Struggling financially- Anything I am entitled to?

scouseblondie

Hi all, I would like some help regarding my current financial situation as I am experiencing some difficulty. Here goes!:

(I am 28 and have no children) I came out of self-employment work last may so went to apply for jobseekers allowance but they told me that because I live with my partner and he is in full time employment that I would not be entitled to anything. (He earns 20,000 before tax). I found this hard to believe as he hardly has any money left himself after he has paid all of his bills/credit card debt etc.
Since then I have gone back to college where I am studying to be a social worker (go to University in sept for three years), I applied for a college bursary but was again told (after showing them my boyfriends bank statement and him being overdrawn each month) that I would not be entitled because I live with him.
I hate to see him overdrawn and struggling because of me and think if we split up I would be entitled to jsa, housing benefit etc. and he would be better off- ridiculous and never going to happen.
We just need some extra money to tide us over until I go to University where I can get a maintenance loan and bursary to live off.
Do you think we would be entitled to tax credits or anything else?

Also, when I was self-employed for three years I didn't know about tax credits and didnt earn a lot at all, would I have been entitled to them and do they backdate them ?

Any help would be appreciated !! Thankyou in advance :cool:

dogfish12

Sorry to hear about your situation. It seems with jsa (I'm in the same situation) if you slept outside in the gutter you would get it but go inside the house and you don't. This country stinks!!

Oldernotwiser

Benefits and college bursaries take no account of people's debts.

welshmoneylover

scouseblondie wrote: »

Hi all, I would like some help regarding my current financial situation as I am experiencing some difficulty. Here goes!:

(I am 28 and have no children) I came out of self-employment work last may so went to apply for jobseekers allowance but they told me that because I live with my partner and he is in full time employment that I would not be entitled to anything. (He earns 20,000 before tax). I found this hard to believe as he hardly has any money left himself after he has paid all of his bills/credit card debt etc.
Since then I have gone back to college where I am studying to be a social worker (go to University in sept for three years), I applied for a college bursary but was again told (after showing them my boyfriends bank statement and him being overdrawn each month) that I would not be entitled because I live with him.
I hate to see him overdrawn and struggling because of me and think if we split up I would be entitled to jsa, housing benefit etc. and he would be better off- ridiculous and never going to happen.
We just need some extra money to tide us over until I go to University where I can get a maintenance loan and bursary to live off.
Do you think we would be entitled to tax credits or anything else?

Also, when I was self-employed for three years I didn't know about tax credits and didnt earn a lot at all, would I have been entitled to them and do they backdate them ?

Any help would be appreciated !! Thankyou in advance :cool:

Are you looking for work?

betterlatethannever

If your struggling that much, why not sell the house that BF currently pays for https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2990286=

Because of the house i doubt you'd be entitled to HB/LHA - even if your renting it at a lose

AnxiousMum

A part time or seasonal/temporary job would give you some income between now and starting uni in September. Unfortunately, benefits aren't there to reimburse people for lots of credit card debt! Yes, if you were separate, you would likely be entitled, but then you would have the cost of two households etc. to run as well.
If debts are the issue as to why there is no money left at the end of the month, maybe try over on the debt free wannabe board, or there's another one for living frugally......or.....within your means.

AnxiousMum

You also couldn't claim JSA I guess 'cos in the thread linked above, you state you are already a full time student. Maybe increase the rent on your mortgaged house that you are renting to a family member?

Jowo_2

The benefits system, when it comes to means tested benefits, actually specifies in its regulations that it expects mutual support and assistance by couples, so yes, it does take into account his income. So, too, by the sounds of it, does your college. Outgoings, including debts, are ignored.

If you were single, without disability and without dependents and in full time study, you would not qualify for housing benefit and you would have to pay the rent and all bills on your own out of a measly grant and loan (i.e. debt). If you were in the same situation, but unemployed, you would have £65 per week JSA to cover all expenses other than your rent and be entitled to housing benefit for a room in a shared house and this is a near impossible sum to live on. Many decent places cost more than the LHA rate which means you may have to pay a top up towards your rent out of that JSA.

Download the MSE budget planner from the Free tools section of the website, fill it in, and work through the site to identify how to live more frugally since if you are not entitled to extra unearned income, you must reduce your outgoings. There's really good advice on the site how to be ultra thrifty and ways to up your income.

You can double check your entitlements on the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

thorsoak

So you are struggling, complaining that you aren't entitled to anything, you expect something from the public purse, you have a mortgage on a property that someone else is paying rent to you on (which covers the mortgage) yet on 18th January you posted the following:-


scouseblondie
18-01-2011, 8:48 PM MoneySaving Newbie


Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 8
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts



Why would I want to sell it ? Its a good investment. Wouldnt be able to get a buy to let mortgage on my current income so dont know what to do, might have to keep it quiet until I can afford to swap it over. Thats not my main concern, my main concern is speaking to collections regarding my current situation. Mind you, they get paid on time every month so they cant take the mortgage away from me can they ?

dogfish12

Scouseblondie, please can you answer those allegations?

karenx

Even when you were self employed you wouldnt of been entitled to tax credits as its a joint claim and your partner earns too much to qualify

If you are struggling that much why dont you put college off and get a job???? Instead of looking for hand outs