Can I claim anything?

2helpneeded

My wife was dismissed from work today. I am working, when I checked the benefits entitlement calculator it states zero entitlement.
However it doesn't appear to take into account other financial commitments ie credit cards and loans, which significantly reduce my income.
Does anyone know if these types of commitments are taken into account when calculating any benefit entitlement. As it currently stands with the outgoings we can't find a way of paying the rent!

krisskross

Benefit entitlement is sort of written in stone and your financial commitments play no part.

However with decreased income you could look into Housing benefit and Council tax benefit plus if your income is low then perhaps Working tax credit.

You can model your income and circumstances at https://www.turn2us.org.uk

BigAunty

Personal expenses, including debts, are NEVER taken into account when calculating benefit entitlement - even the non-resident parents child support payments are ignored if they are separated from their kids. The key driver for the calculation is actual income, not how the household spends it.

Pop over to the Debt Free Wanabee board and look at the Debt Management info on the Direct Gov website. If you are not entitled to any benefits, then what you have is purely a budgeting/debt issue - you need advise on how to deal with your creditors.

Also, download the MSE budget planner and work through the site to identify where to slash expenditure and up your income- cheaper tariffs, frugal recipes, etc.

Torry_Quine

If she has been paying NI contributions for the last two relevant years then she will be entitled to six months contribution based JSA.

pmlindyloo

Torry_Quine wrote: »

If she has been paying NI contributions for the last two relevant years then she will be entitled to six months contribution based JSA.

Unlikely. She was dismissed from her job so she is likely to be sanctioned.

princessdon

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Unlikely. She was dismissed from her job so she is likely to be sanctioned.

Redundancy is a form of dismissal. I hate those "dismissal meetings" - It is possible that this is redundancy although I thought the same as you.

pmlindyloo

princessdon wrote: »

Redundancy is a form of dismissal. I hate those "dismissal meetings" - It is possible that this is redundancy although I thought the same as you.

I suspect that not many people would use the word dismissed if they had been made redundant, although I agree that it is a form of dismissal.

benefitbaby

I am wondering... why she was dismissed (did the employer act reasonably and within the law) ?

princessdon

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I suspect that not many people would use the word dismissed if they had been made redundant, although I agree that it is a form of dismissal.

Local Authorities like to make you feel even worse and deem every letter with the word dismissal. Gives a real feel good vibe.

Torry_Quine

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Unlikely. She was dismissed from her job so she is likely to be sanctioned.

While the decision re sanction is made she will be paid JSA and any sanction may not be that long anyway.

DannyboyMidlands

Credit cards and loans do not reduce your income. They are expenses and entirely within your control. The taxpayer is not going to pay off your debts for you. Sorry.

Otherwise I'd go out tomorrow and buy a Bentley on HP - then quit my job and get you lot to pay for it.