What are we entitled to?

[Mumofoneandanotherontheway]

So my husband is being made redundant in approx 4weeks. We currently get a small amount of housing benefit, child tax credit & working tax credit. I’ve just had a baby 6weeks ago so I can’t seek work atm. Until hubby doesn’t find work, what would we get benefit wise? We’ve also got a 4yr old who’s at nursery. Not the stress we needed after just having a baby

Sorry to hear about your DH’s job.

You will be transferred to Universal Credit due to the change in circumstances, so will need to apply for that. Due to it being paid in arrears you can apply for an advance once the paperwork is done, and you pay that back (interest free) out of future payments. UC covers all of the benefits you will be claiming apart from council tax benefit, and child benefit.

Working tax credits will stop if no-one is working, I think there is a 4 week run on. You have 2 choices - either you stay on tax credits and housing benefit and lose the wtc and your husband claims Contributions based ( new style) JSA for up to 6 months or you go onto Universal credit. You would most likely be better of on UC but probably advisable to seek a better off calculation from CAB or similar.

@babyroobs I wasn’t given the option - the WTC ceasing was a change in circumstances so they automatically cancelled my tax credits claim.

Rockchick - Oh really ! I thought the WTC element could drop off the tax credits claim in the same way that it can be added if for example a lone parent coming off Income support and starting a 16 hour a week job ca have the wtc added on. They seem to do different things for different people and the rules keep changing !

WTC ceasing does not trigger a change that means you need to claim UC.

In the example about, if you can manage on CTC HB, CTR, child benefit and contribution based job seekers you don't have to claim UC.

Minimum- Thanks for clarifying. I think a lot of people are currently being given bad advice about what constitutes a change of circumstances and a lot of people are prematurely being put on UC. best to seek advice form CAB or similar before doing anything really. Some people are better off on UC though so always worth getting a check done.