Would I be better off reducing my working hours and claiming benefits??

Oldernotwiser

What would your employer feel about you only working basic hours? Would it make your job less secure or have an effect on your career prospects?

This could be more important than the immediate financial situation.

MrEmirates

Caz3121 wrote: »

have you tried entitledto yet? as said you do not get LHA for council rented, it would be housing benefit so you will need to put you rent details etc into the tool and should give you an indication if you would qualify

I will have a go with entitledto in the morning.
I don't think I made myself clear when i referred to my housing situation. If I qualified for LHA I would leave my council house and look for a long term lease private rental.

Oldernotwiser

MrEmirates wrote: »

I will have a go with entitledto in the morning.
I don't think I made myself clear when i referred to my housing situation. If I qualified for LHA I would leave my council house and look for a long term lease private rental.

You would be very foolish to leave secure housing for the risks of private renting. There's no such thing as long term renting in the private sector
and you could find yourself having to move your family every 6/12 months.

In addition, many landlords don't accept tenants on benefits or may require an initial outlay of several months' rent as a deposit and rent in advance.

liam9

I used to work 45hrs a week low paid job, got laid off, just about to start part time work on monday 16hrs a week, £6per hour total-£96per week plus £206 a week tax credits, and £46 per week child benefit, total per week-£348
my council rent is £87per week council tax£117per month, according to many people on here and benefit sites i will not pay any rent or council tax.
I am £40per week better off than i was working full time!!!.
If i would of known that years ago!!!! Thats my situation and im not going to change it!!! so the end of the day the decision is yours, but i would think twice before leaving your council house!

DX2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You would be very foolish to leave secure housing for the risks of private renting. There's no such thing as long term renting in the private sector
and you could find yourself having to move your family every 6/12 months.

In addition, many landlords don't accept tenants on benefits or may require an initial outlay of several months' rent as a deposit and rent in advance.

:T although I suspect you are wasting your time.

Oldernotwiser

DX2 wrote: »

:T although I suspect you are wasting your time.

People who've never rented privately have no idea!

DX2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

People who've never rented privately have no idea!

Best leave them to live in cuckoo land then it's all about the pound signs. This election can't come soon enough!

dktreesea

Landlords couldn't care less if you are getting WTC. It's not the same as income support, and is administered by HMRC, not the DWP. Working is working, even if you don't get enough to live on so qualify for some help with housing costs, council tax and the rest. "DSS" refers to people who are not working, not the working poor. So don't let "non DSS" deter you. You just give them your employer's name and don't mention the council or WTC at all.

I think you'll find that with three children, you are entitled to at least three bedrooms, not two. The local housing allowance (which used to be paid in full, but these days is restricted to the actual rent plus £15 a week for people who already get housing benefit and actual rent only for new claimants, so no opportunity to rent a cheaper place and pocket the difference) should reflect an allowance for three bedrooms, not two. Don't just take the council's word for it - check on the internet. Why won't the council give you a better place?

My advise would be to first reduce your hours and claim WTC. At that point you should be able to reduce the rent you pay the council. Because you are working you likely wouldn't get the full amount of housing benefit. So, once you have WTC and your award notice from the HMRC, go and ask the council exactly how much local housing allowance and council tax benefit you would be entitled to. For the latter, you should get it straight off, backdated to the date of your WTC award notice. For LHA, if they say it depends on the rent of the private property, ask them to explain exactly how this will work. For example, if you have a LHA of £900 a month and you rent a place for £700, but your income means there is a £200 a month claw back, does this mean they will pay you the full £700 a month or only £500 per month towards the actual rent. Don't take anything for granted - whatever you don't understand ask them to explain in detail.

Once you get WTC, you are entitled to free school meals if your children are in school. And also make sure you get an NHS exemption card. This means you can get things like free adult prescriptions and free dental care.

DX2

dktreesea wrote: »

Landlords couldn't care less if you are getting WTC. It's not the same as income support, and is administered by HMRC, not the DWP. Working is working, even if you don't get enough to live on so qualify for some help with housing costs, council tax and the rest. "DSS" refers to people who are not working, not the working poor. So don't let "non DSS" deter you. You just give them your employer's name and don't mention the council or WTC at all.

I think you'll find that with three children, you are entitled to at least three bedrooms, not two. The local housing allowance (which used to be paid in full, but these days is restricted to the actual rent plus £15 a week for people who already get housing benefit and actual rent only for new claimants, so no opportunity to rent a cheaper place and pocket the difference) should reflect an allowance for three bedrooms, not two. Don't just take the council's word for it - check on the internet. Why won't the council give you a better place?

My advise would be to first reduce your hours and claim WTC. At that point you should be able to reduce the rent you pay the council. Because you are working you likely wouldn't get the full amount of housing benefit. So, once you have WTC and your award notice from the HMRC, go and ask the council exactly how much local housing allowance and council tax benefit you would be entitled to. For the latter, you should get it straight off, backdated to the date of your WTC award notice. For LHA, if they say it depends on the rent of the private property, ask them to explain exactly how this will work. For example, if you have a LHA of £900 a month and you rent a place for £700, but your income means there is a £200 a month claw back, does this mean they will pay you the full £700 a month or only £500 per month towards the actual rent. Don't take anything for granted - whatever you don't understand ask them to explain in detail.

Once you get WTC, you are entitled to free school meals if your children are in school. And also make sure you get an NHS exemption card. This means you can get things like free adult prescriptions and free dental care.

OMG there are so many flaws in your post it's unbelieveable! :rotfl:

bestpud

DX2 wrote: »

OMG there are so many flaws in your post it's unbelieveable! :rotfl:

Agreed!

Ignore dktreesa's post OP, it's utter balderdash!!