Advice on coming off benefits (might be starting a new job).

brumboi

Hi all,

I hope you don't mind but I need some help / advice from those who have been in a similar situation and will be able to advise me on the best course of action. I'm going to go to the Citizen's Advice Bureau next week too.

Okay, to keep it simple and to the point:-

Made redundant in May 2010
Used my redundancy money and all my savings before going on benefits.
Signed on to JSA and Housing Benefit in September 2010
Completely ran out of money and so had to sign on to social help, which was JSA and Housing Benefit.
I've been on benefits since September and on Tuesday it will be 6 weeks I've been on state help.

My dilema at the moment is I have potentially found two jobs (both at final interview stage and they are both extremely keen so it's almost safe to say I will receive two offers, and going to seek advice on this assumption):-

Job One
£20,000 per annum
Temporary position (6 - 9 month contract although at interview discussed that this is just temporary at the moment and role may be made permanent so not too worried about the temporary side of it if I'm honest)
21.7 miles away from home (£136 per month in travel).

Job Two
£24-28,000 per annum
Permanent position
104 miles away from home (£512 per month in travel).


I'm 22 years old (just turned) and whilst I understand job one will leave me with more net earnings, job two is extremely valuable to my career as it's more senior and credible on my CV, and can definately see myself long term within the company.

My problem is that I'm completely confused on how to go about getting these jobs if I receive offers for them, as I have no savings anymore because I tried to support myself (rather than go on benefits) and it's took a little longer than expected to find work.

I don't know how I'll fund either jobs travel wise and I will need help getting to them at first before I'm paid when I'll obviously be okay to pay the travel.

Please can someone help me on:
Extended housing benefit
I've read that I may be eligible for extended housing benefit (up to 4 weeks), so this might solve the problem of paying rent.

Income tax rebate
The JSA book says when stopping my claim, I return my booklet so they can send me "any outstanding Jobseeker's llowance and tax refund you may be entitled to, and your P45". The Direct.gov.uk website says they refund your tax (assuming this means rebate) either end of tax year OR when I come off JSA (whichever is sooner).

I was made redundant in May (tax year starts April). This tax year I was paid £5,625.08 in gross pay, paid £909.00 in income tax and £514.14 in national insurance).

I still haven't been paid my tax rebate for 2008/09 which I've calculated is £639.25 (at least).

So my question re: Income Tax rebate is, will I get my £909 income tax back and my 08/09 rebate too (total of both is £1,548.25) when I stop claiming as that would mean I can afford to take these jobs and pay for my travel to these jobs before I'm paid.

When would this all be paid?

Princes Trust Grant
The PTG website says they provide grants to those going back into work to help them with travel costs etc of getting into work, so I am citing this as a possible solution too.

A grant of up to £500 (the average amount given is £175) to pay for travel costs to a work placement, training course or job

How quickly is this paid if I am awarded it?

My final interviews are Tuesday and Thursday next week and I am worried they'll ask me to start on the Monday (8th November).

I don't think I'll get a Job Grant because I wasn't claiming benefits for 6 months (even though I've been out of work 6 months because I didn't want to go on benefits until I needed to).

I'm really scared I won't be able to get to these jobs if I'm given an offer! What happens? Will I be able to get anything else that is out there so I can start these jobs?

I'm a little annoyed I haven't been able to find a job sooner or started claiming benefits sooner as if I'd have known this would happen would have still had a pot of money I saved up myself so I wouldn't need this help.

About me
* 22 years old (just turned)
* Live in Birmingham
* No family (was in state care from 12 years old) so don't have access to 'family' money, etc.

DX2

brumboi wrote: »

Please can someone help me on:
Extended housing benefit
I've read that I may be eligible for extended housing benefit (up to 4 weeks), so this might solve the problem of paying rent.

Help with housing costs

If you were getting help with your housing costs while you were out of work, you may carry on getting this. This is if you have claimed income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support for at least 26 weeks continuously before starting work. You may then continue to get the following benefits for up to four weeks:

E2A: most back to work benefits are for people who have been unemployed for six months or longer. As you have only been on benefits for six weeks I doubt there will be anything available to you.

brumboi

DX2 wrote: »

Help with housing costs

If you were getting help with your housing costs while you were out of work, you may carry on getting this. This is if you have claimed income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support for at least 26 weeks continuously before starting work. You may then continue to get the following benefits for up to four weeks:

I know, that's a bit of a grey area but I'm relying on a special circumstances with my local council (considering I saved them from paying housing benefit for 5 months, I'm sure common sense they'll help me with one extra month). It's done on a case by case basis so I should be okay.

It's more the income tax rebate question I need help with, and possibly crisis loans too.

DX2 wrote: »

E2A: most back to work benefits are for people who have been unemployed for six months or longer. As you have only been on benefits for six weeks I doubt there will be anything available to you.

I know, I won't get a job grant (the £100 thing) or the continued payment of JSA or whatever it's called.
The extended housing benefit will be something I'll take up with my council.

It's bizarre, if I'd claimed when I could have done I'd be entitled to more, weird but hey.

DX2

brumboi wrote: »

I know, that's a bit of a grey area but I'm relying on a special circumstances with my local council (considering I saved them from paying housing benefit for 5 months, I'm sure common sense they'll help me with one extra month). It's done on a case by case basis so I should be okay.

Really?
That's a first.

brumboi

DX2 wrote: »

Really?
That's a first.

Don't scare me haha! I should be okay when I say I've been out of work since early May and try and explain I need the help with my rent obviously.

DX2

brumboi wrote: »

Don't scare me haha! I should be okay when I say I've been out of work since early May and try and explain I need the help with my rent obviously.

Not trying to scare you! Black and white is what the DWP/HB work within not grey.

dmg24

DX2 wrote: »

Not trying to scare you! Black and white is what the DWP/HB work within not grey.

I agree completely, HBRO is not decided on a case by case basis, it is awarded according to the relevant Regs.

brumboi

dmg24 wrote: »

I agree completely, HBRO is not decided on a case by case basis, it is awarded according to the relevant Regs.

Btw appreciate all your replies but don't want to dwell on extending housing benefit, that's not what I need the main help with

Birmingham City Council say the Extended HB is paid on a case by case basis so I'm not dwelling on that yet, will jump that hurdle when I need to.

The hurdle atm is the income tax rebate / grants etc stuff that I need to jump through!
Trying to find out how I pay for the first month of work with travel etc.

DX2

Oh dear somone is in for a nasty shock.

brumboi

The rent isn't an issue, can always negotiate an agreement with my landlord so not relying on EHB too much

dmg24

brumboi wrote: »

Btw appreciate all your replies but don't want to dwell on extending housing benefit, that's not what I need the main help with

Birmingham City Council say the Extended HB is paid on a case by case basis so I'm not dwelling on that yet, will jump that hurdle when I need to.

The hurdle atm is the income tax rebate / grants etc stuff that I need to jump through!
Trying to find out how I pay for the first month of work with travel etc.

Here is the official guidance on HB run on:

To be eligible for an EP the claimant or partner must have
1 [FONT=Frutiger LT 55 Roman,Frutiger LT 55 Roman][FONT=Frutiger LT 55 Roman,Frutiger LT 55 Roman]ceased to receive a qualifying income-related benefit, ie IS, JSA(IB) or ESA(IR), because they have started work, increased their hours of work or increased their earnings, [/FONT][/FONT]and
2 [FONT=Frutiger LT 55 Roman,Frutiger LT 55 Roman][FONT=Frutiger LT 55 Roman,Frutiger LT 55 Roman]have started employment, or have increased earnings or hours of employment which is expected to last at least five weeks, [/FONT][/FONT]and
3 [FONT=Frutiger LT 55 Roman,Frutiger LT 55 Roman][FONT=Frutiger LT 55 Roman,Frutiger LT 55 Roman]been continuously in receipt of either IS, JSA or ESA(IR), or a combination of those benefits, for a period of at least 26 weeks immediately before the qualifying income-related benefit ceased[/FONT][/FONT]

When they say it is decided on a case by case basis, they mean that they check each case fulfils the relevant criteria, which you do not.

As you are starting a job within the new tax year you are unlikely to get a tax rebate. They will simply adjust your tax liability for the rest of the year.

I don't know about Princes Trust grants, but if you do a search I am pretty sure there is a regular who works for them. If you can find out who it is you could send them a PM to ask.