No JSA, no income, but I need HB & CT

Grand_Duke

I'm not signing on or working but I have rent and council tax to pay. I do have some savings, around 5,300 ish, and I'm prepared to live off that for now. As a matter of pride, I really don't want to sign on, and I'm looking for a job but no luck so far.

I want to claim HB & CT but I'm not sure what that would involve. I used to claim a few years ago and I know the general procedure but I don't know what the deal is regarding not having an income at all.



If there's anyone who works or maybe used to work for a council who could help me with this, it would be appreciated, and I understand that it can be complex depending on the circumstances. Or, any advice or information from anyone at all who knows what's what. Thanks.

dmg24

No biggie, just complete the application form and ask to be assessed on the basis of being on a low income. They may ask what you are living off, tell them your savings.

dawnlouise123

You may also want to look at paying your NI contributions while you are not working. DMG24 is right though, no problem with Housing Benefit but they will want to know what you are living on.

petrolhead.

Yes they will ask that question. Just tell them that you don't expect the taxpayer to subsidise your existence whilst you look for a job. Tell them also that you feel sorry for the Government having the debt crisis and that what you are doing is being charitable and doing your bit for Britain.
Then you could add - asking that you are hoping that they (the housing benefit staff) also consider their responsibilities in not taking any pay rise or bonus and indeed maybe offering to work for 1 hour per week without pay!

That should keep them quiet!!

Oldernotwiser

petrolhead. wrote: »

Yes they will ask that question. Just tell them that you don't expect the taxpayer to subsidise your existence whilst you look for a job. !

Where do you think that the money for LHA/HB/CTC comes from?

Grand_Duke

So it's pretty straightforward by the looks of it. I'm wondering though, when they ask to see my bank statements they will see that some of my savings entered my account within the last couple of months. Will they count that as income (for the purposes of calculating what I'll get from the moment I claim onwards) even though I have no income right now?

petrolhead.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Where do you think that the money for LHA/HB/CTC comes from?

From the same pot as the rest of the benefits.

But what the OP is doing is only taking a fraction of what he is entitled to to help out.

fluffymovie

No we can assess a claim on a nil income but need to see evidence of how you are meeting your day to day living costs.

Depending on the source of credits, you may be asked for information regarding frequency and origin of these.

Grand_Duke

fluffymovie wrote: »

No we can assess a claim on a nil income but need to see evidence of how you are meeting your day to day living costs.

Depending on the source of credits, you may be asked for information regarding frequency and origin of these.

It's savings, money that I've been putting aside for a while, rather than money coming in now. I can easily prove how I can pay for day to day stuff by just showing them my statements that show what's in there.

Grand_Duke

I certainly hope I won't need to justify every single purchase I make.

real1314

Grand_Duke wrote: »

I certainly hope I won't need to justify every single purchase I make.

As your savings are below £6k, they won't care what you spend your money on.
:cool: