decision time work or benefits

loopy_lass

ok, this is where im at, and im confused. My DD is 16 next year so benefits will stop for her, im a single parent with M.E. Although i get very tired I beleive the less you do the less you can do (i know ... am i kidding myself here) but i really want to get back to work if i can.

But, the job i can get is paying £130 per week @ 21.5 hrs, now the DHSS & housing say i can get help until DD is 16 then i have to live on the £130, well the rent & CT take up £96 of that, so how can i live on £33 and pay the bills etx.

Alternatively i stay on IS due to health reasons, and never progress, if i take the job & cant manage presumably i can go back onto IS due to health reasons.

Ive phoned DHSS up & Rent office 3 times and got three stories... do i jump or do i stay? the online benefit thingys keep giving me different amounts to people at DHSS, i dont know which one is right...

any ideas?

loops

loops

jobbingmusician

Have you had a play on https://www.entitledto.com?

Surely if you are on £130, you'll be entitled to some help with council tax, at least?

Would it be worth cutting down to 16 hours or just below (I have the idea you are entitled to more benefits then)

not an expert, just some suggestions....:o

Mrs_B_12

Is your DS going to work? If she stays in school you will keep getting benefits for her while she is in full time education. If she's going to be working is she going to be at home still? I guess you'd be looking at her paying towards the rent and council tax and if you did claim benefits for them then her income would have to be taken into account if she's a working adult in the house I think.

loopy_lass

yes she is going to be working, an apprenticeship at the princely sum of £85 per week, apparently i would be entitled to .92 council tax help & £8 rent.

great isnt it!!!

loops

Mrs_B_12

Maddening isn't it when you try to help yourself and you're not better off. I'd say the previous suggestion of 16 hours or less is definately worth looking into.

loopy_lass

mmm ill look into it but dont hold out much hope... flippin hell..... sorry but im soo flippin mad... ive got M.E., agraphobia & im still trying to get out there and get over it as scarey as it all seems and there is little incentive...


GGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr ahhhhhhhhhhhggggggggggggggg

loops

Ames

Be very, very careful, they say that you can try work and get back into benefits easily but in practice I've heard horror stories about it. Maybe you could try voluntary work first to see if you can manage working with the ME? That way you're not risking your benefits.

Try getting in touch with CAB, DIAL or someone like that for proper advice before going for it. And as previously suggested, entitled to is great, on a low income you'd be entitled to help, possibly tax credits (although it's not something I know anything about).

loopy_lass

gosh, thats all i need, a struggle getting back onto benefits if it didnt work out, that would do my reactive depression a world of good... NOT.. to be honest, all this going round in my mind is bringing me down.

If i go for it and fail = failure
if i dont go for it = failure

GAWDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

loops

Ames

Or, there's go for it and succeed!

If you get in touch with one of the disability organisations they might be able to put you contact with somewhere that gets you into work without the risk to your benefits? I know there's a scheme here in Leeds, it's like a training thing to get you into whatever area it is you want, and your benefits are totally protected while you're on it.

Mrs_B_12

If you have long term health problems do you qualify for DLA?

loopy_lass

Mrs_B wrote:

If you have long term health problems do you qualify for DLA?

apparently not, ive been turned down twice once at an appeal with representation from dissability action.

loops