tax credits /UC

[iwishiwasonhol]

I currently work 20 hours a week have been looking for a new/2nd job for the last 2 months with no luck as my tax credits i believe will stop at the end of aug due to dd leaving 6th form.Will i be able to claim UC ,I thought i would have had a letter to say about what happens but nothing ,I rent but get no help towards housing as i am just over the amount of savings due to a inheritance i received 5 years ago ,3 months of using this money for rent will take me under the limit should spend that money on something now to bring me under the limit i was thinking a pre paid funeral for me not a fancy holiday before anyone shouts at me .

I don’t know a pre-paid funeral is a bit morbid isn’t it? How about you perhaps cover some of DD’s Uni costs if she’s going. Or 40 hrs worth of driving lessons or money towards a car. Put some in a cash ISA. Put some away in your pension. These would all be legitimate ways of bringing you under the threshold.

Unfortunately I think your tax credits are likely to stop, but it does depend a bit on income. There are calculators you can do online. Ultimately, either you or DD will have to find work to make up the shortfall. It’s a difficult time financially at this point so I wish you luck.

You could definitely use some of the inheritance towards your daughter's future, or I'm sure you could also use it towards yours i.e. training/course to enhance your prospects of the better job. Even replacing your car/getting it fixed would be valid.

You could talk to Turn2Us to discuss what your UC will look like in the future, for confirmation without having to talk to dwp.

Does the money in an ISA not count towards your savings on UC?

Thank you i should have added yes she will be leaving home for uni ,i will talk to turn2us and will continue to ask my current work if there is any chance of more hours as well as look for a 2nd job or a new one with more hours

@IWillWatchTheDogs It won’t if she’s saving for her Dc. That’s my understanding anyway.

Op I forgot to add, your best bet is making an appointment with CAB. They’ll be able to go through with you in detail what you’d be entitled to. In fairness your tax credits would have stopped anyway due to migration to UC.

Citizens Advice run the Help to Claim service to support folks from where you are now - legacy benefits stopping - through to first payment of UC.

Assuming you're in England it's on 0800 144 8 444.

You can't claim UC with savings over 16k unless you are migrated across ( told to migrate), then you would get some transitional protection for 12 months.
You cannot get rid of capital in order to claim benefits unless it is reasonable spending like on your rent, a reasonable second hand car.

just wondered if anyone had swapped over and knows the process my partner is self employed and a little worried about him being told he needs to go to the job centre when he works fulltime will.i then lose my tax credits i presume or equivalent off