Just had baby and got back with ex, worried about benefits

V_Debt

well Ive just got back together with my ex girlfriend, she just had our baby, we've spoken and decided to give it another shot.

my worry is that firstly, Im not sure how the benefits work and secondly, that they'll take a long time to process the claims and that we'll be left with no money until they do.

I currently live on my own and receive income support and LHA/housing benefit.

From what I understand, if my girlfriend moves in, Ill have to inform income support who will then stop my payments. Ill then have to tell the council and make a claim as a couple for tax credits, child benefit and LHA/housing benefit.

So my housing benefit payments will stop until theyve sorted out the joint claim, they wont be able to process the claim until they know our income, which we wont know until we've registered the baby and been told if we're going to receive any tax credits.

Its more complicated than that but thats the main part, Im thinking by the time the baby is registered and we've got the birth certificate, that will take maybe a week and a half, then apply for tax credits, say 4 weeks for that to come through, that would mean that it wont be sorted out by when my next HB payment would be due, meaning we wont be able to pay the rent or have any money to live on for over a month as my income support payments will have stopped.

Does anyone know if the council can assess a claim based on our income now or they would indeed have to wait to see if we're going to get any tax credits etc?

My last thread got closed due to people making silly judgmental comments, very silly as they dont know the first thing about me but some people have just got a chip on their shoulder and feel the need to want to waste their time posting replies on peoples posts with no constructive advice.

Anyway, rant over. Please only post on this thread if you can help.

Thanks

dmg24

Hi V Debt, sorry your thread got closed last night, hopefully certain people will not be about tonight.

Your LA can assess your claim now - they can either estimate base it on how much CTC you will be entitled to, and they can base it on no CTC, however this will mean an overpayment later.

How much does your partner earn? You may be entitled to WTC also.

V_Debt

thanks for the reply mate, very helpful

thats what I wanted to hear, one question though.. are you sure>

my girlfriend usually earns around £800 before deductions, she's just started getting 90% of her pay as of 2 weeks ago for 3 months, then shes going onto maternity pay, I think its £124ish a week.

jonty1970

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! X X X

Re the benefits, I'm not sure how long it will take, but tell people you are worried about having no money when you ring up and that you have no savings. And then ring back and make sure you get the same advice from the next person.
I have been messed about this week and told different things by different people at the jobcentre and I am stuck now with no money till Friday. Luck that I have a family to len me a few quid to tide me over. GRRR!

Anyway, I had a quick read of the other thread. Do these worlking people get a kick out of coming on forums for benefit claimants and having a go at them for not working?
I do understand that some people won't work, but there are many out there who want to work, but can't and could they please tell me where the jobs are?
It's very difficult for some people to get work, as you feel you are on the scrap heap and the jobcentre, in my opinion and experiance, don't do enough to help.

Good luck OP and ignore the others who have no business to be on this part of the site

sunnyone

read his old posts about what benefits they are entitled too as a couple!!!!!!!!!!!!

before you believe his last thread or this.

V_Debt

oh look, its someone else that cant understand plain english.

either that or you may have missed this part in my original post..

Please only post on this thread if you can help.

Go find someone elses thread to waste your time on please.

Thanks

V_Debt

jonty1970 wrote: »

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! X X X

Thanks mate

Looks like they just cant help themselves lol. Looks like this thread will get closed aswell, do the mods on here not give people warnings for breaking the rules then?

sunnyone

V_Debt wrote: »

oh look, its someone else that cant understand plain english.

either that or you may have missed this part in my original post..

Please only post on this thread if you can help.

Go find someone elses thread to waste your time on please.

Thanks

This is a forum and anyone can post here, even you are allowed!

V_Debt

yes, but people that go out of their way to post unhelpful replies, especially when the thread starter has requested politely that people dont post unless they can help should not be allowed to or at least be given a warning.

I just find it very sad that people have got nothing better to do with their time and actually choose to spend it typing crap on peoples threads, why dont you go and actually help someone, spend your time doing that instead of posting inconstructive comments on my or anyone elses threads. It may sound like an odd theory to someone like you but there you go.