Benefits advce needed

Zara33

fifi could i suggest that you take a look at this website, it might help you greatly

http://www.nacc.org.uk/content/services/testAdults.asp

(i'm sure someone from MSE directed me to this site before)

exil

You may well be entitled to Housing Benefit, depending on what your rent actually is.

fifi2212

Thanks guys, I am definitely going to keep trying the CAB.
nd to answer your question I have been tested for every bowel disorder going and they insist its IBS.

Swishter

I don't want to do you down the aim of my post is to make you aware of the situation. What I think you need to do is get in contact with your local welfare rights, if you look on your local councils website or in the yellow pages you should be able to get details there. They can give you accurate advice based on your circumstances and assist you with claims.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but as a single person on your wage you are unlikely to receive any support with you rent and council tax, although you may get some tax credit.

The government threshold for what you can live on (not including rent and council tax) is only around £59 per week. if £12.5K is your gross then you take home around £857 per month, this gives you approx £197 per week. Based on £59 per week allowance you have £138 excess income of which you are expected 65% toward your rent, which means than you would get assistance on the portion of rent over £388 per month. Bear in mind that the rent officer will need to determine what they define as a reasonable rent first, if you are paying £450 per month on rent but they determine a reasonable rent to be £350 then you will get no help whatsoever. Further if you rent a 2 bed house the rent they would pay benefit on would be reduced (even if reasonable or if the property was cheaper than local one beds) because you only need a one bed to meet your basic housing needs. If you are under 25 and with no dependants it gets more complicated as you are only entitled to a single room rent, which means the average rent for a single room in a shared house in your area. If you think you may be entitled to benefit you can ask for a pre tenancy determination to find out what the council will pay before you commit to the tenancy. You are expected to pay 20% of your excess toward your council tax which is £27.60 so even on a hige house with your spd you are unlikely to get any help.

Also, as you have owned the property jointly even if you sign over your share it can still be counted for capital purposes as you are no longer living there.

On another note maybe you can afford it? Until I took a second job my take home was £1100 and I paid out £500 a month to debt repayments, I live alone to0. You have over £200 more a month than I live on. My extra cash seems to goto debts. Maybe the old style, debt free or budgeting boards can help you acheive what you want?

Good luck