Housing Benefit - Can we claim please ?

karenx

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 .

Why is the government trying to break up a family?
And if she said you arent a couple then that would be fraud

lil_lisa

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 .

That would be fraud.



In a nutshell, to claim in income based benefit she must work for less than 16 hours per week, her partner for less than 24 and they must have less than 16k in savings. Therefore, as you are working more than those hours then she would only be eligible for the non-income based JSA which is a set rate paid for 26 weeks. Income support is income-based and therefore she would not be able to receive that later in her pregnancy.

If she has been employed for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before her due date then she should be eligble for MA and if she was employed by her former employer for 26 weeks before the 15th week before her baby was due then she would be eligible for SMP regardless of whether she's still employed by them now. Both SMP and MA would have been instead of IS and not as well as.


From what you have said you will have enough income to cover the household bills and have a surplus each month on your wages aloneso why would there be any need to commit benefit fraud? It would be your choice whether she were to move in with you and your choice as to whether you break up your family unit for the sake of extra benefits.

blueotter

Thank you for the advice,we have no intention of committing benefit fraud.

I gather from the answers that it is actually far more economically beneficial for us to actually live apart now.

If i move out of my private accommodation and into something a lot more affordable on my own my girlfriend will then be able to claim housing benefit for her private accomodation costs and as a single parent will no doubt be entitled to more than i can provide anyway.

It's a vicious system isn't it............an all or nothing vicious system.
I now understand the frustration borne out by so many others.

DX2

blueotter wrote: »

Thank you for the advice,we have no intention of committing benefit fraud.

I gather from the answers that it is actually far more economically beneficial for us to actually live apart now.

If i move out of my private accommodation and into something a lot more affordable on my own my girlfriend will then be able to claim housing benefit for her private accomodation costs and as a single parent will no doubt be entitled to more than i can provide anyway.

It's a vicious system isn't it............an all or nothing vicious system.
I now understand the frustration borne out by so many others.

So will you be supporting your child when you move out?

blueotter

I take it you mean in a financial capacity do you ?
If i do i take it the mother of my child will be penalised for that as well ? Or is there a limit to the amount of financial consideration i can offer

lil_lisa

blueotter wrote: »

Thank you for the advice,we have no intention of committing benefit fraud.

I gather from the answers that it is actually far more economically beneficial for us to actually live apart now.

If i move out of my private accommodation and into something a lot more affordable on my own my girlfriend will then be able to claim housing benefit for her private accomodation costs and as a single parent will no doubt be entitled to more than i can provide anyway.

It's a vicious system isn't it............an all or nothing vicious system.
I now understand the frustration borne out by so many others.

It may be more beneficial for yourself to continue your single existance if your partner and you chose to live apart. Not only can you spend all of your money on yourself on whatever you please you also wont have to deal with any sleepless nights with your child as your girlfriend will be left looking after them on her own.

You may be better off financially but if the LHA/HB that your girlfriend receives doesn't cover the rent she's liable for then she will have to find the rest to cover it out of her IS. £900 per month for a 2 bed house seems somewhat excessive, and if this figure is not representative for 2 bed properties in your area then why can't you not move into a smaller, cheaper 2 bed property TOGETHER. Freeing up more available cash and allowing you to spend as much time with your child as possible.

Personally, if I had to make the decision of spending time with my child or getting extra benefits I know what I would chose.

terryw

lil_lisa wrote: »

It may be more beneficial for yourself to continue your single existance if your partner and you chose to live apart. Not only can you spend all of your money on yourself on whatever you please you also wont have to deal with any sleepless nights with your child as your girlfriend will be left looking after them on her own.

You may be better off financially but if the LHA/HB that your girlfriend receives doesn't cover the rent she's liable for then she will have to find the rest to cover it out of her IS. £900 per month for a 2 bed house seems somewhat excessive, and if this figure is not representative for 2 bed properties in your area then why can't you not move into a smaller, cheaper 2 bed property TOGETHER. Freeing up more available cash and allowing you to spend as much time with your child as possible.

Personally, if I had to make the decision of spending time with my child or getting extra benefits I know what I would chose.

I agree wholehearedly with your post, But blue Otter does have a very valid point that there is a definite financial advantage in couples living apart and I can understand his feelings. There are a great many couples in the country who have taken the financial benefits of living apart rather than living together.

debrag

blueotter wrote: »

I take it you mean in a financial capacity do you ?
If i do i take it the mother of my child will be penalised for that as well ? Or is there a limit to the amount of financial consideration i can offer

Whether she's penalised or not I would have thought you'd want to be looking after YOUR child?!

This all sounds to me like you want to get as much benefit as possible even if that mean being a couple but living apart.

EDIT: I understand that as single people you would get more money but it is always best to be a couple as specially as there is a child involved. What is DWP find out you are a couple?

viktory

blueotter wrote: »

If i move out of my private accommodation and into something a lot more affordable on my own my girlfriend will then be able to claim housing benefit for her private accomodation costs and as a single parent will no doubt be entitled to more than i can provide anyway.

It's a vicious system isn't it............an all or nothing vicious system.
I now understand the frustration borne out by so many others.

I have three suggestions for you.

1) You and your girlfriend accept that you have both chosen to bring a child into the world - a child I am sure will be loved and cared for. Therefore, you live together as a family unit, supporting each other, loving each other, you could help with the night feeds and care of the child. You work and earn a living to support your family, while your girlfriend cares for the child, ensures your home is clean and warm. You can enjoy each other's company and take pleasure in your growing family. Your child will love and respect you as a hard working, caring parent. £550 a month is enough to live on - no one is going to starve.

2) You and your girlfriend separate - you give her the minimum possible to avoid her benefits being affected and see your 'kid' when you can be bothered. Your girlfriend will struggle as a single parent, but hey! You'll have loads of money! Plus the tax payer will pick up the lions share of the bill for your 'kid' - but at least you won't have to eh?

3) Your final choice is to attempt a bit of benefit fraud with the accompanying risks or jail, loss of your job and home a fine and having to apy it all back.

I know which option a real man would choose - and with good grace.

Bogof_Babe

Words almost fail me :eek:.

If the father's name is on the birth certificate, won't the CSA come after him regardless of whether he voluntarily pays maintenance or not?