Am I Eligible?

annabelleuk

I am a working 25 year old. Working 20 hours per week. I earn around £565 per month after tax/nat insurance has been deducted. No children, no partner.

I am about to move into my own rented accommodation which will be £45 per week with housing benefit. I will also be eligible for council tax, but even with these benefits, I will really struggle to pay all other outgoings. In fact, I calculated approx how much my outgoings will be including rent, electric, gas, water, travel expenses etc...and it comes to around £30 more than I earn and that was without food shopping.

I'm really panicking now about how i'm going to cope. Is there any other benefits I would be able to claim? I would do full time work but my hours are already all over the place as it's shift work. I just feel like crying!!!

Annabelle x

catmiaow

You would be entitled to working tax credit, if you worked over 30 hours so thats a shame.

You wont be entitled to job seekers allowance as you work over 16 hours.

You may also be entitled to a grant from the council for things such as a freezer for your new place, worth asking them about.

check out this website it may come up with other benefits you may be able to apply for. https://www.entitledto.co.uk

DaisyFlower

Can you increase your hours to full time or perhaps look for another part time job to bulk up your wages?

WTC can help those on low wages but you need to work at least 30 hours to qualify for it.

Oldernotwiser

This might be a good time to move from part time to full time work .

catmiaow

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

This might be a good time to move from part time to full time work .

Yeah easier said that done!

Oldernotwiser

catmiaow wrote: »

Yeah easier said that done!

Agreed, but no reason not to try, though!

catmiaow

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Agreed, but no reason not to try, though!

I am sure they are trying if low on cash, not so easy nowadays though!

annabelleuk

thanks for all your replies. a job like the one I do is very hard to come by so looking for it full time will be nigh on impossible and there will be never any chance of my position becoming full time. It took me 10 years to get this job and I really don't want to let it go so I think the only option is to find either a before and/or after work job...just a little one on the side. A few hours will do me nicely. The government is so unfair to us workers. I think i'll just go and have 10 kids, get a council house without waiting years and years and live off benefits (that would probably pay me better than that I get working)...but no, I have my pride. I just think it's a lose-lose situation

devils_vixen

You will need to watch if you do end up in work full time as you may have too much earnings to qualify for Housing Benefit.

Oldernotwiser

devils_vixen wrote: »

You will need to watch if you do end up in work full time as you may have too much earnings to qualify for Housing Benefit.

But that would be a good thing as you would be able to stop claiming benefits!

bestpud

annabelleuk wrote: »

thanks for all your replies. a job like the one I do is very hard to come by so looking for it full time will be nigh on impossible and there will be never any chance of my position becoming full time. It took me 10 years to get this job and I really don't want to let it go so I think the only option is to find either a before and/or after work job...just a little one on the side. A few hours will do me nicely. The government is so unfair to us workers. I think i'll just go and have 10 kids, get a council house without waiting years and years and live off benefits (that would probably pay me better than that I get working)...but no, I have my pride. I just think it's a lose-lose situation

The government is 'unfair' to part time workers, when there is no reason for them not working full time.

Where is the pride in working less hours through choice and going cap in hand to the government for a subsidy?

Pride, as you describe it, would surely involve working sufficient hours to pay your own way?