Just a little advice needed

kelgt

I'm currently receiving full HB and CTB and I have just informed the tax credits that my partner is moving up to 16hrs pw meaning we can now get WTC :j

I looked up on entitled to and it says I will have to pay 7.17 pw CT and 24.23 rent each week because of the change. Now I know in the past what a pain in the !!! it is claiming CTB and HB and even changes of circumstnaces usually involve 4 different visits because they want this that and next thing!

I was wondering if say from this week I put aside the rent and CT money and keep saving them up, then in 4-5 weeks go down to the HB office with TC award, bank statements, and the 5 wage slips they will require. I'm only thinking of doing this because it's sych a pain going down there for them to tell me they need the last 5 weeks pay slips/3 months bank statements/ tax credit award notice.

I obviously don't have the new award notice yet nor do I have my partners 5 weeks of payslips since upping the hours. What can they do with just the bank statements at this stage ?

I would rather go down with them all in 1 visit and have the money which I will have saved up and payed as soon as the new benefits are sorted out.

Do I have to tell them immediently about the change or will they be ok with 4 weeks behind and all my proofs in 1 go?

dmg24

Tell them now (you can usually email them), get them to post you the paperwork and send that back, then post the wage slips when you have them.

Leaving it four weeks should be ok, but anything over that and you are at danger of them cancelling your claim and you having to pay the whole amount for the relevant period. I certainly would not leave it any longer x

kelgt

Thanks, maybe I will go down in 3 weeks time with 3 payslips, bank statements and my tax credit award. Then I will only have to go back with another 2 payslips.

Is entitled to fairly accurate? I wouldn't want to be saving up my rent to find I'm loads short! also it says on entitled to that we could receive income support/JSA

I don't want to work atm so don't want to claim JSA, who would be best claiming ? My partner already has a job, would I get income support?

dmg24

If your partner is working sixteen hours, you will not be entitled to IS or income based JSA. If you have paid sufficient NI Contributions and you are actively seeking work, you will be able to claim conts based JSA.

entitledto is fairly accurate, there should also be a benefits calculator on the website for your local council, so you can check your figures there x

kelgt

oh well it's not worth bothering claiming then. Thanks for the advice