How long should this money last us according to Jobcentre?

sazziecee

Hi, sadly my husband got made redundant about 3 weeks ago.
He recieved £800 in redundancy pay, and on Friday will recieve 3 months pay in lieu of notice (about £5200 after tax)
Hubby is applying for lots of jobs, had 1 interview so far so is actively looking for work. He isn't planning on applying for benefits until we really NEED to.

We are just wondering if and when we come to need to apply for benefits, would the jobcentre say this £5200 should have lasted us a lot longer than 3 months and refuse our claim? is there a weekly amount and time period it should have lasted us for, if that makes sense?

Our regular direct debits are about £1300 a month so we only actually spend about £400 a month on food/petrol/clothes/school dinners etc so we can't keep too much back really to last an extra 2-3 months for example.

Oh and I am also 34 weeks pregnant and we still don't have all the baby equipment, thankfully I bought a lot of it earlier in the pregnancy but still need our cot and mattress and a few other things. I start maternity leave September 1st, but am on a low income so will only recieve MA at £45 per week.

Thanks in advance, never claimed jobseekers/income support before so not sure how it all works x

robpw2

well the £5200 will cover your direct debits for 4 months . and your still earning so he has till sept to get a new ob essentially

sazziecee

Yes but will they say "your money should have lasted you longer" and refuse to give us any benefits? different situation but my ex partners brother had a scratchcard win, when on benefits and then tried to reclaim benefits when he had blown his winnings on his mates and booze etc, and was told he had to wait 6 months (understandably)

robpw2

sazziecee wrote: »

Yes but will they say "your money should have lasted you longer" and refuse to give us any benefits? different situation but my ex partners brother had a scratchcard win, when on benefits and then tried to reclaim benefits when he had blown his winnings on his mates and booze etc, and was told he had to wait 6 months (understandably)

you do not know what they will say unitll you apply
1. you can claim benefits if you have less then 6k in savings
2. your husband should be entitled to contribution based job seekers - apply
the best thing is to apply they wil then inform you of what an what your not entitled too

Elle7

It's a difficult question - I think the best way to ensure that they don't is to spend very frugally. Cut your belts back, and be prepared to show the Job Centre exactly where the money has gone should they request it - keep reciepts, etc. That way, you've got a good chance of fighting it if they do tell you it should have lasted longer.

I would expect if his scratchcard win was big, and he blew it on things which he couldn't justify (alcohol and a social life definately isn't deemed necessary!) then they were right to deny him benefits.

It's a difficult situation - is it possible for you to cut down on direct debits? If you get JSA it will be a lot less then you are on now - its around £105 for the couples rate, I think, and your income will be taken into account unless he can claim contributions based for 6 months (and then they'll take your income into account). There will be a calculator on your local councils website to work out any housing benefit you'd get, or mortage support if you own your house, but this is interest only.

It might be worth trying to cut your DD's now, incase your husband can't get a job. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, too

relic

About 13 years by my calculation.

robpw2

relic wrote: »

About 13 years by my calculation.

how lol

dwp says couples should live of £92 a week that about 56 weeks if using 5200 but they have kids so im sure the figure will be higher

adouglasmhor

If you do not apply for benefits I think your hubby will lose out on NI contributions, My mum got no benefits but her NI stamp was paid for her.

relic

robpw2 wrote: »

how lol

dwp says couples should live of £92 a week that about 56 weeks if using 5200 but they have kids so im sure the figure will be higher

Don't question it!

Now it's 16 years.

sazziecee

Thanks everyone, we have 2 older children already, and my husband has a daughter from a previous relationship who he pays maintenance for. We will have to look into it further.
I have actually already stopped work, as I work in a school and was not on a contract, so am only paid for the hours I work on a timesheet basis (other staff have their wage averaged out over the year) but my leave doesn't actually start officially til 1st September, so will get paid for Julys hours in August but then that's it until my MA starts, which is paid in arrears I think

pompeyrich

robpw2 wrote: »

how lol

dwp says couples should live of £92 a week that about 56 weeks if using 5200 but they have kids so im sure the figure will be higher

According to the "entitled to" website a non working couple with 1 child, paying £150 a week rent and £1,000 a year CT would get around £18,500 a year in CTC, JSA, HB and CTB. So using those figures, 3 months or so would be about right.