erratic working hours and housing benefits

aah

Hi all, I wonder if you could help me.

My "laid back" (I could think of another word for it) son left uni in the summer. He is living in leeds, in a house he shares with another person ( a student) - they are both single.

He has managed to get a job - in a clothes shop, and has signed of the JSA. He has been working there for the last few weeks and his hours vary between 15 and 35 per week. He is paid the min wage - £5.80.

Can anyone advise about any housing or other benefits he is entitled to, His rent is £290 per month, and he pays bills and CT on top of that.

Many thanks
Anne

Oldernotwiser

This is going to sound harsh, so I apologise in advance.

If your son is that "laid back" and only working erratic hours - are you really helping him by finding out how he can claim benefits? At the very least, shouldn't he be doing this for himself?

(I knew it would sound harsh - apologies again.)

aah

what was the point of writing that - it just put me down, and gave no constructive response whatsoever. I am not applying for benefits for my son, I would expect him to do that for himself.

The benefits system is a minefield, especially to people like us who are not used to it and I wanted to be informed so that I could support him if necessary.

He has got himself a job and is working - unlike many others. He should not be penalised by being worse off than on the JSA.

I am glad he is laid back - being uptight and critical would be so much worse.

Apology accepted

karenx

If he is struggling in that job with the hours maybe he should look for another job with permanent hours?

robin_banks

Your son is facing a problem the benefit sysytem has never been able to manage well - uncertainty.

He works different hours each week (why is a different matter for you to sort out with him tbh), if he wasn't working easy he gets dole.

The fact that he'll get HB and CTB will make it a nightmare, HB is a notoriously complex benefit to process with huge time lags between when info is submitted and when it is processed.

He's been to uni, and should be sorting this himself though.

Least he's working though, 1 in 5 graduates aren't.

Oldernotwiser

aah wrote: »

what was the point of writing that - it just put me down, and gave no constructive response whatsoever. I am not applying for benefits for my son, I would expect him to do that for himself.

The benefits system is a minefield, especially to people like us who are not used to it and I wanted to be informed so that I could support him if necessary.

He has got himself a job and is working - unlike many others. He should not be penalised by being worse off than on the JSA.

I am glad he is laid back - being uptight and critical would be so much worse.

Apology accepted

Oh well, so much for being nice!

If a graduate in his early twenties can't use a computer to find out information for himself then there doesn't seem much point in having a degree! Having mummy do it for him isn't really helping him.

robin_banks

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Oh well, so much for being nice!

If a graduate in his early twenties can't use a computer to find out information for himself then there doesn't seem much point in having a degree! Having mummy do it for him isn't really helping him.

It staggers me that so many parents clearly involve themselves in parts of thier childrens lives that they shouldn't.

Helicopter parenting isn't limited to the under 5's then.

karenx

robin_banks wrote: »

It staggers me that so many parents clearly involve themselves in parts of thier childrens lives that they shouldn't.

Helicopter parenting isn't limited to the under 5's then.

I was left a single parent when I just turned 19, then had to leave my job as it was nightshift. And without a degree I had to go looking for all the info myself. I wouldnt expect my mum to of gone out and done everything for me while I sat back and done nothing!
He is clearly worried about how he is going to pay the bills etc, so you should be telling him to get a different job not trying to get benefits for him when he doesnt really need them

aah

...........

aah

What staggers me is that nobody listens or reads threads properly - people make up their own minds about what I am saying or doing.

When did I say I was doing anything on my son's behalf. You all made it up. And read what you wanted to, and threw it back at me.

Why do you all have to be so rude. Someone did warn me before coming onto the benefits site.

I'd like to close this post. It has served its purpose.

aah

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Oh well, so much for being nice!

If a graduate in his early twenties can't use a computer to find out information for himself then there doesn't seem much point in having a degree! Having mummy do it for him isn't really helping him.

When were you nice? You know that you weren't. You apologised for it.

Apologising doesn't mean it didnt happen? You were just excusing yourself, for having a go