Its all new to me, help please !!!

welsh-dragon_3

Hi all,
My 13 year old son Has come to live with me,

I have just finished some contracting work on dec 2011, but am not claiming any thing at the mo i.e JSA.

Last week my son said he wants to live with me now full time.
am wondering where I stand if I dont find work soon, I.e claiming.

I own my house with a £67,000 morgage and £7000 home improvement loan. My morgage is about £400 month

Ive done the "benefits adviser" on the GOV website and it came back with about £170 week, as I do work part time on and off in a homeless nightshelter and get £85 a shift, and about 3 shifts a month I think it will work out at, the part time work will 100% end march...

What help will get to pay my morgage, as i remember years ago when I claimed JSA they said I had to be signing on for 6months before I would get help, but now I have my son with me and a single parent...
I would be very grateful if someone could help me out, or forward the right department to contact...
Many thanks

MrsManda

Are you going to be claiming Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits, receiving maintanence from your son's mother?

Why are you not claiming JSA?

How are you managing to pay your mortgage now?
I don't think you'll be able to get mortgage interest support though I'm sure someone else will be along soon who has experience in that area.

BigAunty

Have a look at the Shelter website which has a section for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage. This includes info on how to prevent repossesion and the various govt schemes, including Support for Mortgage Interest, SMI, which has a strict qualifying criteria and can be time limited.

Go to the Debt Free wanabee board to discuss options for handling the 7k home improvement loan - there isn't a benefit that will help you cope with this. SMI, for example, only applies to the original mortgage, not any further loans or remortgage.

karenx

As you are working you wont get any help with your mortgage, and theres no help with any loans/debts even if you were on benefits

Claim the child benefit and child tax credits and you will get working tax credits as your working

BigAunty

karenx wrote: »

...

Claim the child benefit and child tax credits and you will get working tax credits as your working

For a lone parent, this requires 16 hours per week to qualify and the OP works 3 shifts per month! So unless these are more than 20 hours in duration each, he wont' qualify for WTC.

pmlindyloo

Have a look at this website. It should get you started as to what benefits you may be entitled to:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/YourMoney/DG_4003043

welsh-dragon_3

Great thanks all for the speedy reply,
am not claiming JSA at the mo as I had £5000 in the bank and i was working on my house every day so was not avalible for work, am converting the loft for my son and now the £5000 has gone.
so in the next week or two I will be starting to claim something....

the part time work is relief work in a homeless nightshelter and is about 3 shifts a month one shift is about 14hours.. but this will 100% stop in march.....

thanks again folks for taking time out to answer
I think I need to speak to someone on the phone, is it the GOV website I need to look....