How long to go from joint to single tax credits claim?

abi-em-mum83

Hi a friend is going through some relationship problems and is in the process of splitting up with her partner. She is self employed (approx 16 hours per week) and obviously has a joint claim. She is going to be calling tax credits this week to change from joint claim to single, and stopping childcare costs (shes changing her hours of work and ex will watch children). Shes very worried that tax credits stopped payments while sorting the claim, and is very worried over how she will manage financially as the only money she will have coming is is her £60 a week wage (her ex has said while he is looking after the children and having to save for a flat rent/deposit he wont be giving her any money) she has 3 under 5's to care for, and £60 for food,petrol,heating, nappies etc even with budgeting will not go far.
Does anyone know how long it takes to go from joint to single tax credits claim, and if theres any help she could get in the mean time? (she is unable to access any credit as her ex has ruined her credit rating and left her with so many debts, same with crisis loans, shes had to get emergency money since hes left them with no food gas and electricity so many times, nice guy eh, thank god hes now her ex!)
I have said I will get her as much help as possible, as she doesnt want to go to Citizens Advice Bureau (they have a sign up at the minute that they are running on at least a 4 hour waiting time, and they are only open 3 days a week!)
Any reassurance or advice I could pass on to her would be gratefully received!

zzzLazyDaisy

I can't help with the tax credit issue, but I am sure someone will be along soon.

However, re maintenance, the ex is only entitled to deduct money if the children are staying overnight, and then at the rate of 1/7th per night. It might be worth her going on the CSA website to see how much maintenance he would be paying if she made a claim, and considering keeping the child care allowance on her own tax credit claim. If he is as unreliable as he seems, she might be better off keeping the existing childcare arrangement for stability for the children, and letting him have the children at other times. Of course that depends on how much he is earning and whether it is worth the hassle, which it might not be if maintenance will be low anyway.

One other thing, she must work at least 16 hrs a week to get working tax credits. That means that she should be on around £90 a week if she is working for minimum rate wages.

Other things to consider are making a claim for LHA (if in private rented) or HB (social housing) and also council tax benefit, including single persons discount.

wombles_forever

Is she still living in the same house as her ex? Sounds as if she is if he is saving for a deposit and rent in a new place.

If so she may find it difficult to get any benefits as a single person. Be prepared for problems if she is still financially linked to him in any way.

abi-em-mum83

Hi she has her own business so isnt really earning minimum wages at the moment. She works between 16-18 hours a week. She cant keep her childminder on as her ex was dropping them off in the mornings, but since hes going to be staying with his mum till he gets a depoist and rent together, and she lives quite some way away, and doesnt drive, the only way she can get childcare for work is for the kids to stay with her ex 3 nights a week. Shes looking for childminders closer to home but struggling, and nurseries want a month up front as deposit. Shes applied for housing benefit etc. He has agreed to pay maintenence once he has raised the deposit for a new place, and shes agreed to that (since she has thrown him out, she is the tenant in their property and he is lodger rather than joint tenant). She has closed their joint account and opened her own, and has no other financial links to him, no credit cards etc.
Thanks to this website Ive helped her work out exactly what shes entitled to etc, but as I say at the mo the only income is her business, which brings in approx £60 a week at the minute, and tax credits, and shes worried sick about being left for weeks without tax credits.

wombles_forever

Hi. hopefully she has the child benefit in her name as well as the tax credit situation will depend on this.

Can she have a word with the landlord and explain the situation with the HB and CTB as sometimes they will be sympathetic and allow the rent to be paid when this comes through. In the meantime she may be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Benefit payment, but I think that the housing benefit has to be agreed in principal before they will pay this.

AFAIK the tax credits will stop when a joint claim is stopped but hopefully the single claim will be sorted out quickly as presumably they already have all the details of her self employment income. the only downside I can see is that HMRC are extremely busy at this time due to it being the end of the claim period for this year.

Hope all goes well for her but unfortunately she may have to put up with a few weeks of pain until all this is sorted out.

abi-em-mum83

wombles_forever wrote: »

Hi. hopefully she has the child benefit in her name as well as the tax credit situation will depend on this.

Can she have a word with the landlord and explain the situation with the HB and CTB as sometimes they will be sympathetic and allow the rent to be paid when this comes through. In the meantime she may be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Benefit payment, but I think that the housing benefit has to be agreed in principal before they will pay this.

AFAIK the tax credits will stop when a joint claim is stopped but hopefully the single claim will be sorted out quickly as presumably they already have all the details of her self employment income. the only downside I can see is that HMRC are extremely busy at this time due to it being the end of the claim period for this year.

Hope all goes well for her but unfortunately she may have to put up with a few weeks of pain until all this is sorted out.

Hi yes shes got her child benefit in her name monthly. Still going to be a struggle before she gets everything in place. Her landlord is the local authority so she'll never see any of the money from housing benefit, I assume it goes electronically from benefit department to rent department! Shes got a payment plan in place for rent arrears thats the only thing stopping an eviction and shes worried about keeping that up every week with no tax credits. Shes waiting for a call back from arrears department to discuss that.
I hate seeing her struggling and worried, and if money wasnt so tight with us Id be the first to help her and her gorgeous kids out!