Housing Benefit - can someone explain to me please.

[FoghornLeghorn]

DH got laid off last week, he has started a new job this morning but is now on his way home as the money turned out to not be what he was told and there was way more work involved, he would end up working his arse off for something ridiculous like £180 a week after tax.

We rent our house and I am a SAHM - I have covered our rent for this month but we are now going to struggle like mad for food shopping and to cover bills
MIL has said we must contact housing benefit and put in a claim with them to cover our rent in case DH doesn't find another job in time but I have absolutely no idea how this all works. I claim child tax credit but have never claimed for anything else and am clueless.

Anyone ?

call your CAB or benefits office or welfare rights??

Call your local housing benefit office - it changes all the time, but when I was claiming it was part of the council, not the job centre/employment benefits office.

They will talk through what you will be entitled to and send you any forms to fill out.

Do it soon, because it can take a while for all paperwork to go through, and be prepared to have to show them evidence of bank accounts, savings, DH earnings etc - have all the stuff available.

Hope it works out x

Also, contact the Tax Credits office too, your credits will be increased as your potential family income for the financial year has decreased.
Tax credits will have no bearing on your Housing Benefit award and visa versa.

check out www.entitledto.co.uk