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Original poster

How much is a low income?

21 replies

waterfalls · 05/05/2006 12:11

Was wondering if I am entitled to housing benefit or council tax benefit, the website says you may be entitled if you are on a low income, but no indication as to how much they consider that to be.

OP posts:

charliecat · 05/05/2006 12:23

whats your council called?

mumfor1standfinaltime · 05/05/2006 12:24

Its usually under £14k to get housing benefit and I dont think its much to warrant shouting about. Also depends on which other benefits you are recieving.

charliecat · 05/05/2006 12:25

\link{http://212.24.85.91/bencalc/bc0607/wbc-2006.htm\because ours does this calculator} I think its ok for everywhere..but if there was one on your council website it would be better.

Original poster

waterfalls · 05/05/2006 12:25

Malvern Hills District Council..............is that what you mean, I thought each town had its own council.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 05/05/2006 12:25

It's usually around £14k/pa, but this could be more if you are a lone parent w/more than one child.

serenity · 05/05/2006 12:25

I applied for Housing Benefit as one of those website calculators said I would get it, but I didn't

The letter from the council said that (roughly, because I can't find it - think I screwed it up and threw it across the room!) the benefit decreased after income went over £250 a week. So from that low income is about £12k a year......

charliecat · 05/05/2006 12:26

\link{http://www.malvernhills.gov.uk/home/mhcindex/mhc-benefit/mhc-benefit-calc.htm\yep yours has one too :)}

Original poster

waterfalls · 05/05/2006 12:28

Oooh thankyou

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 05/05/2006 12:28

it can also vary by council. we got some when i was earning £14,300/pa and that's all the income we had coming in other than Child Benefit. BUT we live in the third most expensive place for house prices in the UK.

mumfor1standfinaltime · 05/05/2006 12:31

Those calculators! Talk about wanting to know the ins and outs! I thought about applying for it but when I saw the forms, I couldnt be bothered as they were about 20 pages long and asked silly questions like - do you own any property or land? ha ha would I be renting if I did!? Could see from forms that I wouldnt get it anyway.

secur · 05/05/2006 12:38

Can I just say a HUGE THANK YOU to you all, I have just put in my details and found out I am entitled to nearly £150 per WEEK in benefit - I thought that I would get so little that the forms would not be worth while filling in - I havd no idea about these calculators.

I am stunned thank you thank you

Original poster

waterfalls · 05/05/2006 12:42

well , I have checked and douple checked my figures, but the calculator, is totaling our weekly income as almosy £900 a week the stupid thing cant add up, it not even close to half that...............weird

OP posts:

Original poster

waterfalls · 05/05/2006 12:42

secur WOW, get claiming girl

OP posts:

throckenholt · 05/05/2006 12:42

secur - that is great news !

roughly can you say how much your rent and income are ? I have a friend who is a single parent and is not sure if she would get housing benefit - I have no idea of the ballpark figures - and can't persuade her to find out for herself .

secur · 05/05/2006 12:44

have jsut rung up for the forms!

My income weekly is in the reigon of £400 ish - but I have lots of children which makes a difference!

expatinscotland · 05/05/2006 12:49

generally, more kids and a region where house prices are high = more homelessness, something most councils seek to avoid b/c families are the hardest to house (they don't fit in bedsits very neatly!), so they tend to award housing benefit in relation to that.

throckenholt · 05/05/2006 12:49

she only has one - and has a bit higher income (but always says she can't afford to rent a 2 bedroomed house on her own).

Anyway - hope you get yours sorted out.

secur · 05/05/2006 12:54

TH, it really would be worth her trying it does depend on relevant rents etc etc and even a slice of £150 per week would make a difference to everyone that I know, if she is having trouble then she should try for everything she can get IMO! (look at idiot me struggling on and on then finding out I could have been getting nearly a third of my income again - stupid girl - !)

throckenholt · 05/05/2006 13:01

that's what I tell her - but her first language is not English and I think she can't face the idea of the forms, and won't ask for help.

Don't want to upset her by being pushy unless I am fairly certain she would get something. And I can only take an educated guess at what her rent, tax, council tax, income all are.

secur · 05/05/2006 13:09

Have you tried a calculator with your educated guesses? if you could get something that looks about right to show her it may encourage her, I agree though the forms are daunting and I can't imagine trying to get through to my council if english was not my first language!

throckenholt · 05/05/2006 13:14

will try that

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