Benefits for working families

ceejaydee23

My partner works full time, I currently am not working as i want to continue to help bring our son up like i did my daughter, then return to employment when he's a bit older probably when he's at a preschool or nursery.

Thing is we are in debt, currently what feels like mountains, I'm hoping to see the CAB about things soon, but thought id ask the question on here, to see if anyone has the answer.

If your claiming CTC and currently WTC though it amounts to a minimal amount really.

As someone whos not working am i able to still claim income support? OR as a working family is WTC the only option for our situation. I was just clutching at straws that maybe there might be some other way round the benefits that might just possibly work better for us. It wouldnt have been quite so much of a problem if the council hadnt messed up our benefits claim (Council Tax and HB) as we wouldnt have spent like we did having "extra" money so to speak.

MrsManda

Have you filled out the benefits advisor calculators:

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

Indie_Kid

You're not entitled to income support as your husband earns too much and you're not a lone parent or carer.

Benefits don't take debt into account.

ceejaydee23

i know benefits dont take debt into account at all, just wondered if WTC was the only route available thats all. as i said clutching at straws really

Jowo_2

Go to the Debt Free wanabee board and the members there will tell you your options for tackling them. They will want you to post a statement of your affairs and will advise you how to do this.

Oldernotwiser

ceejaydee23 wrote: »

i know benefits dont take debt into account at all, just wondered if WTC was the only route available thats all. as i said clutching at straws really

Of course, the other route available is for you to return to work, despite what you would prefer. You could work evenings, if your husband is free then to look after the children, and still be home for your daughter's early years.

tomitma

If you put as much thought, into making cutbacks, and paying off your debts, as what you have, into what benefits you can claim. You wouldn't be in this mess now.

There is always a job doing the twilight shift, most factories have them.

AnxiousMum

Sometimes working part time can be possible - it certainly has been for many a couple where mum wants to stay at home with the kids. It can benefit you in the long run too for when you want to return to work full time, as you will be seen to be eager to work, possibly pick up some training along the way, and I think with many mums, it gives you a little time for you to be an adult as well. I too wanted to be at home with my kids, and over the past 21 years have been able to work part time while they were little, or shiftwork on an 'on call basis' where I let them know when I was available to work, and now the youngest is in school, working school hours term time (but even better - not in a school!). There are ways you can have the best of both - the time with your children, AND the lifestyle you can't afford on one salary.

ceejaydee23

To be honest we were not in a bad position until our Claim was messed up by the council, they got it wrong, by not including the paperwork id sent in for our CTC and WTC, so the whole calculation of claim was wrong, just took them 3 months to work this out, YES we had the debts, and not faulted on rent or the debts.

I had taken up being an avon rep in june last year (before my maternity pay ran out) *to do something* but over the last couple of months, before the panic of debts arose things changed at home, My daughter (9) had become unsettled in her new year group at school, and other then our son (1) the avon job was the only factor i could think of that was taking up so much of my time away from my family, I have now given this up.

To be honest i couldnt do evening work, I dont know if its a confidence thing or what but just bringing the bin in the dark gives me the eebie jeebies! I was working part time before i left my job at the end of my maternity pay. as part time hours went i was good paid i was working for the fire service.

I have already posted on the DFW board with an SOA too, I'm seeing the CAB soon, hopefully can try and sort something out.

Part of the reason why we agreed for me to give up work was because of the expense of travelling to and from, having to cut my hours to get my son from where he was being looked after as i'm not a beleiver of putting young children into nurserys/childcare Call it old fashioned but early years care should be by a childs mother!

By no means am i work shy, as soon as i feel my son is ready for preschool nursery or similar i'll be getting myself back into the work force,

ceejaydee23

please read my thread on DFW! cos if you had then you'd not have sounded as rude!

tomitma wrote: »

If you put as much thought, into making cutbacks, and paying off your debts, as what you have, into what benefits you can claim. You wouldn't be in this mess now.

There is always a job doing the twilight shift, most factories have them.

welshmoneylover

Wow just read your SOA.

Do you really pay £95 for satellite TV each month?

No wonder you're in debt, having a champagne lifestyle on lemonade money is asking for trouble isn't it?

It seems you have considerable debts before the council 'messed' your payments up, you really do need to take a step back and ask yourself if you really do need an expensive satellite package and mobile phone contract.
[STRIKE]Then you got the cheek to come on these boards and ask for more free money from the tax payer.[/STRIKE]