Please advice?

lily-ella

rosysparkle wrote:

They might still be closed on Tuesday, Lily-Ella.

You'll need to close joint claims and open new claims for you and your child. make sure you claim everything to which you are entitled so that you can get back on your feet.

Hope you are OK, if it's any comfort my ex left me with four small children and very little money. I didn't know where to turn and I thought I'd never be happy again. That was almost six years ago. Now i'm happy and financially secure and the kids even have a good relationship with their father.

It does make me feel better, thanks. At the mo I feel like I never want to meet a man ever again! x

lily-ella

real1314 wrote:

If he left yesterday, MAKE SURE you ask for your claims to be taken from today! Put the reason as "due to the office being closed I want my claim to be taken from Sunday 24/12/06". This will ensure your HB kicks in from monday, otherwise you'll lose out by a week and it will be taken from next monday. Same goes for CTB, also do the same with Tax Credits. They're all closed mon and tues, some of them weds as well.
If you work less than 16 hours per week, you'll be able to claim Income Support (IS)- contact your local jobcentre for this - if you do over 16 hrs per week you can claim Working Tax Credit (WTC).

Bear in mind that HB is paid 4 weeks in arrears, but your rent is probably monthly in advance. You may run into problems with this - don;t know if your council might be able to help or possibly a social fund loan if you claim IS?

Thanks for that info, never thought to claim from the exact date he left!
I think I will have to get a crisis loan or something, otherwise I will be behind with the rent. I have parents I could ask for money but they are not exactly well off and £500 is a lot for anyone to hand out just like that, I could ask, but I would feel bad asking, if you see what I mean!
Thank you so much for your reply x

lily-ella

Penny-Pincher!! wrote:

Hi

Im sorry to hear of your situation. Do you have somewhere to go over Xmas so that you have some company or people to talk too? Has he left you with any money?

If there are any immediate concerns regarding the children (not enough food etc) then your local council will have an emergency number for social servics, whom will normally help out in these circumstances.

Contact all relevant people (DWP, HB, CTB, CB, Tax Credits etc) as soon as possible.

I hope things improve for you.

Hugs

PP
xx

Thanks PP, I am at my parents now and they are great, Im trying to forget about things so I can at least enjoy christmas for my child. He hasnt left me with any money either, all i have is whats in my bank account which is enough for food etc, phew!
Im just worried about getting thrown out of the house, my parents are fab and I could move in with them but they live 100 miles away from me and where i work all my friends etc xx

Scarlett1

lily tomorrow ring your local DSS/Jobcentreplus and get them to send you a housing benefit/council tax benefit form and fill it in asap, even if you get a little it will help you a lot at this present time.

Savvy_Sue

If you have any joint accounts, clean them out quick, and then get your name taken off them. That way he can't run up any overdrafts in your joint name ... Cancel any joint credit cards etc.

Best of luck for tomorrow. Keep strong!

astonsmummy

Hi
you say you earn £140 a month, so about £35 per week so i guess you dont work 16 hours per week, if this is the case you will be able to claim IS and child tax credit, you can still work although you will only get to keep £20 of your wages on top of IS, speak to your landlord and tell them you have made the claim at least you are keeping them informed, you may be able to apply for a discretionary housing payment, i'm unsure.
I dunno how easy it is for you to get to the council but if you can try and take the forms and all relevent info in in person, as for the DWP, phone the jobcenter in the morning as in our area the claims are all done over the phone and it may save you a trip.
Good luck xx

lily-ella

astonsmummy wrote:

Hi
you say you earn £140 a month, so about £35 per week so i guess you dont work 16 hours per week, if this is the case you will be able to claim IS and child tax credit, you can still work although you will only get to keep £20 of your wages on top of IS, speak to your landlord and tell them you have made the claim at least you are keeping them informed, you may be able to apply for a discretionary housing payment, i'm unsure.
I dunno how easy it is for you to get to the council but if you can try and take the forms and all relevent info in in person, as for the DWP, phone the jobcenter in the morning as in our area the claims are all done over the phone and it may save you a trip.
Good luck xx

Thanks so much! Is that £20 a week on top of IS or a month? The council offices are just down the road luckily! x

astonsmummy

lily-ella wrote:

Thanks so much! Is that £20 a week on top of IS or a month? The council offices are just down the road luckily! x

It's £20 a week, so basically they will reduce the amount of IS by £15, at the mment IS for a lone parent is £57.45, so you will get your £35 wages plus £42.45 IS (assuming you earn that per week)

lily-ella

astonsmummy wrote:

It's £20 a week, so basically they will reduce the amount of IS by £15, at the mment IS for a lone parent is £57.45, so you will get your £35 wages plus £42.45 IS (assuming you earn that per week)

Ahh I see, thanks.. thats quite good really, at least I will get something to live off

astonsmummy

lily-ella wrote:

Ahh I see, thanks.. thats quite good really, at least I will get something to live off

yes it is, that extra £20 goes along way when your on bnefits, good luck with everything xx