Housing Benefit - Can we claim please ?

blueotter

Hi,
This is my first post please and I hope I can get a reply because my girlfriend and I really need some advice.

I am currently employed and rent a 2 bedroom house from a private Landlord and share all bills with a friend.
My girlfriend is 6 months pregnant and now has just lost her job so has moved into the house I’m renting.
Next month my friend will move out and there will be just my girlfriend and i Iiving in the house.

My question is this can she claim housing benefit to assist with the rent ?

thank you for advice

Kimitatsu

Housing benefit is a means tested benefit so it will depend on your household income as to whether you will be eligible.

You can check your entitlement at www.entitledto.co.uk which is the same software that the local authorities use.

Is your girlfriend claiming benefits as she has lost her job?

DX2

As it is a private landlord you wont be able to claim housing benefit, you will have to claim Local housing allowance.

blueotter

Thank You ,I will check entitlement.

Yes she has just submitted a claim for job seekers allowance before they presumably move her onto income support as i can't imagine she'll get a job before the baby is due.

blueotter

Well i went to the entitled to site and bar some tax credit of £1k a year we're not entitled to anything !

Would that be right ? I earn 25k a year and take home £1500 a month net.

The rent is £900 a month and council tax and bills etc will take that to £1200 a month so i'll be left with £300 a month for living.

Is that correct ,i've no idea ?

lil_lisa

How many hours is it that you work each week? Your partner wont be able to claim an income based benefit (either JSA-IB or IS) if you're working over 24 hours per week. She would only be able to claim JSA-Conts.

Has she told the JCP that she's moved in with you as you will now be treated as a household and not just her as an individual.

Kimitatsu

But your partner will also be on contributions based JSA if she has paid full stamp for the last 2 years so that will be an extra £64.30 per week (roughly £256 a month) so that takes it up to £550 after you have paid your rent and your bills.

Once the baby is here too then you will have CTC to add to that for a period of time. You will also get Child Benefit of £20 a week for the baby.

Many people live on less than £550 a month and have to pay all of their bills out of that - have a look at the old style money saving for some ideas.

lil_lisa

Also, if your girlfriend has only recently lost her job, and as long as she meets the criteria for either SMP from her previous employer or MA from the gov then you will be having around £123 pw into the household for 39 weeks. So as well as the £300 pm to live on your partners 'income' will be around £490 a month (depending on whether she receives taxable SMP or non-taxable MA). This in addition to the CTC and CB already mentioned.

So as a household you will have a surplus of at least £800.

DX2

blueotter wrote: »

Thank You ,I will check entitlement.

Yes she has just submitted a claim for job seekers allowance before they presumably move her onto income support as i can't imagine she'll get a job before the baby is due.

Why do you think she will be eligible for Income support?

blueotter

err lots of questions !
I work full time ,37 hours per week. I just assumed that she would be able to claim jsa as she has no income .
sorry if i appear clueless but its because i am,i've no idea what she can claim for..................she may as well just say we aren't a "couple " hadn't she.

Thought this govt wa trying to encourage a family unit not break it up .

DX2

blueotter wrote: »

err lots of questions !
I work full time ,37 hours per week. I just assumed that she would be able to claim jsa as she has no income .
sorry if i appear clueless but its because i am,i've no idea what she can claim for..................she may as well just say we aren't a "couple " hadn't she.

Thought this govt wa trying to encourage a family unit not break it up .

We are here to help, lots of questions gets the correct advice.

Once the baby is born your income will increase as another poster stated child tax credits, and child benefit.