Please can somebody help re benefits entitlement?

Rain_is_Insane

Mollycat13 wrote: »

It might be worth checking what income figure tax credits are using. If they are using 2009/10 (which they normally would do) this would include your wages for that year.

I would suggest asking them to base it on an estimated figure for 2010/11, but overestimate and make sure you update when you find work. Your JSA figure would need to be included as it is taxable if contribution based.

This might bring in a bit more WTC.
I haven't run any figure through entitledto though.

Done all that Molly, gave them my p60 figures for 09/10 (which was 1460.17 of contribution based JSA from Nov to April, we lived on my savings for the rest of the time) and OH's which hasn't changed in 2 years, so it can't be far wrong. If i can get a few quid help towards the rent it will all be fine.

Estimated figures for 10/11 at this moment are just going to be OH's wage and nothing for me but still comes out at £21 a week according to them.

As soon as i find work it will ease the burden a bit and hopefully won't have to claim anything or rely on anyone else. At the moment we'll keep living on the breadline...as long as we have bread we have toast

We're gonna look for a smaller (cheaper) place once my son has done his phase one training and decided he can handle it and wants to stay on.

headcrash27

We have a 3 year old and neither of us are disabled. Rent is £450 a month. Council tax £114 a month. I tried inputting the figures for this year 2010/11 and i tried it a few times but it just kept coming out with the same figures. I know when i rang the Housing Benefit Office last time we applied they wouldn't tell me over the phone if we were eligible, they just insisted that we would need to put in a claim and see. I guess i was hoping someone else might be in a similar earnings position and able to tell me if they receive any housing benefit, or if the figures seem realistic.

headcrash27

Sorry to hear about your situation Rain, have you thought about applying for a crisis loan? Maybe that could help see you through until your housing benefit claim is sorted out.

Rain_is_Insane

headcrash27 wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your situation Rain, have you thought about applying for a crisis loan? Maybe that could help see you through until your housing benefit claim is sorted out.

I've managed this long hun, i'll try a bit longer before i go down that route. It's only when the heating has to go on i'll start to struggle major time.

Luckily the nice old ladies on my OH's round seem to keep him supplied with an endless supply of bacon butties and cups of tea so that see's him through till tea time..lol

But thank you for the advice x

headcrash27

Just found a goverment calculator and imput the figures onto that one. It came out with £55.44 tax credits, Housing benefit £34.57, Council tax 31p! So total £90.32 which does sound a bit more realistic but i just don't know what to believe now!

Indie_Kid

The only way is to apply and see what you get.

headcrash27

sh1305 wrote: »

The only way is to apply and see what you get.

But that's a hell of risk for us as if he does swap shifts and take a pay cut he won't be allowed to to go back to his old earnings if it turns out we get naff all. I really don't just want to dive into the deep end unknown as it were without weighing up what is going to be best for us.

Rain_is_Insane

headcrash27 wrote: »

Just found a goverment calculator and imput the figures onto that one. It came out with £55.44 tax credits, Housing benefit £34.57, Council tax 31p! So total £90.32 which does sound a bit more realistic but i just don't know what to believe now!

Make sure you take into account the LHA top line for your type of property in your area and the amount of people living there and not just the landlords rent.