Few questions, ESA, Tax Credits, Partner moving in..

NotTooSure_2

Hello everyone, it's my first time on here so please be nice.

Questions are as follows:

My partner is shortly going to be moving in with me and he is currently in the assessment phase of claiming ESA.

Now I've informed the LA and housing benefit sectioned has been aware of pending change of circumstances. I'm aware that my housing benefit and council tax single occupancy will change, but was wondering how much?

I work 23 hours per week, and as of mid December I will be going onto Statatory Maternity Pay, baby due in February. I also have another child. Another change will will no doubt change my income. Would I/we be entitled to apply for the Sure Start Maternity Grant?

The tax credit office has also been informed and Im awaiting paperwork from them for new claim (partner side of things).

Ive tried all sorts of web calculators to try and find out where we'd stand financially but as there's so many changing factors, Ive no idea.

So all in all:

Partner moving in, assessment phase of ESA (can he still claim with my situation?)
Me, PT work atm 23hrs, SMP in Dec
Have one child already. Currently pregnant, due in FEB
Eligible for Sure Start Maternity Grant?

Anyone have any ideas what will be the outcome of Tax Credit? HB? especially. Many thanks in advance.

NotTooSure_2

Please can anyone help here? I've just received my current Tax Credit award notice, and Im really worried that I will not receive any money until they've processed my new claim.

Do they stop all payments until new claim has been received and looked into? Really really worried about this.

Indie_Kid

Is your partner claiming income based or contributions based ESA?

NotTooSure_2

He's still in the assessment phase of things. Original letter doesn't state which one he receives. Currently getting £65.45 per week (they will credit him with NI contributions whilst on ESA though).

Any advice on the tax credits question? Have my payments stopped until new info has been processed?

Mupette

re tax credits, did you tell working tax credits too? (If you get them)

NotTooSure_2

Yes HMRC have been contacted regarding new changes. However I found out last night that all payments have been stopped until new claim has arrived.

They stopped it from the day I contacted them, not today when partner is officially moving in. His ESA payment has not been received eithe as no-one told him he required a sick note every month from his doctor.

So at present I have a grand total of £1.31 in bank account (thankfully December bills have all been paid). I do hope it doesn't take them too long to process my new claim....soooooo worried about the short term money situation (down to £1 on key meter as of today!!!).

One other thing Im worrying about is new claim form is asking for partners wage details from apr2009-apr2010. Now this is before we got back together, and during a period of that time he was in full time employment earning approx £1600 per month. His income now is no where near that atm....ESA £65 per week. Is his past earnings (where I might add we wasn't even together then) going to affect my new claim drastically? Surely they couldn't take that information into account? Or can they?