unique situation. i think!!!

skaman_2

ok, my situation is as follows. as of april im a single parent (male). child is 13. im self employed and im just waiting on my tax credits being assessed. at the same time work has as good as dried up. so the question is:- can i apply for income support/job seekers and still receive tax credits for periods im not working? is there any other benefits that can be applied for while on tax credits?

thanks in advance
skaman

GlasweJen

Unless your child is disabled you wont be able to receive income support.

If you sign on for JSA you will lose your working tax credits (for JSA you need to work less than 16 hours per week, for tax credits you have to work more than 16 hours per week)

You should be able to apply for childrens tax credits, local housing allowance (if you rent) and council tax benefit if you sign on. If you stay on working tax credits you will be able to apply for these as well but your WTC will be taken into consideration.

Benefits_Bod

For "Local Housing Allowance", read "Housing Benefit".

[Deleted User]

Benefits_Bod wrote: »

For "Local Housing Allowance", read "Housing Benefit".

not quite the same things,HB is generally when renting from the social sector LHA when renting from the private sector

GlasweJen

OP never mentioned living in a council/LHA house so I assumed he rented in the private sector.

Benefits_Bod

woodbine wrote: »

not quite the same things,HB is generally when renting from the social sector LHA when renting from the private sector

Constructive response... LHA is in fact HB. LHA is not a benefit in its own right. All entitlement in LHA cases is by way of Housing Benefit. For example, the main legislation relating to LHA is contained within the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 and the snappily entitled Housing Benefit (Persons who have attained the age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006.

Further, LHA doesn't apply in every single private sector case - there are numerous exceptions courtesy of governments of all political colours retaining old schemes through transitional protection - going back to at least 1989. At the last count, there were at least 5 different sets of legislation covering HB in the private sector - but all retain the overall monika of HB. For example, there are currently three versions of some regulations relating to eligible rent for HB purposes - two versions are protected by transitional arrangements.

LHA is simply the latest mechanism through which a maximum level of rent is set for the purpose of calculating HB entitlement.

Confusingly, within both sets of the HB regulations mentioned above, there are two "flavours". "Rent Allowance", which applies to the private sector AND registered housing providers (such as HAs); and "Rent Rebate" which applies, in broad terms, to council tenants.