Benefit help please

daftdad

I am unemployed and my entitlement ended on 16 April to contribution based JSA. My wife earns £11,000 and we have 3 children. Apart from child benefit we receive approx £10 per week in CTC (I have updated them with figures for this current tax year and i am awaiting to hear from them)

I am actively seeking work (im not a lazy so and so) and have paid all my taxes etc for the last 25 years!

Can anybody tell me whether it is worth putting a claim in for income support or any other benefit?

When I attended the Jobcentre today, the advisor said it was worth making a claim for mortgage interest benefit even if I received only a penny! Is he right or am I just wasting my time (i admit at present ive got alot to waste)

If it is worth applying, can i do it on-line?

Many thanks for any help you can give me.

NASA_2

Absolutely no point in claiming Income Support that I can see as you dont seem to have a qualifying condition. ESA(IR) is only for people who are sick and that doesnt fit your circumstances either.

I really dont see that there is any hope for help with mortgage interest. If your partner receives £11,000 she must be working full-time and that would extinguish entitlement to any income related benefit.

sleepless_saver

In your situation, you'd need to be getting income based jobseekers allowance to be able to get help with mortgage interest.

Nothing to stop you applying for that, they can only say no.

If your wife does 16 hours a week or more, could she apply for working tax credit? Might be worth applying for council tax benefit too.

daftdad

Thanks for your reply.

Despite paying all my taxes etc for 25 years it seems that there is no further support for me.

It's strange that I would qualify for housing benefit in the region of £450 per month but cannot claim a payment in the region of £150 towards my mortgage.

I am starting to learn that the benefits system is not the 'safety net' that I was led to believe it was for the last few decades.

And before anyone carps on, my tax and national insurance contributions in my last 2 months of employment more than paid for any benefit I received between October and April.

I am getting a little depressed with looking and applying for jobs everyday only to get nowhere. I honestly thought the jobcentre could help but Ive only been out of work for 6 months and it appears that the next 'magic' stage to get help is when I've been out of work 12 months.

If anyone is thinking about coming to Birmingham looking for work I have two words of advice - FORGET IT

Sorry for the rant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mum2twins98

If your wife works more than 16hrs you wont be able to claim income support i would try try and claim JSA while you are looking for work

karenx

He has claimed JSA but its now ran out and doesnt qualify for the next stage as his partner works.
Unfortunatly thats the rules, its the same for everybody so its not like they are singleing you out!

daftdad

karenx wrote: »

He has claimed JSA but its now ran out and doesnt qualify for the next stage as his partner works.
Unfortunatly thats the rules, its the same for everybody so its not like they are singleing you out!

I know that they are not singleing me out. It just seems that there is no help out there for someone like myself in this position

Kimitatsu

HAve you checked on www.entitledto.co.uk to see what you are able to claim?

Once you are armed with that informationn you should be able access further help.

daftdad

As I thought - nothing!

Jowo_2

Have a look at the Shelter website to understand government help for struggling homeowners.

Have a vent on the following thread which is critical about how some workless households can comfortably raise their families on state support for years whereas someone who has worked hard can struggle if they are made redundant and get the same or less back in benefits.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2411655

Tehya

Hello,

As someone as already mentioned on the thread you will probably be entitled to some Working Tax credits. With a wage of £11K a year and three children that would be classed as a low income, though are the children all dependents or are they grown up but still living at home?

If you are entitled to WTC you will get a NHS Exemption Certificate, this will help with dental and eye care and also free prescription, they send you a little credit card sized card to show when you need it. Also you may get a little help towards your council tax bill, school uniforms etc.

Tehya