need help with housing benefit

stevie1983

Hello i know this probably isnt the right section but me and my girlfriend have a four month son and my girlfriend has just gone on to stat maternity pay and doesnt go back to work to october and we pay a private landlord 525 a month for rent. This will take up a big chuck of of income and make it almost impossible for us to live. I just been on the housing exec website for the calculator and it says we are not eligible for the benefit as it has worked at the anual but we only need to claim it for a couple of months. Is there any way past this or will they only take account of what we would have been bringing home anually before the maternity pay started? If so how is anyone going through this supposed tyo survive. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

McKneff

Hello there, and welcome to the boards.

You really need to give lots more information ie incomings and outgoings.
Someone will be along to give you a link to an SOA (statement of affairs)
Everything depends on household income.
Dont worry, you will get loads of help on here.

LE3

It will only take into account the annual income - the "system", along with the taxpayers that fund it, would expect you to have made provision when you were earning for the known period of lower pay (going onto smp is not exactly an overnight change of circumstances!) - is there a reason why you didn't save like crazy as soon as she knew she was pregnant?
Could she go back to work earlier than October?

caz2703

LE3 wrote: »

It will only take into account the annual income - the "system", along with the taxpayers that fund it, would expect you to have made provision when you were earning for the known period of lower pay (going onto smp is not exactly an overnight change of circumstances!) - is there a reason why you didn't save like crazy as soon as she knew she was pregnant?
Could she go back to work earlier than October?

I agree with the above. The system isn't there to prop people up for a couple of months when it's been you or your partners decision to give up work temporarily. I got 4 months full pay (yes I know, very lucky) then SMP for 5 months but I've been living off my savings for quite a while now. I wouldn't expect the tax payer to chip in when it was my decision to have a baby and to take so long off work. I'm just grateful I will have a job to go back to.

leftieM

You are not entitled to housing benefit. You our dip in income will count towards tax credits though so you should get more of those.