Benefits check up guide and tool discussion

Former_MSE_Wendy
Former_MSE_Wendy Posts: 929
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edited 12 April 2011 at 6:04PM in Benefits & tax credits
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  • Very useful tool but results page a little confusing. It looks as if I could get help with council tax because our non-dependant daughter living with us is on low income. However, there is a qualification that to get this benefit I must be in receipt of the guaranteed pension credit element. In that section it states that I am not eligible, which I accept, but surely the checker should then have negated the possible council tax benefit! Am I missing anything?
  • The calculator has calc'd a weekly income from my savings of almost 20% so says I am not entitled to any benefits. I'm actually getting an income of less than 2%??
  • 50Twuncle
    50Twuncle Posts: 10,763
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    This calculator is a waste of time
    It appears to be under the dillusion that 17% interest is available on savings
    Also - it doesn't appear to cope with "contribution based" ESA !!
  • AngelBadger
    AngelBadger Posts: 413
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    Very misleading calculator. It doesn't show age related Incapacity Benefit, and when I put all my details in, it told me that I was entitled much more than I actually am. Any income above £65 (ish) means that you get less housing and council tax benefits but it doesn't seem to take that into account. I'm not sure what use it is.
  • Hi, the jobseekers allowance of £67.00 - is this meant to cover food, clothing, gas and electric?..seems impossible
  • It is straight forward for me: my husband is on £25,000/year salary, I am off work since Jan/2010. Already claimed JSA contributions based (helped on food bill, already stopped), no prospects to find another job, no children, a 10 year old car, all possible CDs, old records, clothes sold, debts of £5,000 = NO BENEFITS entitlement whatsoever!!!
  • KimYeovil
    KimYeovil Posts: 6,156
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    Hi, the jobseekers allowance of £67.00 - is this meant to cover food, clothing, gas and electric?..seems impossible
    and water.

    Why is that impossible? Exclude clothing - existing wardrobe should be adequate for a few months. Why would you need more than £280 per month for the four basic needs?
  • KimYeovil
    KimYeovil Posts: 6,156
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    bluehair wrote: »
    It is straight forward for me: my husband is on £25,000/year salary, I am off work since Jan/2010. Already claimed JSA contributions based (helped on food bill, already stopped), no prospects to find another job, no children, a 10 year old car, all possible CDs, old records, clothes sold, debts of £5,000 = NO BENEFITS entitlement whatsoever!!!

    Who do you think should pay more taxes to give you benefits? Those wealthy people on £27.5K?

    Why are you selling records and CDs if money is tight? That is when you should be holding on to things. Strange.
  • Please advise why / how this otherwise useful tool suggests I receive a weekly income of 380 pound on capital of 200,000 pounds i.e. almost 20% or ten times the best available through UK banks after the GFC ruined us all.

    Can anyone tell me where to get 20% interest?

    If not this tool needs to be overhauled and corrected; please do so.
  • Regret typos but concern is valid; the tool is dangerously inaccurate in miscalculating interest on capital. It over-estimates by a factor of 10plus, thus putting many out of reach of benefits.

    Please do check how much it suggests YOU earn on capital and complain about fanciful estimates.
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