Can I claim benefits?

[babyt2020]

Just curious as everyone keeps saying we should be entitled to something! I've never thought so but Martin Lewis seems to think so. We own our house outright, we bought it in September last year. My partner earns £24,000 per year and I don't work as we have an 8 month old and a 20 month old?

@girlmom21 you say that like 1600 is loads to live on!! It's not much really after bills is it??

OP you probably could claim. But ask yourself whether you need to claim.

[quote ddshocker]@girlmom21 you say that like 1600 is loads to live on!! It's not much really after bills is it?? [/quote]
It's enough to live comfortably. It's more like £1650 plus their child benefit so, what, nearly £1800 a month? With no mortgage, rent or childcare costs. That's plenty.

[quote ddshocker]@girlmom21 you say that like 1600 is loads to live on!! It's not much really after bills is it?? [/quote]
If you're not paying rent/mortgage or childcare costs seems pretty decent. Even wildly overestimating Council tax, water, utilities probably a fair amount left.

[quote girlmom21]@Babyroobs they could use a bit of common sense that if someone hasnt got any mortgage or rent costs and a half decent income they probably don't need any financial support. Then you should be allowed to appeal if there are exceptional circumstances. [/quote]
DWP are really not known for their common sense !

@Babyroobs I'm not disagreeing with you. Which is why I said it's absurd that she can claim.

To be fair to the system, they're probably quite an anomaly. It's just daft when you see people living hand to mouth who need more support and can't get it.

[quote ddshocker]@girlmom21 you say that like 1600 is loads to live on!! It's not much really after bills is it?? [/quote]
It’s not a question of whether it’s loads, it’s a question of whether it’s enough.

It’s ridiculous that you can have the money to buy a house outright in September then claim benefits in March.

At the very least, I think there should be a rule that looks back with a view to deprivation of capital, meaning that £16K+ of their equity can be counted.

Coco - yes agree with that idea, especially if recent.

If you own a house outright and are expecting benefits you are taking the fucking piss. HTH.

Spot on Coco, them benefit claimants should stay in insecure private rentals all their lives, they don't deserve their own home, you tell 'em!

Or more sensibly, home ownership benefits the individual, the family and the state in the long term. Well done OP on making a sensible life choice.

@LizDoingTheCanCan I think you're missing the point. It's great the OP paid off her mortgage. It means she doesn't need to claim benefits.

On les than 20k with 1 chikd and no mortgage or rent (was living in a friend's empty house) I was only entitled to £50/month so with an income of £24k no mortgage rent or childcare costs I would expect it is unlikely

I just ran EntitledTo

For 2 30 year olds with 5 year old twins. Living in a home they own outright and one partner earns 1600 a month.

Well, I'm a bit shocked tbh.
I'm a single parent and unemployed and I get 940 a month and thats to pay rent and everything else.

@MaryAndHerNet

I just ran EntitledTo

For 2 30 year olds with 5 year old twins. Living in a home they own outright and one partner earns 1600 a month.

Well, I'm a bit shocked tbh.
I'm a single parent and unemployed and I get 940 a month and thats to pay rent and everything else.

Have you spoken to cab? That does seem low, I'm sure you have but maybe worth double checking you're getting everything you're entitled to.

@AndSoFinally

Doesn't equity in your house count as savings, then? I hadn't realised this!

What do you mean by this? Nobody would have a mortgage by your way of thinking not to mention people's circumstances change at any given point.

The income limit for UC is often much higher than many realise. It can be much higher than the OP’s income, sometimes more than double even when there’s no housing element, depending on individual circumstances.

@AndSoFinally

Doesn't equity in your house count as savings, then? I hadn't realised this!

Eh🤔🙄

@nearlyspringyay

If you own a house outright and are expecting benefits you are taking the fucking piss. HTH.

Why? I can’t see the issue....if she’s low income with no savings then she’s entitled surely?

@Kitkat151 she's entitled because the systems broke. If you can afford to live comfortably it's a bit crap to came benefits just because you'll get them. That's not what the benefit system is for. It's to help those who need it.

Owning a house with no mortgage is something most people can only dream of

@LizDoingTheCanCan

Spot on Coco, them benefit claimants should stay in insecure private rentals all their lives, they don't deserve their own home, you tell 'em!

Or more sensibly, home ownership benefits the individual, the family and the state in the long term. Well done OP on making a sensible life choice.

@LizDoingTheCanCan don’t be silly. Why is an insecure private rental the OP’s only other choice?

The obvious choice is that she carries on just as she is, in her own paid off home (good for her) with a household income that’s enough - but simply doesn’t get any UC.

Nobody’s talking about private rental 🤷🏻‍♀️

Incidentally, note that I said the system is fucked - not that OP is a scrounger. In her position? I’d claim. My issue is a benefit system that allows her to claim.

Some people’s situations change. You could be living in an inherited house, then lose your job - and you can’t spend the equity. I’m sure there are times when it’s perfectly fair to pay benefits. But I’d prefer a system that said - 6 months ago you had enough money to buy a house, therefore you can’t claim.

girlmom just because OP doesn’t have housing costs doesn’t mean they have an income than would be considered adequate. Perhaps you should look at the Joseph Roundtree Foundation minimum income calculator which shows according to their research OP’s household income isn’t enough for a minimum standard of living.

@dane8

When it comes to benefits that’s jealousy reps it’s head.

I don't think it's jealousy but when the system is so so shit for some people and leaves them without the absolute bare essentials, some are confused that someone owning a house who chooses not to work can claim a few hundred quid on top of a reasonable wage. Seems a fair observation, of course things should be better for everyone so should be looking to raise standards for all rather than begrudge, but that's not going to happen is it.

@Sleepeatrepeat

On les than 20k with 1 chikd and no mortgage or rent (was living in a friend's empty house) I was only entitled to £50/month so with an income of £24k no mortgage rent or childcare costs I would expect it is unlikely

Their total Uc before deductions would be significantly higher as they are a couple so get a couples element and they have 2 children so 2 child elements.