Advice on benefits for Parents

FieldHammond

Hi
Hope you can help.
I have read a lot of the sticky threads for advice and its so confusing, I just need a little help.
We ARE awaiting a trip to CAB to advice.

My dad is a self employed bricklayer and was out of work for 2 years, doing odd jobs for friends and family to keep him busy. Last year he finally got a job but on friday his boss "let him go" because he seemed to be struggling with a bad back.
While he was out of work, the only benefits they could get was Working Tax Credits. They did get Housing benefit but that was taken off them and mum had to pay it back.
Now he is out of work again and they are going to get into the same situation as they did last year, close to losing their house.

Mum works about 25-29 hours a week.
Dad is self employed.
Get Tax Credits and nothing else.
As far as I know Dad has not paid NI due to being out of work but was paying it at this last job (i think)

Is he enititled to JSA?
Surely there is some help for them until he finds another job. He has no money coming in and mum has to use all her money for bills and have hardly any left for food or even a £5 for herself.

He is now 60 and Mum is 57.

Advice.
We are off to CAB this week and the Job centre keep shuffling us from phone line to phone line.

Just need some advice on where to go so we aren't wasting time in getting benefits and looking for a job (which we are activiely doing)

pmlindyloo

OK just a few more questions

How much does your mum earn?

Do they own their own house or is it rented?

Do either of your parents have disabilities?

MrsManda

To add to the above, do they have any savings/property (other than the house they live in)?

If they put their household income into one of the benefits calculators it'll give a rough idea of what they may be able to claim.
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=

pmlindyloo

MrsManda wrote: »

To add to the above, do they have any savings/property (other than the house they live in)?

If they put their household income into one of the benefits calculators it'll give a rough idea of what they may be able to claim.
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=

Absolutely agree with this.

Without knowing their full circumstances then it is difficult to suggest which benefits they could apply for.

Off the top of my head and without any further information they will be:

JSA or ESA if your dad is too sick to work.
HB and CTB.
Contact tax credits and let them know the change of circumstances.

Any disabilities, then maybe DLA.

Unfortunately the benefit situation is tricky for self employed people especially if they haven't paid enough NI contributions.

You say your dad is still self employed. Is he still getting odd jobs? Would he be better off trying to get a job where he is employed? I know it is not easy at his age. Have he tried B&Q or local supermarkets?

Can your mother get more hours where she is?

Have they tried to cut down on their expenditure? (posting a statement of affaris on the Debtfree wannabe forum may help)

Sorry to waffle on but we need more information to give detailed help.

FieldHammond

Sorry, should have clued you in a bit

For pmlindyloo
Yeah mum earns about £650 a month (not including overtime)
They rent a council house.
No disabilities but Dad has some medical issues that cause pain.

MrsManda
No property or savings at all (so things are gonna get desperate if we don't get help!!)
Thanks for the link, will look into it.

We are looking into jobs where he would be employed, but a lot ask for experience and I doubt they will take a chance on a 60 year old. But we are looking at delivery drivers, odd jobs, handyman etc. Going into retail etc is gonna be hard as they go for the younger generation (i am in retail and know what it is like)
But we are not sitting back, we are looking and applying for jobs. I am not one to sit still!!

Mum does get tax credits, but not a lot due to the fact she done "some" overtime last year!
She can't do anymore hours are work as she works in retail and they rarely have the hours to offer as its a big company and all hours are covered pretty much all the time.
As for disabilities. No. Dad does suffer from a condition (no idea of the name at the moment) which requires a medical ID bracelet (we have yet to get) and he was exempt from paying prescriptions for it. Not sure that would be classed as an illness or disability that would mean he could get benefits for it.
Mum tried housing benefit recently but they refused. Surely a house who only brings in £650 a month is entitled to HB. Mum said it had something to do with dad not signing on for JSA, which from what I have heard, he wouldn't be able to do because of his self employed status.

We looked at reducing their outgoings which is impossible as its all bills, pension and food. The only luxury is a few quid a month for broadband on top of their TV/Phone package.

Its heartbreaking to think that no help can be given to them aside from a few quid from WTC. Me and my brother had to buy them food last year as they had nothing. I am considering stocking up their freezer and cupboard so they don't have to worry for a few weeks!!

I appreciate the help so far.

Newly_retired

you said
Mum tried housing benefit recently but they refused. Surely a house who only brings in £650 a month is entitled to HB. Mum said it had something to do with dad not signing on for JSA,

Just to pick out a small section,
surely they could get HB on grounds of low income, rather than because of a specific benefit? How long since she was turned down? You have one month from date of decision letter to challenge this. Or make a fresh claim.

FieldHammond

Not sure on precise details. But it was a while back so she didn't try claiming again.
I have tried 3 different benefits calculators with as much info as I can enter (mum is at work and dad is useless with figures) and each say she is entitled to HB.)
We have always said they should get HB but the council had different ideas. Maybe mum entered info wrong on the HB form as I didn't see it before she sent it.

FieldHammond

Still looking into benefits, but like I said EACH benefit caluclator I use on the internet says mum is entitled to some HB.

Someone mentioned Pension Credit but as my dad is just 60 he doesn't really qualify (despite one website saying he is)
So there really is no help for a 60 year old, trying his best to find a job, and durning that time, has to suffer with NO money coming in and my mums money going on all bills and food.

I will find something that helps!!

pmlindyloo

OK. While you wait for your CAB appointment I would get the forms for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. They are means tested but you do not have to be receiving JSA or ESA to be eligible.

It appears that your dad is not entitled to income based JSA as your mum is earning too much (I know! I know!)

Also it seems your dad is not entitled to contribution based JSA because he has not paid the correct NI contributions (class 1, I believe)

If your dad is eligible for ESA because of his bad back and being unfit for work (would his doctor issue a fit note? (the old sick note) then he may be entitled to contribution based ESA if he has paid the correct NI contributions (class 2, I believe). Again, he is not entitled to income based ESA because of your Mum's earnings.

Your dad would not be entitled to Pension Credit because he does not qualify yet.

Does he have care needs/mobility needs? If he does he may be entitled to DLA (CAB will help with this.)

At the moment I would suggest that you complete the HB and CTB forms.

Have you also informed Tax Benefits of the change of circumstances? Not sure if it would alter the award but worth a try.

Good luck!

FieldHammond

I had a feeling it was bad news!

Well Dad is off to Drs tomorrow, but not sure how that will finish. He is also heading to JC with my brother as he can not get through on the phone to make an appointment so they are heading there to see if they get any joy.
Def going to pick up HB and CTB forms and we have considered mum dropping her hours at work, at the moment what she earns is sucked up into rent, tax and bills. Its just scary to all of a sudden drop the hours without reassurance she will get benefits to cover. Don't want them to be worse off.

Dad has been struggling more recently due to his back and general older age. Hopefully the dr will see this too.

As for Pension Credit. Someone told my mum HE was going to get it and he is not even 60 yet, My dad is. How did that happen.

Notmyrealname

Your dad can't claim contributions based JSA because he was self employed and your mum earns too much for him to get income based although his stamp would get paid. However his Class 2 NIC contributions do count towards claiming Contributions Based ESA which would be awarded for 6 months regardless of mums income.