5 minute benefit check up Article Discussion Area

rialto2296

I worked with five other people doing a manual job so not a great wage, and we were all on the same wage, i saved my money and invested it and bought my own house, the other five all spent there money on drink gambling and generally just wasted it, which was there choice but now we are all retired i am the only one who receives nothing from the government. So now i am penalized for saving which i think stinks.

foolishsaver

Redundant and on a low family income I tried to see if there were any benefits available, using the MSE recommended "entitledto.co.uk". It seems I'm not entitled to anything as I have too much income from my savings. Apparently the site says the Govt works out that I receive £1 per week for every £250 savings in my Building Society. Well I make that 20.8% p.a. So sorry Martin Lewis but your best rates section hovering at just over 3% is just nowhere. Can anyone explain where to get this Govt rate as I might even be able to afford to give up looking for work if I can find it?!!

alwaysonthego_2

foolishsaver wrote: »

Redundant and on a low family income I tried to see if there were any benefits available, using the MSE recommended "entitledto.co.uk". It seems I'm not entitled to anything as I have too much income from my savings. Apparently the site says the Govt works out that I receive £1 per week for every £250 savings in my Building Society. Well I make that 20.8% p.a. So sorry Martin Lewis but your best rates section hovering at just over 3% is just nowhere. Can anyone explain where to get this Govt rate as I might even be able to afford to give up work if I can find it?!!

How much savings do you have?

You can not espect to recieve income based benefits if you have substantial savings! Anything over £16000 means you do not qualify. The deductions that you talk about are not interest based but a penalty.

johng36

I am 59 years old and claiming job seekers allowance , i will be 60 in 5 months time , i have been told that i do not have to sign on for 4 months before my 60th birthday and still get jsa can anyone confirm this please thanx

alwaysonthego_2

johng36 wrote: »

I am 59 years old and claiming job seekers allowance , i will be 60 in 5 months time , i have been told that i do not have to sign on for 4 months before my 60th birthday and still get jsa can anyone confirm this please thanx

Who told you this, because I have never heard of this.

You could be better off claiming pension credits when you reach 60 but this is dependent on income and savings.

johng36

thanks for your input greatly appreciated

Jessica_Rabbit1

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for the 5 min benefit check. I was browsing the site a month ago when I saw this and decided to do it just for the sake of it. I found out that I was entitled to Carers Allowance which I hadn't realised and 3 weeks later it was applied for, accepted and being transferred weekly into my bank account.

Can't recommend this enough, or thank the MSEs for creating.

Another top job

NB just a note, as my previous property I had a look at the grant grabbing section on this site and it turned out that I was entitled to free loft and cavity wall insulation as well as fire alarms. I had no idea!!! We would have been entitled to it at our new house too but it already has the insulation. Definitely worth a look as I didn't think at the time with both myself and my husband working in quite well paid jobs that we'd be entitled to anything. Just goes to show.

Good luck all in applying xx

tawecdl

I am a mature student and am starting my 3 year university course in a few weeks. I have been accepted for a tuition fee loan and maintenance grant and maintenance loan. This will leave me with £6,800 to live on throughout the year.

I have a mortgage on a 50% shared property with a local housing association and also have an £8,000 loan which I used to buy my ex wife out of my home when we seperated.

My outgoings per month are as follows

Mortgage - £180
Rent - £150
Loan - £160
gas, elec, water - £65
Mobile phone - £35
Internet (Sky)- £26
TV Licence - £28
Car insurance - £35
Home Insurance - £11

Monthly outgoings = £690
Annual outgoings = £8280

Additional to this is my living costs such as food, petrol, car tax and social money. I also have to commute from wolverhampton to stoke which is either an hours drive in my car or an hour on the train. They would both cost around £40 per week which would be a further £160 a month.

Does anybody know if there are any other means of support out there that I could apply for.

Of course I am prepared to work but even then I will struggle. The three year struggle will be worth it in the end.

Thanks in advance guys

dmg24

tawecdl,

Best to start a new thread, people don't really check this one.

Assuming you do not have children or a disabled partner, you will not be entitled to benefits. Therefore you would be best to post on the Students board, to check your loan/ grant entitlement.

Ouchtheygotme

Thank you so much for the 5 minute guide it is great!

My question if ok with you is I am a UK citizen no USA green card aged 63 currently on extended holiday at my USA friends expense I have had to sell my UK home and have a small income from £3000 savings ( pennies)

Can I claim pension credit from here ( cannot afford airfare home)?