Benefit advice please

madlyradley

I have recently been told that I am looking at redundancy due to Company moving the dept I work in to Mumbai. I am a lone parent to three children one of which recieves DLA middle rate (being reviewed as I have been advised she should be on higher rate), I work evenings (20 hours per week) as this is the only time when someone can be with her for me. I also recieve widowed parents allowance so do not know if carers allowance is an option as I believe they counter each other out.

If I claim Job seekers will they take my circumstances into account because I cant just drop every thing and work at 48hrs notice?

Would I be entitled to claim anything else? (My husband, father to the two eldest has passed away, but my youngest childs father has never lived with me and we have never involved the CSA - dont really want to unless I have to).

Do I have to use any redundancy pay out first before I can claim?

I have spoken to the tax credit people and have been told I should be able to get £170. a week from them for child tax credit.

Also I have a insurance policy on my mortgage which pays my monthly amount out in case of redundancy, will this effect any claim?

I would be so grateful for any advice and the moment I just lay awake worrying and wondering what to do....

Oh and the time of service with my Employer is twelve years and I have always worked so should be all paid up with ni contributions.

Citizens advice are constantly busy...Many thanks for reading this and in anticipation of any help.

Conor_3

£170 a week sounds about right for CTC. Mortgage interest payments will affect means tested benefits. You will be expected to live on savings and redundancy if the amounts exceed the amount you're allowed for means tested benefits. You will be able to claim either income support or JSA which should give you an additional £60 a week.

madlyradley

Thanks Conor, I should get about £3500 redundancy payment if I'm lucky do you know if this would exceed the amount I'm allowed?

cw18

Means tested benefits are reduced if you have between £6k and £16k in capital/savings -- this is all capital/savings, and not just your redundancy payment.


I'm sure I read somewhere else on here (possibly a couple of months ago) that as long as Mortgage Payment Protection pays directly to your lender it's not a problem. You may have issues if it's paid to you to pass over though.

madlyradley

No I dont have over £6K in savings but the Mortgage Payment Protection may be an issue as it pays £400 so there may be a small amount left over after payment mortgage say £50 but it was taken out with the building society who I have mortgage with so I assume they take their payment out and then credit my bank account with whats left.

Thankyou for your advice.

bigbill

How much is your widows benefit weekly?

madlyradley

My widows benefit is roughly £120 a week. Which whilst I have been working I have paid tax on.

bigbill

Sorry you won't get Carers Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance or Income Support as your Widows is way over the limit to allow these to be paid.

Council tax benefit may be an option.

Easier said than done but another job at 16+ hours would be your best option to allow Working Tax Credit to be paid?

madlyradley

Thanks for your help bigbill its even worst than I thought then, I have now been told that the Company is allow us to put up aguments as to why they should NOT move our dept to Mumbai, I still believe its a cut and dried decision but I'm still gonna put up the best fight I can. If not as soon as I get a date in writing I will be looking around, but it a scary time. Six months ago I reckon I could have found a job or signed to an agency and worked pretty quickly, but now.... who knows?