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Unsure about what I may be entitled to
Vixtaa
Posts: 42 Forumite
Hi, I'll start off with a background on whats been going on.
Basically I was in employment with the same company for 4 years. I was also living in the flat above the bar I was working in. Then the owner sold the bar. The new people already had their own staff so I lost my job. They also chose to live in the flat above the pub(to avoid paying rent or anything, understandable) so i also had to move out. Losing my job and home at the same time hit me really hard. I became depressed and was on medication and seeing a counselor. Eventually I was put on ESA as it was clear that I would be in no fit state to work anytime soon(I did have a load of hassle with them trying to kick me off it after my medical, which Im told is very common, but my doctors notes etc. helped me with my tribunal and I won it)
I have been on ESA for roughly 2 years now. 1 year was on the assesment rate while they messed me about with medicals and that, then I got everything backdated and everything has been going smoothly for a year. I have been moved into the work related activity group during the past 6 months.
Now I have a few questions. I had an interview today, ad am waiting to hear back about the job. IF I get it, it is a 0 hour contract but apparently my hours will be good over xmas, but then decline afterwards. I was told by my jobcentre advisor that I would be entitled to 'return to work credit' which apparently is £40 a week, if I was working over 16 hours. I WILL be working over 16 hours, but my contract will say otherwise. Would I still be entitled to this?
Also, my partner is currently out of work, will he still be able to claim anything? I know that he wouldnt if I was working over 24 hours(I think it is), but since my contract says 0..Im unsure. Or will they ask for my pay slips each week and decide fortnightly wether he can get his JSA or not.
Also, housing benefit. What on earth will happen with that? I did a calculation online, but was unsure wether to tick the 'out of work due to sickness for 52 weeks or more' box, as I dont know if you have to be claiming DLA(which I wasnt getting) to qualify for that.If I am classed at that, I will still get full rent and council tax benefit. If not, working it out on the 24 hour wages that the job was actually advertised as, apparently I will have to pay around £50 per week rent. Which, if partner cannot claim JSA, will mean we are worse off through me working.
I would like to know all of this before I go to the jobcentre really. As I know from past experiences that they will tell you ANYTHING to get you back into work. Luckily back then I had a friend who was working fulltime, who helped me through the all of the money problems that followed the jobcentre telling me that I would be £50 per week better off, and then it turning out I was actually £40 per week WORSE off and unable to pay my rent. So basically, I just do not trust them to tell me the truth. We are barely scraping by on what we get now, and if our income was to drop by anything, we would be pretty much screwed.
Sorry for the huge essay, but I am really worried about all this :S
Basically I was in employment with the same company for 4 years. I was also living in the flat above the bar I was working in. Then the owner sold the bar. The new people already had their own staff so I lost my job. They also chose to live in the flat above the pub(to avoid paying rent or anything, understandable) so i also had to move out. Losing my job and home at the same time hit me really hard. I became depressed and was on medication and seeing a counselor. Eventually I was put on ESA as it was clear that I would be in no fit state to work anytime soon(I did have a load of hassle with them trying to kick me off it after my medical, which Im told is very common, but my doctors notes etc. helped me with my tribunal and I won it)
I have been on ESA for roughly 2 years now. 1 year was on the assesment rate while they messed me about with medicals and that, then I got everything backdated and everything has been going smoothly for a year. I have been moved into the work related activity group during the past 6 months.
Now I have a few questions. I had an interview today, ad am waiting to hear back about the job. IF I get it, it is a 0 hour contract but apparently my hours will be good over xmas, but then decline afterwards. I was told by my jobcentre advisor that I would be entitled to 'return to work credit' which apparently is £40 a week, if I was working over 16 hours. I WILL be working over 16 hours, but my contract will say otherwise. Would I still be entitled to this?
Also, my partner is currently out of work, will he still be able to claim anything? I know that he wouldnt if I was working over 24 hours(I think it is), but since my contract says 0..Im unsure. Or will they ask for my pay slips each week and decide fortnightly wether he can get his JSA or not.
Also, housing benefit. What on earth will happen with that? I did a calculation online, but was unsure wether to tick the 'out of work due to sickness for 52 weeks or more' box, as I dont know if you have to be claiming DLA(which I wasnt getting) to qualify for that.If I am classed at that, I will still get full rent and council tax benefit. If not, working it out on the 24 hour wages that the job was actually advertised as, apparently I will have to pay around £50 per week rent. Which, if partner cannot claim JSA, will mean we are worse off through me working.
I would like to know all of this before I go to the jobcentre really. As I know from past experiences that they will tell you ANYTHING to get you back into work. Luckily back then I had a friend who was working fulltime, who helped me through the all of the money problems that followed the jobcentre telling me that I would be £50 per week better off, and then it turning out I was actually £40 per week WORSE off and unable to pay my rent. So basically, I just do not trust them to tell me the truth. We are barely scraping by on what we get now, and if our income was to drop by anything, we would be pretty much screwed.
Sorry for the huge essay, but I am really worried about all this :S
0
Comments
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I would stay on benefit if i was you and just declare any earnings. I think you can do up to 15 hours and stay on them.0
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I would stay on benefit if i was you and just declare any earnings. I think you can do up to 15 hours and stay on them.
But the manager told me from now til xmas I would get loads of hours(if I get the job), so I cant really do that
Or could I just declare, and not get any esa in the weeks when Im doing 20+ hours?0 -
Just done another housing benefit calculation and now it reckons I would have to pay £36 per week.
I'm so confused, seems to be changing daily 0 -
Sounds to me like there just taking you on for Xmas. I really don't like zero hours contracts as they don't always have to give you work, then how do you pay the bills. Also they can get rid of you easier.0
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Well it turns out I didnt get the job
Thanks anyway to those who replied0
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