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Original poster

Please help RE; benefits

39 replies

LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:05

Hi,

Please can someone advise me on benefits.

Currently we get Child Benefit £75pm. My DP works 36.5 hrs a week and gets £14'500 a year.

Please can someone send me in the right direction as we can't cope on this amount. I have spoken to the jobcentre and they've said we don't qualify for any of their benefits.

I'm starting to stress now as my maternity money runs out end of July and we can't cope on just that money, I really don't want to get a job as I don't want to miss out on anything DD does and we can't really afford to put her in childcare anyway.

Without sounding as though I'm spoiling for a fight or anything - how do people survive on just benefits? Is the only way to cope to become a benefit fraud?

OP posts:
ssd · 19/05/2008 17:08

you'll get tax credits

try www.entitledto.com

or phone the tax credits helpline

expatinscotland · 19/05/2008 17:09

you should get working tax and child tax credits.

you can also apply for housing benefit if you are a renter.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:09

Thanks ssd - i'll try this one. Does anyone know what the average amount of tax credits are? (am trying to work out what we need to cut back on etc)

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/05/2008 17:10

Perhaps Tax credits, Housing benefit(if you rent) or Council Tax benefit ? Try entitledto.com, your local council site or CAB. You might get something towards childcare too if you were to work 16+ hours pw. If you simply can't cope on his money you may have to work I'm afraid whether ideally you'd choose to or not, sorry.

expatinscotland · 19/05/2008 17:11

it's probably best to speak to the tax credit people to get an estimate, Lucky.

there's no 'average' amount because it depends on if your child is cared for a registered childminder whilst you work, the age of your child, etc.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:12

Got a mortgage expat. [sigh] I spend all that time trying to get a house to make a home for the baby and now I wish we'd stayed renting as would be cheaper.

OP posts:
Original poster
LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:13

I'm trying to find work from home jobs but they are few and far between.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 19/05/2008 17:14

you'll still get tax credits, LS. just no HB.

LIZS · 19/05/2008 17:15

They vary according to income etc.

meemar · 19/05/2008 17:15

Tax credits can top up your income considerably. The amount you get is entirely dependent on your circumstances but as an example, DH is self employed and our tax credits for last year where his income was £19,500 were about £250 a month.

I think it depends on number of children as well, we have 2.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:16

Thanks for everything so far - Have just rang my council and asked for a form. Also Customs is on my list next for Child tax credits. (would we class for working family as well?)

OP posts:
fiodyl · 19/05/2008 17:24

yes u would, get all the info they will need together b4 u phoneu will need DHs payslip and possiby his P60. they will also nd to know any other money u have coming in (maternity pay) and also details of any childcare provider u use. Its complicated but hopefully it should b worth it.

expatinscotland · 19/05/2008 17:25

i very seriously doubt you will get any council tax benefit at that level of income, because a) they will take into consideration your tax credit award, when you get it b) it's very hard to get.

but just Google Tax Credits to get the website for TCO.

LadyMuck · 19/05/2008 17:32

Is your mortage a reasonable amount given dh's salary? Or was it given based on 2 salaries?

IMO the biggest difficulty is how to manage housing costs as owner occupiers generally don't get much help in terms of Housing Benefit.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:38

It was based on 2 healthy balances. At the moment DP pays the bills and I pay for DD's stuff, days out & food. At the moment we are ok, when my mat pay stops we basically won't be able to eat - which is a good way to diet BUT it's not fair on DD and we don't really want to survive IYKWIM

I need to raise £400 a month really. So I'm doing alsorts to stock pile.

I've registered with LOADS of paid surveys places and am trying to get with AVON.

OP posts:
CarGirl · 19/05/2008 17:41

It may be too late but there is a possibility of the surestart grant? It will depend on the of WTC/CTC that you awarded - I think it is only backdated 3 months though.

expatinscotland · 19/05/2008 17:51

Housing Benefit for homeowners is not an option unless they are in receipt of IS, IB or the like.

Not worth applying in your situation.

Could be you may get some council tax benefit, but at your level of income, it's not likely.

TBH, the form is so long, I'd have a chat with a council/housing officer before filling it out to see if it were even worth the bother, because at any rate tax credits are taken into consideration to calculate them.

But at £14500 you should be able to get a few thousand in combination of WTC/CTC.

A word of warning, however: WTC tops out at about or a little over £14500. So if your husband's income increases, let them know immediately!

You should get a fairly good amount in CTC, however, but again, keep in mind that it drops a bit again after your child turns 1.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:53

Expat you are a star! I've just gone through all the crap stuff we got when we left the hospital and there is a child tax credit form in there so will fill in and take to the postbox down the road.

OP posts:
ingonitoIRbod · 19/05/2008 17:55

LS, if you'd like I can do a calculation for you. If you're going to call Tax credits try and ring them around 7:30pm we're very very busy at the moment and queue times are pretty long throughout the day

CarGirl · 19/05/2008 17:55

phone them it will be quicker! The sooner it is logged the more you may get back dated.

Original poster
LuckySalem · 19/05/2008 17:56

I've already phoned the tax credit office and they've said they were gonna send a form out anyway. I didn't realise they could calculate over the phone [d'uh] should have asked.

ingonitoIRbod - If you can, what do you need from me?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 19/05/2008 17:57

I have been burned by an alleged overpayment of tax credits.

I would post it EVERY time and make a copy of it for my records.

Even though it is faster over the phone, it helps to have a copy of what you sent.

TBH, I don't work with them on the phone. Only be letter Recorded Delivery so I have a record of it.

They can and do work, these Tax Credits.

BUT it helps to be meticulous about records when it comes to them, the same way you would with taxes.

Ditto any form you fill in for the council.

KatieScarlett2833 · 19/05/2008 17:58

Won't her maternity pay be counted in the calculation if she claims now?

ingonitoIRbod · 19/05/2008 17:59

No problem just need to know if you have any otehr income apart from dh's salary and child benefit, how many children you have and thier ages

(btw you can't make an application over the phone, any initial aplication has to be done on the form.)

ingonitoIRbod · 19/05/2008 18:00

Oh and yes should have caught onto that, I would need to know how much you are getting whilst on mat leave.