I need benefits help please

Loopy1

Hi My other half is a self-employed builder and the company he was working for is on its knees. He hasnt earned since before Christmas and there is nothing out there.

He has completed the paperwork for jobseekers but there is no way we can live on £60 a week.

I rang the tax helpline to see if they could reassess my tax credits (which are currently stopped as they reckon I owe them a fair amount) and they said that it would be the yearly earnings they'd base it on. Now my other half has worked 9 months of the tax year so far so his salary will be quite significant but currently he is earning zilch.

So how on earth do I go from here? Basically the tax credits are saying that I have to suffer until April when I'm in the new tax year. We cant live on his £60 a week (I do earn but all my wages go on specific outgoings which I cant cut back on - nursery fees for one if I take my daughter out of nursery and then other half cant job-seek can he?)

I am totally stressed about how we are going to cope. Any ideas welcome

[Deleted User]

I`m sure this is a problem many families are facing,would it be an option to have your OH look after your daughter on 3 days a week and nursery for 2 days?Could you ask mortgage lender for interest only for a few months?Try listing all your outgoings to see if you could make some savings(you might be surprised)

BOBS

Dont want to sound hard but this why me and OH have a rainy day savings account with enough money to see us through 6 months if the unforseen happens. When times are good it is always an idea to put away for when they are not so.
If your earnings are dropping maybe you will get some help to pay your nursery fees ... if not I agree with 'woodbine' and your OH could at least look after your daughter for some of the week.

atomicsheep

you could do with someone who works for tax credits posting on here to help you.
But it sounds like they are basing your tax credits on what they call PY income (prev year income).
If your situation now is financially worse than last year you can request that they assess your award based on your PY income (present year).

How many hours per week do you work??

jenie_2

atomicsheep, can wtc be awarded on PY income ?

Loopy1

I work 28 hours

BOBS if we had a rainy day account we would but at the moment we are way high in debt which we are paying off for a long time so we have no spare money for savings. To date we have been paying off this debt, including a very hefty tax man bill (which is a long story). Well now we cant pay these debts so thats going to be another saga. The last time we asked if we could reduce the payments on the taxbill for a while and they said no chance and we'd forfit the arrangement. This time we have no choice but to stop the payments.

I think you are right about the nursery thing. I'd just have to take a risk that if he does find something else I could get her back in.

I just find this tax thing so confusing that they are working it out on last year and not actually helping you when you might need it - ie now!

atomicsheep

Jenie: Yes i should think that WTC can be assessed on the PY income.

Loopy: Have you been told that you will only get £60? I dont know if you work or not, but if you dont you'll probably get a little over £90 per week

Loopy1

I said £60 as thats jobseekers but after reading various bits I dont think hubby will be entitled to that as he is self-employed and I dont think he pays class-1 NI.

So I can ask the tax office to base my benefits on this years salary?

atomicsheep

yes you can ask. They dont have to give I guess, but it will help u more

krisskross

Loopy1 wrote: »

I said £60 as thats jobseekers but after reading various bits I dont think hubby will be entitled to that as he is self-employed and I dont think he pays class-1 NI.

So I can ask the tax office to base my benefits on this years salary?

If he isn't able to get JSA then will he get Income Support?

tom9980

krisskross wrote: »

If he isn't able to get JSA then will he get Income Support?

Doubt he is entitled they are a couple and she works 28 hours so is very likely to earn too much.