5 minute benefit check up Article Discussion Area

willis999

Peter-Pan wrote: »

well I did it we get nothing I am 61 my wife is 58 not working,I am on higher

rate IB £223 fortnightly

we pay full council tax and full rent to the council,we have

savings over £16,000.this means testing is not fair,or is there a way round

it,putting our money under the mattress?!

trydonating your savings to a charity, like your famaily.
then your saving willl be £0.00, then you should be able to claim full benifits

jabdc5

The benefits check didn't work for me. It said I was entitled to £38.53 PW jsa and £4.13 pw council tax relief. I went to the benefits office gave them exactly the same figures I used on the form and was told I'm entitled to nothing.
My wife and I live on £169 pw pension (although I'm only 58). It is our only income but the benefits people told me it was too much , unfortunately as part of my divorce I have to give my ex-wife half of my pension but they won't take that into account.

clayton1

can anyone tell me if a small private pension of my husbands will be taken into account when getting pension credit as a couple,
thanks jeannie

caz1965

Initial Tax Credit : £81.13
Income Support/JSA :£59.15
Council Tax Benefit:£25.00
Housing Benefit :£81.00
Total means-tested entitlements £246.28
Earned Income (net): £0.00 £0.00
Income From Child Benefit: £30.20
Total Income: £276.48

Hello, can someone please explain this for me?
I have to ring up tomorrow, to claim benefits, because my marriage has broken down.
This is what comes up, for me (not worrking) and 2 children.
Do I have to pay my rent and council tax, out of this money?
and will they DSS pay it direct to the council and housing association?
Thanks, very scary after being a kept housewife for years!

caz1965

And can someone please tell me, if they know, how much of this amount is for each child? They are 10 and 13.

callumkirsty

MSE_Archna wrote: »

This thread is specifically to discuss the content of the

5 minute benefit check up Article

To discuss or ask a question about the article: click reply

Cud you tell me if my husband was entitled to any extra money if i came off sick pay from my employer as am looking 2take a career break for 2years 2mind my kids. At the min i am on ssp from my employer and my husband is in full time employment. We have just recently got back 2gether and i was claiming tax credits as a single parent.

Yogibear

I am sick with worry over this can anybody help me,I am on low rate care DLA and low rate Mobility, long term IB a private pension of £300 monthly,spouse on £92 pounds a month private pension cant work as she is going in for a major operation on her bowel I am 62 and she is 59 we cant get pension credit due to the means testing what is the guarantee part of pension credit as our income is less than the £181.70 weekly can we get this we pay rent and council tax,any help would be appreciated.what can my spouse claim for we both worked since we were 15,no kids.


## just done the calculator entitled to sweet eff all,next door neighbours hasnt worked in their lives getting everything going,has all home comforts car, Sky, holidays abroad,us we cant afford it.bitter. YES!!!!!!!!
YB

Yogibear

thanks for all the replies,NOT.

ampersand

Yogibear wrote: »

thanks for all the replies,NOT.

###
People may simply not be replying because they don't know, apart from which I'm sure most, even if involved in this work, would ask you to have a thorough CAB Benefits check, to be fully up to date. I know that appointments can be made for you at home, if you can't get to them - why not try?

david13

Thank you, Martin!

I am now receiving Working Tax Credit! I had always assumed that this was only for families with children. All I heard about was the crass ineptitude of the tax credits system, with impoverished families being asked to pay back thousands through no fault of their own.

I have worked hard all my life, in some years paying higher rate Income Tax.
I have always strived to be self-sufficient, and reluctant to claim any benefits.

Two years ago, with the local Jobcentre having a laissez-faire attitude and coming up with zippo (I am in my late 50s), I decided to try something new, self-employed, but with no regular income. When I signed off from JSA, NO mention was made by the Jobcentre of WTC - GROSS incompetence, as I have now lost out on several thousand pounds of benefit because I was not psychic enough to apply at the time!

I have not yet earned enough to pay any Income Tax, and only recently found out from this article that I might be eligible for WTC. The first payment has just come through, based on last year's tax return, with no supplementary questions raised after my application form was filed.

For those who wonder, yes, I do claim Council Tax "Benefit", but I have never considered that a real "Benefit" because CT is a grossly unfair tax, not related to ability to pay, except in extremis. A Benefit, to my mind, is something that is paid OUT, whereas CTB is something that is not paid IN, akin to utilising one's personal income tax-free allowance. OK, it is beneficial to my overall financial position.