Would I be entitled to benefits?

Wee_Willy_Harris

viktory wrote: »

LOL, no, she was not a single parent. It was in the days before benefits made it comfortable to survive on no wage.

Oh yes... The good old days, when women could be regarded as little more than chattels due to their financial enslavement.

leebee11_2

viktory wrote: »

LOL, no, she was not a single parent. It was in the days before benefits made it comfortable to survive on no wage.

This is not rlevant to me as I have a partner and we get student finance, but from past experience, I would just like to say it is not "comfortable" living off of benefits. Yes, you can live. Just. It is no breeze. I don't agree with people living off of benefits, but it is wrong to assume that this is an easy option for the majority.

Oldernotwiser

divastrop wrote: »

My parents managed ok on my dad's wage as a shop manager, unless my mother had her rose colour specs on when telling me how it was in 'her day'...

I'm sure your family managed quite well with your father in a managerial position, unfortunately not everybody was so fortunate.

viktory

leannebarry1 wrote: »

This is not rlevant to me as I have a partner and we get student finance, but from past experience, I would just like to say it is not "comfortable" living off of benefits. Yes, you can live. Just. It is no breeze. I don't agree with people living off of benefits, but it is wrong to assume that this is an easy option for the majority.

I disagree.

[Deleted User]

leannebarry1 wrote: »

Hi,
There are some part time Access courses, not many, but they are out there. I did a part time one last year, two evenings a week. Yes it's hard, but definately doable!
In regards to Uni, as a lone parent, if your sole income would be student finance, you would be enitled to the maximum CTC (as non-taxable.) You would not pay council tax as students exempt, and you could get some help with housing benefit, but the amount would depend on the student finance you would receive. I know some people can claim income support during the academic year, but generally student finance cancels this out, and as others have said, the age of the child is changing to 7.
As a single person with a dependent you could be eligible to claim JSA for the summer though.

In regards to the social work comment previously made, no, social work cannot be done through the Open University, but you do not have to be in employment to do it as in your second and third years you complete 100 days on placement for each year (I did Access to Social Work and have just finished my first year on the Social Work degree. Yay, only 2 to go!)
Hope this helps!!!

Yes social work is available through Open University. http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/qualification/b32.htm

We have support workers and social work assistants doing this course. The employment is their placement supported by the employer.
Some are fully funded by the LA, others are part funded or funding themselves and getting student loans and of course have their wages and the knowledge they have a full time (higher paid) job at the end of the course.

divastrop

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I'm sure your family managed quite well with your father in a managerial position, unfortunately not everybody was so fortunate.

We weren't fortunate, trust me.

Viktory-how long were you on benefits? How many children do you have? I take it you have experience of living on benefits and aren't just judging those who do on what you read in the papers or see going on around you. The only people I know who have a comfortable existence on benefits are either committing fraud or dealing drugs.

leebee11_2

divastrop wrote: »

We weren't fortunate, trust me.

Viktory-how long were you on benefits? How many children do you have? I take it you have experience of living on benefits and aren't just judging those who do on what you read in the papers or see going on around you. The only people I know who have a comfortable existence on benefits are either committing fraud or dealing drugs.

So true. Okay so if on benefits, rent is generally paid for, but that is it. All other bills/food/clothes/transport etc have to come out of this. This is particularly difficult with small children when you consider electricity bills in the Winter and as children are around staying cold is not an option!
It just frustrates me. Of course we all know that there are people committing benefit fraud, however it bothers me that certain people assume that this is the case for the majority, that they have chosen this option and that it is easy.
So many are on benefits now and considering the recession, I cannot believe people still attach this stigma to it. It's benefits or don't live.

viktory

divastrop wrote: »

Viktory-how long were you on benefits? How many children do you have? I take it you have experience of living on benefits and aren't just judging those who do on what you read in the papers or see going on around you. The only people I know who have a comfortable existence on benefits are either committing fraud or dealing drugs.

Yes, I have experience of living on benefits. I have two children. I still disagree with you. However, this is not place to have a debate about it. Feel free to start a new thread in DT and I might see you over there.

TotallyBroke

CherylOB wrote: »

Hi,


At the moment I receive Child benefit and £38 child tax credit every 4 weeks.

I received child maintenance via CSA. How would that be affected?

Thanks,
Cheryl

Hi... I'm not very clued up on Tax Credits but if you are only getting £38 every 4weeks then I guess you must be earning a very good wage at the moment. If you are then I suggest for the next couple of weeks you live on what the benefits would be and save the rest of your wages up.

If you go on benefits your Ex will still pay the same but you will only get to keep £20pw I believe, the state keeps the rest to pay back what you receive in benefits.

calleyw

TotallyBroke wrote: »

If you go on benefits your Ex will still pay the same but you will only get to keep £20pw I believe, the state keeps the rest to pay back what you receive in benefits.

Umm not since april.

Any monies now paid for the childre can all be kept by the PWC.

Yours

Calley