Help with working out what I am entitled to.......child tax etc etc

[amireallythatsad]

Hi

I'd like some help please so any advice gratefully appreciated

My H and I have separated and the lovely man that he is has advised that I need to sort out my benefits asap (I am not working at present, was a SAHM with a 2yr old DD) as he is not sure how much or how much longer he can support (translate: I am worried about MY finances and need to go off and spend my money elsewhere - sorry, long story).

Now I've phoned the Child Tax people and informed them he has moved out.

I'm trying to get an appointment at the CAB but they never answer their advice line!

What else am I entitled to? My H will pay some money towards DD and mortgage but can I get help with rest of mortgage and bills? I am seriously worried now how to make ends meet.

Also my DD will be going to nursery when she is 3, how much can I work before it affects my benefits or how does it all work? I don't need to go through CSA as he will pay for her, but does that affect any income support or JSA?

Sorry I just don't know where to start, any help gratefully appreciated

there is a website called entitledto.co.uk (might be .com?)

that should be able to give you all the info you need

If you have a morgage you will not get any help with that (well after something like 26 weeks the interest will get paid) so even if you claim income support (is that right term) it is not very much. You will not get tax credits as you have to be working 16 hours or more for this.

I am in same situation (though never married, ex p would stay at my house but he has his own and left when dd was 7 months, she is now 2) and was stunned at the fact that unless I work the large number of hours I do we would be in deep trouble. Of course I do not expect anyone to 'pay my morgage' as it is an asset if you can afford to pay it! If you rent a house then that will be paid.

Sorry it's c**p.

She will get child tax credit.

Entitledto is a good website.

Yes CM will affect your IS.

Any money that your DH gives you (whether for mortgage or child) will be counted as maintenance. If over £60 a week, you wont qualify for IS. You would still get CTC and CB though.

If you work 16 hours, the maintenance is completely disregarded and you'll get WTC, CTC and CB plus the money from your ex and your wages.

Help with a mortgage is only available if on IS and is limited to interest only and only on the half of the property if in joint names. There is a long waiting period too.

You can apply for council tax benefit also.

Oops yes sorry meant working tax credits.

Thanks.

So if I work 16 hours a week I will get assistance, and any money my ex gives me will not be counted? (does it matter how much or how little?)

Council tax benefit what is that? Is that single persons discount?

Sorry its such a minefield, I really can't seem to get my head around it all?

Also do you get help with childcare costs?

Yes you would, when you have a job.

While you are not working you can apply for CT benefit, it's not the single persons discount, it reduces you CT to very little.

If when you are working you have a small wage you may still be entitled to some.

Your advisor when you apply for IS should explain it all to you.

If you are working, any maintenance your ex h gives will not be included in your tax credit award, nor child benefit. Depending on your salary and hours you can get up to 70% of your childcare costs (in tax credits)

I don't know about council tax benefit, I get single person's discount but nothing else as if you have any savings over a small amount again you have to pay it.

Just to give you an example, lady who I know moved out (house in BF name) and got the same house as mine, rent paid, 550 a month in tax credits (children were 14 and 16 so no childcare costs!!) and she earns 18000 a year. Her eBF paid the deposit on the house.

It's hearing things like that that make my blood boil!!!

So I really need to start looking for some part time work, unless H is willing to continue to pay monthly bills - although I can't see that happening and I cant expect it to.

He seems to think though that I'll get everything paid for, which I explained to him wouldn't be the case. There's someone we know who does, and gets childcare, has chid same age as ours, gets their rent paid and all bills covered - so he thinks that'll be the case for me!!! But I tried to explain that it's different if you own your property.

It seems so unfair! I have no idea where to start and H can go off and just expect others to pick up the pieces! And he was happy for me to be SAHM!

What do you do about holidays - DD is 2.5yrs so would have to be going to nursery. What do you do about childcare then? Could I get a childminder? Or I might wait until she goes in September to nursery and try and make things work till then?

I'm confused!

Also if I claim income support, will they go through the CSA to get the money back off H? (is that true - someone told me that?)

Wouldn't it be better to have a private arrangement then with H?

The rules for maintenance changed in Oct 08.

Regardless of whether maintenance is a private arrangement of through CSA you get to keep the first £20 of maintenance without it affecting your Income support

Eg Partner gives you £60 a week,

Income Support is normally £60.50, However from your maintenance £40 a week is taken into account. Therefore you receive £20.50 from I.S plus your maintenance

You also need to claim Childs Tax credit approx £52 per child i think.

You will prob also get Council tax benefit.

If ex husband is paying mortgage ensure it is paid direct to lender and not direct to you, otherwise I.S can look into whether it is an income.

Have a look at the CSA website for a maintenace calculator. Also google Child maintenance options.

Make sure you claim Income Support on Monday (look up your local jobcentre plus office and look for new claims number)

You can request backdating to date of seperation if within a month.

Claim ASAP regardless of whether maintenance sorted. You can also declare a change.

Good luck

The rules for housing costs have also changed and Im afraid Ive not taken too much of it onboard.

You may be entilted to help after 13 weeks with interest only. However this would only be if he isnt paying it.

It may be that he could pay just the capital only. You really should get advice on this.

When your daughter starts nursery you can ask the lone parent advisor at the jobcentre for a better off in work calculation. This will help you decide if working 16hrs a week is worthwhile for you.,

Otherwise if you work under 16hrs you can earn up to £20 before it affects your benefit.

Anything over that anount gets taken off your entilement.

I work in benefits in the local council so will advise you as best I can.

Council tax benefit:

Not entitled if you have capital over £16000 which is all bank accounts, shares and propery other than where you live.

Otherwise you are likely to be entitled to it in some amount if you have a low income.

People receiving Income support or Jobseekers allowance (income based) in any amount are entitled to full council tax benefit so only have to pay their water and sewerage rates. If you do not get these then you will have to provide evidence of your other income such as maintenance, child benefit and tax credits and your entitlement will be based on a sliding scale. Maintenance paid for child (not you) is disregarded in full for Council tax benefit definitely and Im pretty sure it is the same for tax credits.

Request a form now by emailing your local council (address should be on their site) as your entitlement will start from the monday following your request date assuming you provide your form within 4 weeks of this. Also don't worry if you dont have all the info you need straight away, just tell them what you know so far on the form and in the other info section explain everything is getting sorted and what other benefits you are waiting to hear about, they should be quite understanding.

Start tomorrow morning by:

1. Phoning tax credits on 0845 300 3900
2. Applying online for Income Support at www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice/
3. Find email for benefit section of your local council and request a form for council tax benefit

Don't delay as backdating is only awarded in exceptional circumstances.

You should be entitled to help in some form.

what Jenice said is right except dont apply for Income Support online. It delays everything as you need to attend a interview at the Jobcentre and also your date of claim is difficult to ascertain when applying through online. Use the contact centre in your phone book

So can I phone IS and tell them, that I have no idea what H will pay - because I don't?

When I get that information, then can I update them?

I doubt H will be able to keep up paying out for our bills much longer.

I also doubt I will be starting work till DD goes to playgroup in Sep. Even then it will be a nightmare with trying to work out full days/part days, picking her up if Im working etc etc. I'm sure I'll work it out though, thousands of other single mums have

Sorry to be thick but if I supply for IS, will they go through CSA to get money of H, or can we arrange private agreement without the need of CSA?

Thank you for your help so far, it has been invaluable x

Yes you can apply even though you havent sorted maintenance out yet. Your application is no longer viewed as an automatic maintenance application to CSA so yes you can sort it and then notify them.