can anyone help me with benefits?

[halfwitmam]

I am going to lose my job.
I have managed to work full time with the help (not that much, but as much as they can give) of family and a good nursery (private, expensive).
My boy is not yet 2 so a while away from school, there is no way I can afford nursery while I look for a job in this current climate . My husbands wage will cover the mortgage, but it will be tight.

Don't no what to do
I am sad to lose my job, and my son is doing well and enjoying nursery (he has cerebral palsy) but having had no luck in the job hunt so far, I will have to claim benefits. I've never been out of work so I am utterly clueless! I worry what it means for my son everything he needs costs so much.

Hi

A lot frepends on your dh's income tbh, there is a website called entitled to but be aware that things are in fluc atm due to budget so nothing is guaranteed.

Fist points of call would be carers if your child gets DLA at higher or middle rate; if you don't have that yet do apply, it can take a while and is really quite difficult. it's not menas tested so do that now. better to call for apper forms: can be done online but if you call, the date is logged and you get it from date of call rather than submission IYSWIM.

WRT to Jobseekers not sure if you will get contributions absed tbh, when I stopped work it was after study. You need to ask at job centre or CAb for advcie on that but do ask now.

Tax Credits are your other big help if you qualify. DLA receipt also ups the amount of those.

Be aware that if you earned a decent amount they amy say the amount is absed on last eyar's wages so no.... do not accept this; you can ask for it to be based on this year's (although if your wage for first few months was high can still casue issues) but it usually is best to ask in wriitng and it deopends on ebing honest about every single peeny or you may well end up overpaid and having to give a strong amount back.

Second what Sancti above says.

I think the entitlement to Contributions based JSA is based on your National Insurance Contributions for the 2 previous tax years so you may be able to claim it. Something to consider even if the claim is knocked back, is some jobs require security checks and being an active claimaint albeit for NI contributions only gives you a searchable record for that. (was a case a few years ago when a person was told not to bother claiming and he subsequently failed the security check which wouldn't have happened if he was on JSA just for his NI stamp).

I think you can also restrict your jobsearch for the first 13 weeks to something of a similar salary/job/hours of your previous job (was a few years ago when I worked in a jobcentre so do check).

Good luck with it, hope it all works out for you.

He might be entitled to go to a SN nursery from age 2 - if its classed as an education / therapy need then many SN nurseries take children younger - but that might not be what you want? And you would probably need a Statement of Educational Needs (see IPSEA / ACE)

You can also ask for a carers assessment for you and disabled child's assessment for child from social services (usually disabled childrens team) and ask what respite you might get / help to get back into work etc. You might be able to get respite (or direct payments to pay someone to look after your child) while you do a course.

Otherwise make sure getting correct rate of DLA - claim Carers (they do not take your partners income into account) and tell tax credits. If you get certain rate DLA you get extra tax credits (for now at least)

You can earn £90-100 a week and still get carers so you might be able to work part-time and its £90-100 AFTER expenses including childcare - so you deduct tax, NI and childcare / work costs and then if you are left with less than £90-100 a week you get Carers Allowance on top - ie you end up with about £150 a week after nursery costs.

I expect nurseries are struggling too so you might be able to agree some shorter hours etc

You will get NI contributions for being a carer but if you don't get carers allowance may have to register

If you have a surestart nursery in your area they might be cheaper

Look at family fund or charities for equipment etc

Contact A Family is a good website for info on what you might be entitled to

Good luck.

I think the key is sort it soon; I am already aware of SSD's refusing respite, or having excessive waiting lists for carer's assessments (8 months etc) due to budgetary restraints: there was a thread on here the other day about a county where new referrals no longer get respite.

Actually i think we were rather effectively bounced (requested assessment and carer's, Paed had asked 12 months ago but not actioned by SSD; at assessment we werer told we qualified for X and Y; gave me a carer's form and said ... oh there it is but think about if its really neded.... at the meeting I explained I have a phone phobia. So he called a week after, insisted on speaking to me not DH, and said 'oh if forms for holiday club in then I can close the file? yes? bye then'

Haven't ehard aboout promised holiday club either

So its a long abttle and a hard one so start early as you can