Dire Straits

MammaCass

I really need some advice here.

My partner lost his job a while ago and is claiming contributions based JSA. I am a full time student and do not work. We are not entitled to WTC, we can claim only £15 a week CTC. We do not get any council tax benefits, free school meals, free prescriptions etc.....

I am entitled to a bursary of which I receive £800 a month.

Is there anything else I am entitled to at all?

pinkbabe

You should be entitled to a reduction of 25% of the council tax .

Not sure if you are entitled to anything else someone with more knowledge should be along soon.

alwaysonthego_2

Is your CTC claim based on this year's income?

MammaCass

We already get the Council Tax benefit - sorry forgot about that.

Alwaysonthego, I am not sure. We submitted all of last years paperwork but they say we have reached the threshold for this year already therefore not able to claim any more.

It just seems that ridiculous that the only help we are entitled to amounts to £80 a week. I could cry

alwaysonthego_2

You call them and ask them to assess you on this year's lower income, though you should overestimate to avoid an overpayment.

MammaCass

Pretty sure that's what we have done tbh, which is why we are entitled to no more as we have already reached the threshold (although we have !!!!!! all income at the moment!).

Seems to me, if you've ever worked in your life then you are !!!!!!ed.

If you've never worked, then you will be looked after. Wrong, all wrong.

Our monthly outgoings are more than our incomings and if it carries on, I will have to give up uni and find work.

dmg24

Your income is over £1100 per month. If you cannot survive on that, you really need to look at your outgoings.

MammaCass

DMG, our household bills, mortgage etc total almost £1500 a month.

MammaCass

And my point is that we are not entitled to any extra help as a result of being out of work. Our income has dropped dramatically and we get £80 in it's place.

dmg24

Then you need to cut your outgoings.

Going to university is a choice, and you should not expect the state to subsidise you to do this. If you cannot afford it, then maybe you should suspend your studies until a more viable time?

MammaCass

Which is what I am having to consider. I would just like to know if there is any more financial help we are entitled to before I am forced to do that.

I would also like to add that previous to this, my partner and myself have never claimed a penny in benefits. We have both worked from being 16.