Enquiry about benefits and housing?

Shadow919

Ok so here's my question...
I am currently 18 years old and my partner is 16 and we are both planning for a child. Don't talk me out of it as i and my partner are dead certain. So right what i want to know is mainly about council housing, when we are certain she is pregnant what do we do to get it? Once we have applied are we certain to get it and how long will it take? Here are some details... Her household at present is a two bedroomed house but with 5 people in, 2 being children... So would the council suggest the baby staying here? Or at mine we have 3 bedrooms, one being a single room though there are 5 people staying there so would they suggest taking the baby here? Ok so on top of that how much would it cost? I mean i'm going to uni and so student loans will help me fund any if i am actually required to, will me being in full time education help? Also she plans to do a part time course at college, teaching assistant. So will i have to pay? If so how much?

On top of this i am working part time, less than 16 hours a week most of the time... So would this have an effect?

So one more thing, as shes not in full time education or work would there any benefits we could claim to help us?

Thank you

healy

I know this does not answer the questions but I think it would be sensible to have a child when you can afford to bring it up. What I have said is very tame compared to what others may say on this here and elsewhere.

McKneff

you dont necessarily get a council house, there are hundreds of families waiting on council house lists in front of you, it could be years.

krisskross

Just one question. Why are you both so determined to have a child when you both have career plans?

Sorry can't help with anything else but council housing is very very difficult to get. Would your young lady fancy living in one room, sharing all facilities with strangers? This is what the temporary council accomodation would be and for months if not years once she has a baby. As neither of you has jobs or I presume a private income how are you going to provide for a child?

Oldernotwiser

Are you sure you're going to university - you don't seem very bright!

Actually, I think you're a TROLL!!

mouseymousey99

gawd help us.......I'm off for a cup of tea.....

McKneff

what do her parents think about this, if you deliberately made my 16 year old daughter pregnant i would string you up by the b.lls.

mouseymousey99

Ok so here's my question...(not a good opening consider expanding the introduction)
I am currently (why are you using ‘currently’) 18 years old, my partner is 16, and we are both planning for a child. How – are you working/saving?? No, I thought not....Is your ‘partner’ actually legally capable of making this decision...

Don't talk me out of it as i (should be a capital like this ‘I’) and my partner are dead certain (based on? Split infinitive by the way ). So right what i (as above) want to know is mainly about council housing,(is mainly?? Try concerns) when we are certain she is pregnant what do we do to get it? (Do you even know how to check?) I should just write (no, perhaps not) call the council and tell them of your plans – so they have time to prepare something suitable for you....5 or 6 bedrooms do you think?

Once we have applied are we certain to get it and how long will it take? Here are some details... Her household at present is a two bedroomed house but with 5 people in, (her parents I take it) 2 being children..(then again) So would the council suggest the baby staying here? With such responsible and capable people yes I expect so....

Or at mine we have 3 bedrooms, one being a single room though there are 5 people staying there so would they suggest taking the baby here? No I expect they will have started building in preparation...

Ok so on top of that how much would it cost? Oh interesting thought – you are thinking of joining in at some point?

I mean i'm going to uni and so student loans will help me fund Yes of course...what are you thinking of honouring us with?

any if i am actually required to, will me being in full time education help? Also she plans to do a part time course at college, teaching assistant. So will i have to pay? If so how much? No of course not, the house, the degree, the course all free – no one is ever required to pay anything in its wonderful isn’t it?

On top of this i am working part time, less than 16 hours a week most of the time... So would this have an effect? From the paper round? No you keep your £10 at Christmas, don’t worry the rest of the country will manage without it – oh, you’d like a Christmas Bonus
So one more thing, as shes (no, you have split a word so you need a comma)
in full time education or work (so that would be school) would there any benefits we could claim to help us? Thank you Umm I think we should also fund the conception – you may need to look that one up in a dictionary – its a big book with words....perhaps a week or two somewhere warm, would that help

2/10 More effort required – Now go outside and play...

seven-day-weekend

You will not be automatically given a Council house or even a flat or bedsit. It depends upon supply and how many other people are before you on the list. You may have to wait many years to be given anything other than a room in a hostel or B&B with shared facilities.

And who is going to look after your baby if you are both going to be studying? Full time students are entitled to no benefits at all as far as I know; you are supposed to live on your student loan. As you will be living together, any benefits will be assessed as for a couple, not as two singles, and if you have a student loan and money from a part-time job I don't think you will be entitled to anything.

I know you said not to try to talk you out of it, but I'm going to. Leave it at least ten years and build up some stability for your child so that you can house and provide for them properly.

This is the same advice I would give my son.

Sherrie

I'm not entirely convinced that you haven't posted this just to wind up the users of this much needed advice section but...

This is going back 18 years and the housing situation has changed for the worse since then, I was pregnant with my 2nd child, my partner got made redundant we were in a flat which was being sold and we had no where else to live, the council told me that I would have to have 1.5 children before they could help. (they suggested until the baby was born alive they wouldn't consider helping me)

This is being judgemental which goes against my nature, but it seems as though you are only having this baby as a way of trying to get a house, trust me this will backfire badly. With the current economic situation there are going to be hundreds of families struggling to pay their mortgage, if they fall behind and lose their house they are going to be looking at the council to help them find somewhere else to live.

I work with a voluntary organisation who provide housing and resettlement advice those in need, we liaise regularly with the local housing authorities and in the last 6 months or so the demand for housing has rocketed to such a demand that they are really really struggling to provide help to those people whole genuinely need housing. You will be put to the bottom of the list, I doubt you would get a house for many years. I would have said the very most they will do is assist you with a deposit for a privately rented flat.

You're both very very young, and child like which is evident in your opening statement of "don't try to change our minds", instead of having a baby now, get your education, get a career, and then you'll be in a much better position to provide a stable life for a child. With such an ignorant attitude, I doubt your child is going to get a very good start in life.

Conor_3

Shadow919 wrote: »

I mean i'm going to uni and so student loans will help me fund any if i am actually required to, will me being in full time education help? Also she plans to do a part time course at college, teaching assistant. So will i have to pay? If so how much?

If you plan to go this stupid route, forget going to Uni and forget her going to college. You'll have to get a job or face a life living in poverty on state benefits.

There's no council houses to be had and popping a kid out doesn't bump you up the list so you're either going to have to live with your parents or look for private rented accommodation but that needs at least £2000 just to get the keys to pay for the first months rent, bond and bare essentials (second hand furniture though) to move in.

And I hope your relationship is strong and you're not the jealous type because bringing up a baby is hard and all her time and attention is going to be focused on the baby with you taking a back seat for the first few months until baby starts sleeping through at the very least.

Also forget a social life. You'll not have the time and when you do, you'll not have the money.