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Original poster

Where can I get Independant Benefits Advice

22 replies

yougotafriend · 05/09/2014 14:57

My DS has been in receipt of various benefits - she is single and has 4 DC aged 8 - 21 with 2 ExP.

She works PT on minimum wage. Her eldest is at Uni and 2nd eldest on an appreticeship (earns 100 per week) turned 18 this year and she is getting letters (seemingly) weekly saying that that she is no longer entitled to XYZ.

Since June her benefits have been cut by approximately 150 per week and she seriously has no idea who she can live on her wages and what little extra she is getting.

I want to help, but know nothing, is there anywhere to contact other than CAB for independent benefits advice, I can't believe she has to accept these dire straits.

She managed to get rid of an extremely abusive ExP a year ago and is saying if she knew this would happen she'd have put up with the abuse. The fact that she could manage financially independantly was the deciding factor in her finally getting rid!!

How can I help when no in a financial position to support her that way???

OP posts:
BucktoothedGirlinLuxembourg · 05/09/2014 14:59

Well, as her eldest 2 are adults, it wouldn't surprise me if her benefits are being reduced. Isn't there an online calculator ?

NovemberRainbow · 05/09/2014 15:02

Can she not work full time? What will she do when the money stops for all of them, when they are older?

NovemberRainbow · 05/09/2014 15:03

CAB are the best people to contact. Citizens advice may be able to help to.

NovemberRainbow · 05/09/2014 15:04

Can she find somewhere cheaper/smaller to move to, now the eldest is at uni ?

Original poster
yougotafriend · 05/09/2014 15:08

She is a teaching assistant in a primary school - it is the perfect job as it is the school her youngest attends - and at the moment she can only get PT hours. Looking for extra work or FT elswhere would incur travel & childcare costs so wouldn't really benefit her in the long run.

I know her benefits would be cut as the kids get older - but as they are not really contributing to the finances of the house (oldest at uni but still lives at home, 18yr old pays 20 per week out of his wages) - surely the fact that she still has to feed them & provide utilities should be taken into account - or am I just living in cloud cuckoo land?

Her ExH (Dad of the 2 eldest) is very good with the kids financially, but obv doesn't contribute to her household. She is NC with the 2 youngest father due to DV

OP posts:
LadySybilLikesCake · 05/09/2014 15:08

They do reduce tax credits once your child leaves school, likewise with child benefit. If they want to live with her she needs to charge them rent to cover the electricity/food etc. She also needs to be aware that her council tax will increase as her children are now classed as adults. The CAB will be able to check her benefits, but this does sound right.

LittleOldWineDrinker · 05/09/2014 15:10

Can you find out if her local authority have a welfare rights service? If so, they should be able to provide independent benefits advice. Or as already mentioned -contact CAB.

LadySybilLikesCake · 05/09/2014 15:11

In an ideal world, yougotafriend. It doesn't work that way though, they are technically adults so no longer dependent on her (in a legal/benefits way). If their income is low, they need to go to the CAB and see if there's any help available.

Original poster
yougotafriend · 05/09/2014 15:14

Thanks for all your replies - I just feel so helpless. She has been so brave and strong over the last year to get out of the abusive relationship, and I hate that financial troubles are bringing her so low.

LadySybil Yes, the council tax letter came just weeks after he turned 18!!

OP posts:
onadifferentplanet · 05/09/2014 15:14

The son at Uni should be able to get grants and loans of a bit over 6000 a year and depending on where he is possibly a bursary on top of that , she won't have to pay council tax for him if he is a full time student don't know about the one on an apprenticeship. Is the Uni student contributing at all?

Original poster
yougotafriend · 05/09/2014 15:21

Uni student (daughter) does contritbute (again 20 per week) but it's like pulling teeth getting it from her!!!

I've checked the Council Website & they do have a Welfare Advisor so I'll pass those details onto her - so thanks for that suggestion.

OP posts:
NovemberRainbow · 05/09/2014 15:24

The eldest should be able to get grants and I think she should get a part time job alongside. She could probably contribute £200. Which is much cheaper than her renting her own place.

NovemberRainbow · 05/09/2014 15:24

£200 a month*

Sunna · 05/09/2014 15:26

The older ones should be contributing much more than they are.

Ineedanewone · 05/09/2014 15:29

You could put her details through a better off calculator ( Google it) but it sounds like she has to be firmer and more realistic with her adult children and they should be contributing at least a third of their income to the household. If they were not at home they would be spending a lot more to feed, house and keep themselves.

Original poster
yougotafriend · 05/09/2014 15:32

I agree that they should but as much as I love my DS we have very different parentling styles and I know that asking for more is not something she will do.

OP posts:
Sunna · 05/09/2014 15:46

They will have to, I think, if she is getting all she is entitled to. The tax-payers shouldn't pick up the bill for adults who can afford to pay more.

Mini05 · 05/09/2014 15:46

Go on the entitled to or turn to us they have calculation apps
£150 a week seems an awful lot off money just because one is now a apprentice

Original poster
yougotafriend · 05/09/2014 15:57

I've just spoken to her and told her about teh turn2us website - she'll have a go. Thanks to all who suggested it.

She has checked the Council website and there should be no difference in her tax credits for an apprentice (as it's a FT training scheme) up to the age of 20, though the council tax will go up. She's been trying all afternoon to get through but each time after 5 mins going through the various options she gets a recorded message saying all operators are busy and the line goes dead...grrr.....

I've also said that her Daughter should be paying more and she knows this is true - but also knows that it'll cause an argument and she'll just say "I'll go an live in my dad's where I don't have to pay anything" I think she has to take this risk - she won't last at her Dad's he is way stricter and the bf definitely won't be allowed to stay over (he stays almost every night atm, doesn't eat but does use hot water - but then he pays the netflix subscription that they all use!)

OP posts:
lacksdirection · 05/09/2014 16:03

150 a week doesn't sound unusual considering child tax credit is roughly 60 pounds a week per child and then child benefit at the lower rate is 13.50? per week?
That's almost 150 a week for 2 children.

Unfortunately, child tax credit and child benefit is only paid until the child either finishes non advanced full time education or becomes 19, whichever is sooner.
There are cases where an 18 year old can enrol on a 2 year course and those benefits will continue to be paid until that child is 20 years old but to be fair, the line has to be drawn somewhere.

The PP was right when they said housing benefit and council tax benefit is usually affected too.

It is harsh but it is a good idea to be in a position where you can support yourself whilst only relying on minimum top ups because when her younger children leave college, her top ups will virtually flat line.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. This is an issue which affects thousands and thousands of people, I would compare it to a ticking time bomb for many many people who aren't aware of just how deep the cuts to their benefits are once they have no dependents.

Regardless of which independent benefits advice service you access, they cannot change this.
I'm sorry for your DS. Sad

colouringpens · 05/09/2014 16:19

Agree with pp, the amount seems correct as I lost about that much when my two started uni. Fortunately they are grafters and were happy to contribute fairly to the household pot out of their p/t wages when they were home. She really needs to make her dcs understand that they are considered to be adults now. That was also around the time I felt ready to move in with my DP, and his salary easily eliminated the effect of losing tax credits. If your DS is seeing anyone, it may be a good time to think about moving in if it was on the cards anyway.

The father of the youngest 2 should be paying maintenance, even if he is NC he should still be able to pay. Also I believe the eldest at uni can take legal action to ensure her dad pays maintenance to her, but it has to be done in her name.

Original poster
yougotafriend · 05/09/2014 16:26

Like I said only a yr out of dv relationship... Nowhere near ready to see anyone and will prob never trust enough to live with someone.

Her exH is more than fair with his 2 kids, a nice man who in hindsight she probably should have stuck with.. but that's a discussion for another thread

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