New to Income Support

cazbie16

My husband left me yesterday and I've put through a claim for IS, Child Tax Credit, Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

I know about the Free school meals, NHS entitlements and the milk/veg vouchers for my 3 yr old. I have 4 kids in total. I was just wanting to pick forum members brains to see what else I might get in way of discounts and reductions in costs.

I thought it might help the kids if they knew there were a few things they could look forward to whilst going through this hard time.

Thanks.


Hope I've put this in the right place, please feel free to move.

nannytone_2

they can look forward to child support from their father, which wont affect your entitlement to benefit.

cazbie16

Sorry, yes, he will be supporting them financially, we haven't come to a fixed arrangement yet because we weren't sure how much my income from benefits will be and are yet to sit down and discuss anything in detail. Still early days. He was keen to stress that he wouldn't see them going without, so I'm sure we will come to a sensible arrangement in the VERY near future.

We also know from the CSA website that the minimum they would expect him to pay is £125 a week.

nannytone_2

with 4 kids, he will be expected to part with 25% of his earnings.
you can claim income support ( if you have a child under 7) or JSA. child tax credits, hb, ctb and free school meals.
what else did you think that you may be entitled to?

cazbie16

£125 is 25% of his earnings. It was just any discounts for things like swimming/sports, music lessons, little things like that, I suppose you could call them treats...I don't want to sound like a money grabber or anything, just new to benefits. Been with hubby 24 yrs so never had the need to claim before.

karenx

These "treats" are what you use your benefit and child maintenance money for.
Just because you are on income support it doesnt mean theres suddenly all these freebies! Music lesons etc

nannytone_2

i dont mean to sound harsh but do you realise that with income support, tax credits, maintenance, housing benefit, council tax benefit, child benefit, free school meeals, free prescriptions..........you are way better off than many working childless couples.
it's very insulting to them, to be struggling every day to pay their bills, that people with kids on benefits are expecting 'treats'.

welshmoneylover

cazbie16 wrote: »

£125 is 25% of his earnings. It was just any discounts for things like swimming/sports, music lessons, little things like that, I suppose you could call them treats...I don't want to sound like a money grabber or anything, just new to benefits. Been with hubby 24 yrs so never had the need to claim before.

Many working people are not having little treats at the moment.

Do you think you may be in a position to work to be able to afford your own treats?

Oldernotwiser

cazbie16 wrote: »

Sorry, yes, he will be supporting them financially, we haven't come to a fixed arrangement yet because we weren't sure how much my income from benefits will be and are yet to sit down and discuss anything in detail. Still early days. He was keen to stress that he wouldn't see them going without, so I'm sure we will come to a sensible arrangement in the VERY near future.

We also know from the CSA website that the minimum they would expect him to pay is £125 a week.

If your husband brings home £500 per week and you don't work, you will probably have more money coming in than you do now. If you can afford "treats" at the moment you should be able to carry on doing so.

moonbeam2007

I thought IS was for people who got no help from fathers? sorry I may be totally wrong but I thought that if he pays you it went back to IS to cover what they were giving you??? I'm unsure

Indie_Kid

moonbeam2007 wrote: »

I thought IS was for people who got no help from fathers? sorry I may be totally wrong but I thought that if he pays you it went back to IS to cover what they were giving you??? I'm unsure

No. What the NRP pays in maintenance is disregarded.