Husband has just lost his job, what benefits can we claim??

Em_Cooper

Hello, like many people my husband has just lost his job. Because of the type of job he done (firefighter) there are currently no positions available anywhere. Whilst he was a firefighter he did some plumbing in his spare time which he is still doing now but this does not pay much and now he has lost his main job I am worried sick on how we are going to pay the bills. We have 3 young children under 7, I work 4 days a week (over 16hrs) but only get £500 per month (around 7K a year). My husbands plumbing has only ever brought in a very small amount as he only done it now and then so the last 3 years self assessment has only shown a profit of a couple of thousand.

We will be entitled to any benefits to help us until my husband can find a job?? He will carry on his plumbing but even though he can now do it full time there is so much competition about and what with the current finincial crisis people are not screaming out for plumbers so I can still only assume that his plumbing income will only be a little more then it has been for last few years so guessing around 4/5k a year. This means our total yearly income at the moment will be around £12k a year.

We have both never claimed benefits all our lives and have both worked extremely hard often doing two jobs each to make ends meet but now we dont know what to do and with the loss of his main job have no idea how we are going to meet the mortgage/loan and household bills.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

mna78

Hi Em Cooper, checkout http://www.entitledto.com/ that should give you an idea what your entitled to.

alwaysonthego_2

If you work 16 hours or over you can claim working tax credits. Also you are entitled to ctc and cb. You may get help with CTB.

Your husband could claim JSACB if he has paid enough NI conts in the previous 2 tax years.

Good luck x