be higher. They will only base it on last years income if you don't give them a more up to date income in-year. You need the money now not next year also depending on why your payments have reduced they do have the ability to offer additional paymnts if you entitled to more than £547 per year and your income hasn't risen by more than £2500 from what was on the original award notice, they don't tend to suggest this route very often so if you need it you may have to push them to have it done. What happens is they will top up the payments meaning next year your payemnts are reduced to take this back but hopefuly your partner will be working and you can afford this. This is the way the whole system is designed, to be as flexable as possible it's also the reason there is so many problems with it.
But definatly phone them back with the lower income and they should update it over the phone also remeber to let them know your income, I'd also speak to your accountant and if they don't think you'll make any profit this year make sure Tc know you will have no income.
Sorry for the very long boring post hope some of it helps.

But she said this once I gave her the new figures - how annoying!!

Thanks so much for your post, I have all my paperwork out now so will sort this out and insist that it's not right what the other lady told me!

I don't have an accountant as I don't earn enough. Can I ask a really thick question, even though you receive money each month, if your expenses mean you don't have to pay tax, does that mean your income was zero? (so embarrassed but new to all this being self-employed)

surely (im just guessing) just because you dont earn enough to pay tax does not mean your income was zero.... because you can earn £4000 and a bit tax free anyway...
paying no tax for a month means you earnt less that £4000 and a bit (whatever the figure is!) divided by 12!

That's what I thought and yes, it's confirmed that's the case. I didn't think it was zero income but wanted to check after the previous post I got

Sorry read my post again, not really up om self employed income but it will be the income you submit on the self assesment form after expences which will be taxable although may be too low to actually pay any tax on. Your income may be less than what you are getting paid as you will proably be able to make some deductions but sepaking to an accountant would be the best way to find out. The inland revenue also have a self employed helpline who can help no idea what the number is though.