Impact of new contract job on my BR

A_Fresh_Start_3

I was made BR in November 2011 and was unemployed at the time. My wife has always covered all the bills and owns where we live, so I have no beneficial interest in the property.

Last week I started a new contract job for six months. My wife is on maternity leave, receiving only statutory pay and has been using her savings to support us.

Now that I have a job I want to take over all of the bills (we don't have a mortgage) so that she doesn't have to go back to work. My income will cover all of them, plus leave a little left over to go to my creditors.

I know that I have to complete a new SOA and send it in to the OR.

How long do I have to send this in?
Will the OR let me pay all the bills even though I haven't in the past?
As it is only a contract role, will the OR let me keep back any money for us to cover our bills once the contract ends?
What else do I need to bear in mind?

silvercar

You should tell the OR of a change in circumstances within 21 days.

Generally speaking the proportion of household essentials that you pay for is distributed according to your income. So if you are the only one with income then you pay all the bills, should that change you notify the OR again.

Ineedaname

Send a letter informing the OR of your change of circumstances. They will then send out an SOA for you to complete and as Silvercar says, you can only pay all the bills if you are the sole earner in the household. If your wife still receives maternity pay then her income must be taken into account pro rata against joint expenditure.