Can anybody help us? Tax Credits Question.

whiteswan

Hi

My Sister (23 yo and single) was living in her own property until May of this year - she was in full time employment but on quite a low wage so she got help with her rent and council tax (privately rented property).

She lost her job in May and gave up the rented property and moved in with some friends temporarily.

She has been unemployed since May and has not worked but has also claimed no benefits as she had some savings and thought she would find work quicker than she has.

Now she has found work (30 hours a week) - and has also found a new property that she wants to rent now that she is back in work - the job is a minimum wage job but she is just glad to be back in work.

The rent on the house she has seen (privately rented) is £85 per week - where does she start to claim to see if anything is available to her - is it the Jobcentre or The Local Council Offices?

She is expecting her first child at the end of January 2010 but wants to work as long as she can to get some money together for the baby.

I applaud everything she is doing (apart from the not signing on bit as I told her she was entitled to......she had less than £1000 savings but she insisted on using them to live on!!)

Rather than sit at home on benefits she has the work ethic and also wants to return to work as soon as she can when baby is born - what help is she entitled to - both now and also after January 2010 - she has no partner - she will be living alone - at least until the end of January when the little un is born !!

Hope you can help.

Dave

[Deleted User]

She wont be entitled to WTC as she is under 25.

When the baby is born she can apply for WTC/CTC and child benefit.

Someone else may be able to give more advice regarding other entitlements - Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Health in Pregnancy Grant....

Caz3121

she may get some help with LHA due to low income but it will be based on a shared room rate (until baby is here)
she can put her details in www.entitledto.com and it should give her an idea if what, if any, help she could get

Zara33

whiteswan wrote: »

Rather than sit at home on benefits she has the work ethic and also wants to return to work as soon as she can when baby is born
Dave

Good for her! Ain't it great when you hear things like this Some ((((hugs)))) for Dave's sister.

whiteswan

Had a look at the entitled to site (thanks for the suggestion)

And as she currently stands she would be entitled to a little towards living costs - something is better than nothing.

There was no option to forward date a claim to see what she may be entitled to after January so I put that the baby had been born last January and it seemed to come up with a figure of £4500 in benefits for the next 6 months (assuming baby born Jan 2009) - which equates to approx £9000 per annum in benefits as well as her wage - is this correct?

Is this actually the benefits sytem ENCOURAGING people to work as it seems rather a huge amount ???????

Also where does she start the claims???????

Dave

daska

She should contact her local council about Housing Benefit. The other grant to look at when the baby's born is the SureStart Grant.

But if she's tempted to not claim anything then please point out that she needs it for the baby as much as for herself!

whiteswan

Thanks for that..............

Given the info above.......does that amount of benefits seem correct?

Dave

daska

surely the actual amount will depend on how much she's earning?

Zara33

daska wrote: »

She should contact her local council about Housing Benefit. The other grant to look at when the baby's born is the SureStart Grant.

But if she's tempted to not claim anything then please point out that she needs it for the baby as much as for herself!

I have to agree with this wholeheartly xoxoxo

itsnotfair_2

I will be shot down in flames but the benefit system favours people with children. The theory is the child must never be deprived which is true but you can see why many use it as an easy passport to benefits and no need to work.

whiteswan

I think after tax and ni she will clear approx £172.00 pounds per week for the 30 hours worked.

30 hours at minimum wage.

Dave