29 year old, now just working 16 hours per week, single with no kids

lowincomeworker

Good evening people.

Up until this week I have been working between 20-40 hours per week on minimum wage for the past year, I havent claimed anything during this time.

As of next week my hours will be set to the 16 hour contract I signed when I first accepted my job.

As far as I am aware I am not entitled to any working tax credits but according to the Birmingham City Council website I could be entitled to some housing benefit and help with council tax, at least until I find something full time.

At the moment I'm living in a bedsit paying £75 per week, luckily for me it isn't that bad here as I really couldnt afford anything else. Thats my only regular bill.

I called the Tax Credit helpline today and was surprised to hear theres no help available for workers doing between 16 and 30 hours work per week, is that right? If so that seems strange. They advised me to make a claim for jobseekers which looks asthough it will be a waste of time, as my income will exceed anything I could claim there.

Is there anything else I can look for to get extra help?

BigAunty

No, not aware of any other benefits you could be entitled to, apart from seeing if your council will give you a bit more discretionary housing benefit if you don't get full HB but this isn't guaranteed and would only be temporary.

Nothing surprising about the govt not wishing non-disabled youngsters without disabilities or dependents from accessing working tax credits - think they prefer the person to look into working full time to discourage benefit dependency the moment school leavers finish education, for example.

earthbound_misfit

Slightly unsure what the above poster means by "discretionary housing benefit" in your circumstances. You should definitely be entitled to some housing benefit - called 'local housing allowance' if you are renting privately. The council will have a list of maximum benefit rates for different size properties - as a single, under 35 yr old, you are only entitled to enough to rent a room in a shared house. This is called the single room rate.
Basically, if your income is lower than the single room rate + JSA (£71), then you should get some local housing allowance. (Because SRR + JSA would be your maximum entitlement if reliant solely on benefits).
I'd suggest contacting the council's housing benefit department asap, also claims can be backdated. You will need proof of your income/drop in income.

xylophone

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/index.htm

lowincomeworker

Surely my contract only being 16 hours per week would be evidence enough? I have it in hand here. Failing that I'm sure I could have a decision maker contact my employer directly.

I don't claim anything at the moment, no housing benefit etc. I am renting privately, doing the online calculator I'd be entitled to most of the rent given its quite low, it would certainly make things easier than potentially living off £25 a week (after paying for a roof over my head).

Backdating a claim isn't an issue, I don't care about what I might've been entitled to in the past, I didn't really need it up until now. Do any of you know how long a period there is between me making a claim to receiving money? When I'm paid this Friday I'll probably have enough to tide me over for a few weeks, at the end of next month I'll receive whatever 16 hours of minimum wage pays, its at that point things get a bit sticky and I start living on the £25 a week.

I suppose even if I am eating beans on toast for dinner every day, at least I'll have the time to get out and do something about this mess, how long that'll take is anyones guess.

This whole situation is a bloody farce, over the past 3 years I've done nothing but earn less than the previous year and have somehow ended up stuck in this crumby bedsit after breaking up with my ex lol. I was earning more money waiting tables in Pizza Hut 12 years ago when I was still at high school.

I've got to say, reading some of the stories on here about the various benefits and loopholes people are exploiting, the entire system is f****d from top to bottom.

BigAunty

earthbound_misfit wrote: »

Slightly unsure what the above poster means by "discretionary housing benefit" in your circumstances. ...

Sorry, believe it's actually known as discretionary housing payment. I don't know if it is given to those with employment income or just to those wholly on benefits but local councils have a pot of money where they can give out (on a discretionary basis) a temporary top-up to the claimants LHA when it falls short of the rent.

A claimant has to apply for it, won't necessarily be given it, it will only last a few months, maybe 6 months and won't get renewed. May not apply in this case but OP can enquire.

BigAunty

lowincomeworker wrote: »

..
Do any of you know how long a period there is between me making a claim to receiving money? When I'm paid this Friday I'll probably have enough to tide me over for a few weeks, at the end of next month I'll receive whatever 16 hours of minimum wage pays, its at that point things get a bit sticky and I start living on the £25 a week.

...

If, after 2 weeks of submitting your claim and if you submitted all the correct info with it, you can request the council gives you an interim housing benefit payment if they haven't got around to processing it. Apparently, this is the right of HB claimants but we get posts on here from people that applied for it whose council have ignored them....

mark24c

you will be entitled to housing benefit based on the full contractual rent for the first 13 weeks of your claim if you had paid the rent previously without claiming benefit for the last 52 weeks

lowincomeworker

Thanks guys, I'll get onto them Friday, first chance I'll get.

Good info Mark24c

lowincomeworker

Reading online, I'm really worried about whats going to happen, I only have a 16 hour per week contract but like I said I've been working more before now, apparently they want PAST payslips.

Does this mean they won't be able to help me until I've spent some time living on the £25 a week?! I've no idea what will happen, I might have to go see my council about homelessness prevention, I was homeless a couple of years ago for 2 months and I refuse to ever end up back there.

RAS

Please make the claim now, even if you have to provide the payslips later.

Also see if you can claim Council Tax Benefit (this may be included in your rent if the property is regarded as an HMO for CT purposes).