Postgrad Student In Need of Help

MrMelons

Hi Everyone,

I'll get straight to the point.
I am a PhD student in the final year of study. I am paid via a stipend (~16k/yr) paid quarterly which is not classified as income by banks or other official bodies. I am really struggling money-wise at the moment. My car has broken twice and been expensive to repair and during the period before study I was unemployed for around 6 months, received no JSA despite attending every meeting and doing everything I was supposed to; and on top of that I was also paying council tax. This really destroyed my savings.

Do you think there is anything I can do or am entitled to?
If you need more details, please ask. Thanks for any help/advice.

bobajob_1966

Do you claim a CT exemption? If so, I cannot think of anything else, £16K tax free is a very healthy income!

Idiophreak

Think we need a bit more info here...

16k tax free is quite a lot - I lived on 7k for the year when I did my masters...
What do you spend all your money on?
Where are you based?
Is there anything you can cut back on?

MrMelons

Hi Guys,

Cheers for the replies. I agree, 16k tax free is a good income. I live in Bristol so my main expenditure is rent. I live very modestly, but i need to run a car and petrol is a large expense. I paid a deposit on a house which is why I am currently struggling and ran £1000 into my overdraft last month.

I guess what my question should have been is this:
Am I entitled to reclaim any of the council tax I paid when unemployed or claim any of the unpaid JSA? At the time I just paid council tax so I wouldn't get in trouble and was so annoyed with Jobcentre I didnt want to deal with them once I had 'employment'. However, now I really need the money because I am struggling.

Thanks again

bobajob_1966

You need to establish why you did not receive any JSA, and why you were not entitled to CTB.

lynzpower

I think the main question is that how comes you put down a deposit for a house when you are struggling for income? Have you now bought it and are you living in it? are you living alone?

How much of your savings did you put into the house deposit?

MrMelons

I attended all the JSA meetings for about 3-4 months. After about one month I hadn't receive any money and they said they hadn't received all the documentation (which I had filled in). I filled in the forms again and continued for another month or so and still received nothing and they said they still hadn't received something (I can't remember what now). Anyway, by this time I had arranged to start the PhD in a months time and was fed up with Jobcentre and never wanted to go back, I had about 8k in savings when I was first unemployed so I didnt persue any claims. I am one of those people affected by the 'benefits stigma', but now I actually need the help.

I didnt receive CT benefit or Housing benefit as that was related to my JSA claim.


Edit: to avoid double post.

I bought the house in Devon with my GF. I rent in Bristol. I used ~85% of savings on house. Then had to pay expensive car repair bill.

Oldernotwiser

MrMelons wrote: »

I didnt receive CT benefit or Housing benefit as that was related to my JSA claim.

But did you apply for them?

MrMelons

Yes I did apply

Oldernotwiser

I've just re read your first post and have realised that you're in the final year of your PhD.

Exactly how long ago did you make this claim for benefits?

MrMelons

Jan 2009 will be the end of the claim.