Please help - urgent benefit advice required

ali5_2

Hi

Hope this doesnt turn into a long rambling request but am worried sick at the moment and hoping someone can kindly answer some of my queries ssoo .....

I am 46 years old and advised on Friday that I am about to be made redundant. Am hoping to find another job asap (arent we all !!) but in case this takes time I need to try and find out what benefits I will be entitled to or may lose !!

My Hubbie is self employed and earns approx £18k pa. We receive Child Tax Credit and my daughter aged 13 is disabled and we receive DLA (middle rate). Will we -

have a reduction in our Child Tax Credit money because I am not working 16 hours or does the fact that the OH still work 40+ hours per week still qualify us?

If I apply for job seekers allowance will I also be able to apply for Carers Allowance?

Any help would be really appreciated as I am starting to panic already and this is just the beginning !!

thank you

Ali x

DX2

ali5 wrote: »

If I apply for job seekers allowance will I also be able to apply for Carers Allowance?
Ali x

No IIRC it's one or the other.

alwaysonthego_2

You will not have a reduction in your CTC because it does not go on how many hors worked, just income and how many children.

You would only be able to claim CBJSA if you have paid enough NI conts in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

You can only claim it for 6 months.

As DX2 has said CA and CBJSA are overlapping benefits

[Deleted User]

claim CBJSA for the 6 months(if you qualify)then swap to CA

Oldernotwiser

woodbine wrote: »

claim CBJSA for the 6 months(if you qualify)then swap to CA

Might be better to hope that the OP gets another job within the 6 months!

[Deleted User]

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Might be better to hope that the OP gets another job within the 6 months!

In a perfect world of course it would BUT this is great(lol)britain in 2010 with a govt determined to slash and burn its way thru the economy

Oldernotwiser

woodbine wrote: »

In a perfect world of course it would BUT this is great(lol)britain in 2010 with a govt determined to slash and burn its way thru the economy

Still no reason just to assume that someone will be unemployed for more than six months.

Newly_retired

Locally to me there are over 8400 unemployed and around 240 jobs advertised. Draw your own conclusions.

ali5_2

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice.

Oldernotwiser - I am hoping to get another job - like the day after I have to leave my current job but, as stated, with the amount of people losing their jobs in my area, I am a little concerned. I've never claimed unemployment benefits, not sure how the system works, and with a child at home with disabilities I could, but refuse, to sit on my ar*e and claim a load of benefits for my remaining days. !!!

Ali x

Oldernotwiser

ali5 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice.

Oldernotwiser - I am hoping to get another job - like the day after I have to leave my current job but, as stated, with the amount of people losing their jobs in my area, I am a little concerned. I've never claimed unemployment benefits, not sure how the system works, and with a child at home with disabilities I could, but refuse, to sit on my ar*e and claim a load of benefits for my remaining days. !!!

Ali x

I'm sorry if you assumed I was having a pop at you, which I certainly wasn't. My comment was to another poster who seemed to be assuming that getting another job would be a long process; an assumption I didn't find helpful.

Good luck.