Anyone claim i.s as a couple?

shelldanielle

Hey, Im a carer and claim income support and then when my partner moved in we re-applied as a couple and are both on income support.
I know when I was single I could earn £20 without it effecting my benefits does it go up as a couple?? We are in debt and at the moment we wouldnt benefit from working I was told when I worked a part time job for mcdonalds but i didnt so i dont trust them now.
I have many of catologes that most of our money goes out to but in august im due to get some money so i can pay at least 2 debts off but whilst were not working I want to earn £20 a week to pay other debts off quicker so we can at least see some light at the end of the tunnel.

dmg24

How much money are you due to receive in August? What is the source of this income? It may be that you need to declare this money to the JCP.

missmontana

Did you know if you have debt and are on income support you can offer them a token payment of as little as £1 per month?
Have you been to the citizens advice to ask if they can help? They will do a list of incomings and outgoings.
Priority debts like gas or electric will come first, but catalogues aren't a priority.

shelldanielle

the money I get in august is money what mum saved up for me as a child and should be about 2grand do i need to declare it if its going out straight away on debts its not like im gonna spend any.

No didnt know that I havent spoke to citezens advice yet For freemans and next they have let me pay a small amount for a few months whilst Littlewoods are demanding nearly full payment and wont set anything up and thats about £120 a month i have missed two months now and third one will be due soon.

I have a disabled son so thats why i get carers type income support I even explained to littlewoods that i couldnt afford food shopping if i paid them and they didnt care so I bought food and didnt pay them we hadnt done a full shop for ages and were running out of everything so i thought sod them they should understand we are making the food go further and hope it will last a few weeks!!

Oldernotwiser

shelldanielle wrote: »

No didnt know that I havent spoke to citezens advice yet For freemans and next they have let me pay a small amount for a few months whilst Littlewoods are demanding nearly full payment and wont set anything up and thats about £120 a month i have missed two months now and third one will be due soon.

!

120.00 per month for how long?

hopethishelps

hi,
a joint claim still only allows about £20 per week earnings. do you get DLA for your son? if so you need to inform tax credits and it may entitle you to a bit extra. there is also a income support "top up" for carers, and also carers allowance. Carers allowance is about £50 per week and this would lower your income support, but then they add the carers "top up" back on, so you would still be about £30 a week better off and they pay your NI.

missmontana

Go to the CAB as soon as possible, there is no way you should be worrying about shopping just to pay the catalogues.

shelldanielle

I already get dla and carers allowance and my income support is carers amount.

We have a whole lot of money coming in with the benefits but a whole lot more going out, my bf has debts he pays and also a flat up for sale so were still paying a mortgage and secure loan payment.
When my partner moved in he had a buyer for the flat and we thought it was all going well till it fell through me and my son couldnt move to his flat because it was first floor and unadaptable.

If i didnt have to worry about my catalogues we would be ok but i do want to pay them off as quick as i can but i dont want to be in a possition again when i cant afford to get food shopping.

Littlewoods offered to let me pay £120 they didnt say for how long but if it goes back to normal monthly payment its £147 pm so they didnt offer to help us much.

I know that in august i can pay it off in full so if i can hold them off till then but im worried about debt collection agencys coming round.
I will try and make an appointment for citezens adivce for monday.

shelldanielle

and i owe littlewoods about £980

karenx

I hope you 2 arent claiming housing benefit for the place you are in now as your partner has a house already

shelldanielle

yes we are claiming housing benefit and housing knows everything I had to send proof of the house being on the market and they told me to let them know when its sold