coming off benefits- help

troubletots

Hey

Help appreciated

Im single mum on benefits, and wanting to come of them

Im looking at going Self Employed from March
will be approx 18 hours per week
approx 5k per year

I currently get Housing benefit help of £500 ( rent is £700) and council tax assistance

does anyone know once i start working.. what happens to my housing, how much will it be affected by etc?

Im still waiting a call back from council, but they takes up to 4 days, and just trying to figure out where ill be finacnially

thanks

karenx

Well if you want to come off benefits then housing benefit is a benefit also??? Will you be cancelling your application for that? And also tax credits is a benefit???

All income will be taken into account for housing benefit so you will have to pay a larger proportion of your rent out your income, thats if you continue to claim housing benefit? If you cancel your claim you will have to pay the full amount.

troubletots

yes but as im on a low income, the local council does help with housing- so thats what im enquiring about - wondering what help i get?:s

karenx

Yes but you said you want to come off benefits right?? Housing benefit is a benefit??? So therefor by working and not wanting to be on benefits you wont be applying for housing benefit will you? So why are you asking what help you will get? Clearly you will get none as you dont want to be claiming any benefits. So in other words- your rent is £700 and with you not wanting to claim benefits you will have to pay your full rent of £700.....

dmg24

I think troubletots was referring coming off income support/ out of work benefits.

troubletots, you will still be entitled to some help with housing costs, but the amount will depend on how much you earn and your tax credits award. If you enter some hypothetical figures into www.entitledto.co.uk this will give you an idea of your entitlement.

DX2

troubletots are you aware of some of the back to work benefits for single parents?

clb776

why is your housing benefit so much below your rent? How do you afford the shortfall of £200 a month? Single parent benefits are not that kind...are they?!?!?!?!!?

Good luck...entitledto is a great place to start, it will give you a rough idea!

LMac

My circumstances were slightly different, but I got a back to work bonus and wtc / ctc when returning to work. I didnt qualify for housing benefit at any time, due to my circumstances, but try http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018926

karenx

clb776 wrote: »

why is your housing benefit so much below your rent? How do you afford the shortfall of £200 a month? Single parent benefits are not that kind...are they?!?!?!?!!?

Good luck...entitledto is a great place to start, it will give you a rough idea!

Theyr LHA rate will most probably be below the actual rental amount, hence why they have to make up the shortfall

SuziQ

Yes but you said you want to come off benefits right?? Housing benefit is a benefit??? So therefor by working and not wanting to be on benefits you wont be applying for housing benefit will you? So why are you asking what help you will get?

Having a bad day Karen? You know exactly what she meant and there's no need to be so snotty! What a way to encourage a new user of this forum. Often it's this small step that leads to someone becoming much more independant from benefits and surely that is to be encouraged?

larmy16

karenx wrote: »

Yes but you said you want to come off benefits right?? Housing benefit is a benefit??? So therefor by working and not wanting to be on benefits you wont be applying for housing benefit will you? So why are you asking what help you will get? Clearly you will get none as you dont want to be claiming any benefits. So in other words- your rent is £700 and with you not wanting to claim benefits you will have to pay your full rent of £700.....[/QUOTE

How unhelpful and unpleasant you sound!

Good luck OP and I wish you success in trying to change your circumstances.