Benefit Entitlement Help Please??

SarahJane137

Hi guys, I've never posted on here before but can see so many people get help/advice and there problems sorted by other peoples knowledge and replies, I thought I'd give it a go and shout out for someone to help me with my situation/s if possible please.

Right from the start: I am 22 years old, and recently studied a teaching degree. Whilst at University I was able to afford with student loans etc rented accommodation of a 3 bedroom house rented from a family friend. However once I left University and started looking for a job, nothing seemed to be available except teaching jobs abroad like Hong Kong and Dubai etc, which was not something I wanted. After a month or two of job hunting I really started to struggle so signed on to JSA for extra support. At the same time I found out I was pregnant!
I was then claiming JSA of £53 a week (paid fortnightly) and housing benefit of £52 a week (paid every 4 weeks) - figured based on a single person ages 18-25.

At 11 weeks prior to the baby's due date, the Job Centre told me I needed to switch my claim from JSA to Income Support. So my claims changed to Income Support instead of JSA of £53 a week (paid fortnightly) and housing benefit of £52 a week (paid every 4 week).

Once I swapped over to Income Support I still actively seeked work but at 2 separate interviews the employers seemed to ask more questions about the baby than myself, my skills etc and then funny enough I was unsuccessful - what a surprise!

I now have 4 weeks left until my baby is due and I have stopped looking for work at present. My landlord has also now made me aware that due to finances his end he is in the position that he really needs to sell the house and has given me 8 weeks notice to find another property - not too much to do or worry about on top of Christmas and a New Born ay!!

So that's me at present - looking for other accommodation which is suitable for myself and my new born. - I have contacted the rehousing dept of the council but have yet to hear back from them. Hopefully or surely they will be able to help me find suitable accommodation before I am homeless right? Does anyone know anything about the banding for someone in my situation? I really do not want go into shared accommodation or a hostel!!

Second of all: My ex partner/ still a good friend of mine and the baby's father has declared he really wants to try again, be a family and move in with me and the baby when we move house. However as much as I would love this, I don't mean to sound bad but I struggle as it is with money I receive currently, let alone if this is lowered due to him living with us.
My ex partner/ baby's dad also has a 7 year old daughter who he has 3 nights a week. He was working full time but has recently been made redundant. He is currently searching for work and has not signed on to JSA as of yet as he is hoping to find something quite quickly. He may even have a part time job for the meanwhile but he wont know until next Friday.

Lets say he is offered this part-time job next week and wants to move in with me and the baby - where would I stand with benefits? Instead of trying to be rehoused to a 2 bed house for me and the baby we would be looking for a 3 bed (for me, him, baby and his daughter).
Also would I be worse off and if so does anyone know by how much as I am petrified I will just not be able to cope with the money I receive.

Once the baby is born, as a single mother I will receive:
Housing Benefit of £103.85 a week (paid every 4 weeks)
Income Support of £67.50 a week (paid fortnightly)
Child Tax Credit of £59.62 and
Child Benefit of £20.30
Oh and Council Tax reduction but I am not sure on the amount for this.

How will this change if he does live with us? Can I claim for a 3 bed council house if he does live with us and obviously his daughter stays too?

I am so lost and confused, is there anyone who can help me please?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated, Thanks in advance xx

zagfles

Oh and Council Tax reduction but I am not sure on the amount for this.

You'd get council tax paid in full (assuming not above band E!)

How will this change if he does live with us? Can I claim for a 3 bed council house if he does live with us and obviously his daughter stays too?

The benefits system doesn't do shared care, I assume your partner's ex get all the child benefits/tax credits so he'd get nothing for his daughter.

If he lived with you while unemployed you'd get the above plus a bit more JSA, £106 a week instead of the £67 IS. Everything else would be the same.

If he worked the JSA would go but he might get working tax credit. You can checked on the turn2us calculator https://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/entitlementcalculator.aspx

sleepless_saver

If you want 3 bedrooms that's up to you, but note that if you were renting privately and claiming local housing allowance, you would be assessed for that on the basis of needing 2 bedrooms only (1 couple and 2 children under 10). So even if your income is low enough for you to get LHA, you'd still have to meet any extra costs from choosing 3 bedrooms instead of 2.

Not sure how it works for council house applications though.

FBaby

Don't you think your baby deserve the chance to live with his dad? Are you really basing your decision whether to live with your baby's dad or not on how much better off you will be claiming from tax payers?

Your priority should be to think hard as to whether you too can make a go at being a family together. If you think you do, then move in together. If that means you are struggling for some time financially, so be it. Benefits for single mothers is a mean to a last resort, not a financial choice...

BigAunty

The Shelter website has an excellent section on homelessness and which explains the local council's obligation to you.

See your local council website for information on how they allocate the bedroom size of the property to applicants. Your partner's daughter will not be counted if her primary residence is elsewhere. You can understand how much bigger the present housing crisis would be if a child was double counted across two properties every time there is a relationship breakdown between parents.

karenx

I really doubt you will get a council house, you are a low priority. You will be better getting another rented property.

neverdespairgirl

I'm fairly sure that council accommodation for you + baby will be 1 bed, not 2 bed, anyway.

missmontana

You'll be able to cope just fine, I managed it all on my own. Yes things were tight and still can be but it is do-able.
Have you been served an eviction notice? You will be classed as a priority with this and being pregnant. If the council were to home you now, before the baby is born, you will only get a one bed (this is what happened to me) if they house you after the baby is born, a 2 bed. If the baby father moves in you wouldn't be able to claim for a 3 bed as the other child doesn't live with you full time, you would have to make up the shortfall. Unless you can find a 3 bed that costs the same as the 2 bed rate! HB/LHA gets paid every 2 weeks (well, mine does) in arrears.
If the baby father doesn't live with you, he will have to support the child, so that would be extra money coming in for you.
You will also get vouchers for milk/fruit/veg, not sure what they are called these days, but it all helps.
Once you have been claiming for 26 weeks or more, you can apply for a budgeting loan to help you out and you may also be eligible for a Sure Start Maternity grant. Ask your midwife about that.

Good Luck!

SarahJane137

Zagfles: Thanks very much for your reply. I didn't realise about the shared care thing but it makes sense! And yes your right, his ex partner gets all that for his daughter, he gets nothing. So if he lived with us and was unemployed I would still get Housing benefit of £103.85 a week, Child Tax Credit of £59.62 and Child Benefit of £20.30, however instead of Income Support of £67.50 - we would get £106 JSA as a couple instead?
However if he worked (which he will be) my income support would stop but I would still claim the rest as normal?? Also he might get working tax credit but for who, his daughter or my child? Would him claiming working tax credits effect my child tax credit? Sorry I just get so confused with it all. I really appreciate your help though so thanks again!

Sleepless Saver: Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it. I personally would like three bedrooms as its not only what I have at the moment but as his daughter is 7 and I am expecting a baby boy I would like them to have a bedroom each - however I know what you mean about them both being under 10 and how they class it as them sharing a bedroom up until the age of 10! Also ideally I wouldn't want to be then moving again once his daughter turns 10 and can get her own room as I wouldn't expect her to be sharing with her baby brother at this age nevermind as she gets older - although I have learnt she wouldn't be classed as living with us as her primary residence is elsewhere as Big Aunty has informed me.
If we were allowed a three bedroom I wouldn't mind paying the housing difference for a three bedroom property instead of a two as it would be so much more practical due to our circumstances.
Also I have just been told the council have this new scheme now where all the housing associations are joining together to produce only one housing list - they first assess your circumstances and then tell you what you are entitled too (which I am assuming, and like you said would be a two bedroom property) you then 'bid' on property's you like until one is allocated to you.

Fbaby: I do not appreciate your opinionated opinion when I haven't asked what you think on the matter I have asked for peoples assistance on how I can move forward. I do not appreciate being judged by you when you do not know me, my babys dad or our personal circumstances/past! I am a decent person, have been to University and have seeked a full time professional job, however these are my circumstances at present and I will do whatever I have to do to make sure my child is well looked after and has a good life/upbringing! So please keep you opinion to yourself as there is no need for it.

Big Aunty: Many Thanks on your reply - I will definitely take a look on my local council and shelter website! I didn't think of the situation where her primary residence is elsewhere she wouldn't be counted as living with us as well - you are definitely right if all children were counted across two property's it would be a nightmare! So thanks again - learnt something new!

FBaby

You do get people's opinions when you post on forums especially when one states they are considering being on benefits because they might be better off financially. What is unacceptable is being rude which I wasn't. I think you are lucky to be given the chance to make it work with the dad of your baby if it is something you are prepared to consider. Raising a child on your own at your age is tough and of course, if you can try to make it work with your baby's dad, it will good for your baby's too. You asked for advice on how to move forward and I've provided that advice, sorry if it is not what you want to hear.

missmontana

Lots of if's and buts with your situation, just don't rush into anything you are not sure of hun, Get yourself and the baby sorted first before worrying about the man and his other child, it sounds like he wants to be there and support you which is a good start.

Personally, I'd get a 2 bed place to start with, then if things work out, see about a 3 bed rather than you being lumbered paying extra rent if doesn't all go to plan. You could look for a property with 2 reception rooms and turn one into a bedroom, or if a 2 bed has a big enough bedroom, partition it for the children to have their own space. I'm not sure the children would have to share as they are only half siblings... Maybe someone else knows that answer to that.