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Income Support and Ctc

shoe*diva79
Posts: 1,356 Forumite
Good evening
Sadly I find myself in the position of single with 2 children. I spoken to the job centre today and applied over the telephone for Income SUpport (children aged 13 and 20 months) and also got through to tax credits for a claim pack. Do you know howlong claims can take?
Also, my ex is moving out of the property. He owns it (i am not financially connected to it) and he is going to sell it so I shall be looking at renting privately. Is there any help I can get with deposit and first months rent whilst my claims are going through? I dont have to move immediately or anything so its not a major rush but Id like to start looking at my options.
Thank you.
Sadly I find myself in the position of single with 2 children. I spoken to the job centre today and applied over the telephone for Income SUpport (children aged 13 and 20 months) and also got through to tax credits for a claim pack. Do you know howlong claims can take?
Also, my ex is moving out of the property. He owns it (i am not financially connected to it) and he is going to sell it so I shall be looking at renting privately. Is there any help I can get with deposit and first months rent whilst my claims are going through? I dont have to move immediately or anything so its not a major rush but Id like to start looking at my options.
Thank you.
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Comments
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some councils offer help with deposits,sooner you get your i/s and ctc claims in the sooner they will be dealt with,but housing benefit can take a few weeks0
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Thank you. IS was applied for over the phone today and the lady said she would get the declaration form sent out in the post today. CTC are sending a claim pack today sonas soon as I receive ill get that sent back to. Hopefully they wont take to long.
Ill give the council a call tomorrow about rent deposit scheme and see if they can help.0 -
I'm sorry to hear of your situation. It can take from 2-4wks to sort out Is and CTC claims. Go to your local council and ask for an aapointment with the housing department, they can help with deposits etc with private rental and give you the LHA rates for a 2 bedroom or 3 bedroom property. They'll tell you what your entitlement is and how much you'll get towards your rent, council tax is normally fully paid. They will also put you on the register for council housing or you can register with Home Choice. You're now threatened with homelessness so you should get some support and advice about that.
Make sure that you're claiming your healthy start vouchers if you have any children under 4. These are milk tokens revamped, you can also spend them on fruit and veg! You get £3:10 a week per child (children under 1 get two x £3:10 vouchers a week).
Sort out maintenance payments straight away as this can take months. Speak to your ex partner and make arrangements with him. If he has no intention of paying then ring the CSA. Even if he is unemployed, you should still get £5 a week from him!
I hope this has helped and I wish you the best of luck.0 -
Thank you ladyrider. I have a appt next friday with the housing people. They have told me to fill out a housing app so they can refer me for the rent deposit. I am not fussed about a council property and would rather rent private so i can get the kind of house i would like rather then being shoved in a 2 bed tower block (which is what i am entitled to). Because of the ages of the girls (almost 14 and almost 2) i would prefer they had their own bedroom.
Me and the ex are so far remaining very amicable and altho we aent yet made an agreement for maintenance he is very happy to contribute a fair amount we can agree on.
I didnt know about the vouchers for healthy start - is that something that will happen automaticall on IS or do I need to apply?
Ex is being very fair at the moment and is happy to take me shopping to furnish a property. He just wants what is best for the little one - long may it continue!0 -
As soon as you have received the document and signed it, they will make an appointment at the Jobcentre for you to go through the form and hand it in and do the final checks.
I am taking it you have the child benefit in your name very important.
If you and your ex come to an agreement re maintenance all the better.
It doesnt matter if he gives you £100 per week its doesnt effect your I.S, its disregarded also same applies to HB
Could you get him to pay the deposit for you instead of maintenance maybe.
The Jobcentre will send the document to your local BDC, our target is eight working days to process the new claim, but most take about 14 days.
IS is paid two weeks in arrears. When the claim is processed apply for your vouchers
http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthy-start-vouchers/
CTC will take about the same time maybe a little longer.
Sad to hear about your split, but nice you are your ex are trying to remain on good terms. Hope you get sorted soon0 -
Thanks. I got the IS document today. It states I do not need to see anyone (advisor interview postponed?!) and all i needed to do was sign the declaration and include evidence of maintenance I receive for the eldest child so I included the last assessment letter from the CSA. I also photocopied my driving licence and passport as altho the letter didnt ask for ID, I figure they need something! Anyhow, I have posted it all straight back today. No sign of Tax Credits app yet.
Should I wait until I have confirmation before applying for the vouchers?
With regard to the ex, we both have bad experiences with the CSA from our other children from previous relationships so we really want to come to a private agreement which is fair to us both. I have just posted on the CSA board for advice on 2 other aspects of his income so I can sit down with him and bounce some figures about!
Thanks for the help guys. Appreciate it.0 -
the interview, is called a WFI, work focused interview, usually you need to attend this before the claim can be processed, but if it says it has been delayed then fine.
I would wait before you apply for the vouchers, you have to be in receipt of I.S before they can issued, when your claim is processed your children will be input onto your claim and this confirm that you are entitled to the vouchers, so as soon as its processed apply....
I.S need proof of maintenance but its not taken into account but it does show on your claim but is fully disregarded..
You will be called into a WFI at a later date.
I am surprised you didnt have to go in to the jobcentre but havent processed new claims for a year so things may have changed0
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