What other benefits can I claim for?

anthony.taylor1967

Hi all, first timer here.
I have just found out that I cannot claim JSA because i am getting widowed parents allowance and because of this, the help I was getting for my mortgage has also stopped because i am not getting income support. Nobody in job centre plus seems to know anything. I do get child tax credit and child benefit but i must be able to claim something else. I have been looking for a job but really my heart isn't in it as I'm only recently widowed. I don't know what to do and I certainly don't want to lose the house. There must me other benefits i can claim for, surely. £95 p/w is not a lot if you you can't find work and having to look after a child and house. If anybody can shed some light on this , it would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance - Tony

KeaneFan10

First off alll i am sorry about your loss
I have had a look at the DWP website and what i can gather is WPA is
How much do you get?

£97.65 a week is the maximum basic allowance of Widowed Parent’s Allowance. There may be an entitlement to additional pension.


Take in to account child benefit and child tax credits i am not really sure if there is anything else as they say there is a set amount the law states you need to live on, could you not talk to your mortgage provider or CAB about the mortgage ?

anthony.taylor1967

Thank you for you answer, to add a little more, I was originally claiming income support and carers allowance, which over the months the income support increased to a joint figure of around £95 and I was getting child tax credit and child benefit and they were paying the interest on my mortgage and Further Advance. But now I have lost the IS and CA and I am claiming Widowed parents Allowance, I am worse of, surely this isn't right. I am aware that if i find a job i will still get the Widowed Allowance and be quids in but it doesn't seem right to be worse off.
I am at a complete loss.

nannytone_2

it all seems so wrong. if youre in financial jeopardy through no fault of your own then youre penalised. but if in some way you can 'massage' your income they literally fall over themselves to give you more!
you have my honest sympathy

Witter

Hi, so sorry for your loss i'm sure you should be able to claim jobseekers as a couple or income support if your single with a child under 11 yrs. Did they stop your income support when this benifit started??

anthony.taylor1967

Yep your right, I'll just have to make do and try not to lose the house.

Thanks for your help.

anthony.taylor1967

Yes they did. Apparently i can only claim the latger of the two, which is widowed allowance, but later this afternoon i phoend the bereavment department and they said i can claim both but the £65 that i will get for JSA will come of the widowed parents allowance,but I'm thinking that way, if I can't find a job, I will get NI paid and get help with my mortgage. It's a tough one, as I feel too emotional at the moment to get a job. I have been looking on jobsites but there doesn't seem to be anything about.