To work or not to work??

Nickynoo1

Hi.

I recently returned to work part time and my son is 11 months old. I dont get it. I think i'd be better off on I.S. I'm single btw.

I have mortgage so pay £520 per month to that, plus £70 council tax (entitled to 19p per week CTB), average £430 p/m child care costs (have tax credits), other bills £220 ish. which leaves me £60 odd for food/living for the month.

If i go on I.S, and they pay my mortgage interest ( and i switch to interest only for a while)I'd get full CTB. So i'd only have to pay out my other bills of £220.

Think my applicable amount i'd get from IS would be around £120 per week which is about £520 per month. If i only pay my bills that would leave a surplus of £300 per month for food/living.

I like working and feel i should but am finding it difficult to manage, especially when they raise interest rates each month. Annoying to know if i was renting would be so much better off each month with HB. And its a big difference.- £240.

What would you do??

Nickynoo1

milkydrink

Well you can't live on £60 pm:eek:

Perhaps your working benefits are wrong & something is missing?

Maybe someone will see it & tell you what help you may be missing out on, or what about the CAB perhaps they do benefits advice.

I would try & keep your morgage & not rent if anyway anyhow possible, if you rent you are lining someones elses pockets.

Good Luck

Nickynoo1

i get
wages £555
tax credits £680
CB £70
TOTAL £1305

I pay out
Mortgage £520
Child care £430
bills £220
Council tax £70
TOTAL 1240

How depressing!!

Zara33

No child support? CSA

Also why don't you get Child tax credits?

Nickynoo1

the £680 tax credits includes, ctc, wtc and ccc.

No child support. Father is portuguese. Living in Portugal.

Nickynoo1

Zara33

Nicky there is something missing not sure what though because generally you are better working than not.

dmg24

Nicky,

Have you checked that you can definitely claim for your mortgage interest? There are specific rules on this subject? x

rachnbri

You would not get payments towards mortgage interest until you had been claiming Income Support for 39 weeks (depending on when the mortgage was taken out). Income Support is £57.45/week and Child Tax Credit is about £44/week (£54 until your child turns 1). You would also get council tax benefit which should cover the full amount of your council tax.

Have you checked with entitled to.com to ensure you're receiving the tight amount of in work benefits?

msmicawber

I'd recommend looking at your bills as well to see whether you could make some savings there. If you want, you could post a statement of affairs on the DFW board and get some advice on how to get your bills down.

liney

How many hours are you working for £555? Child care looks ever so expensive for part time hours, ie £99 per week. Day care around here is £120 for a full week or there abouts, and obviously you are getting some of this paid.

lottee

Lot's of great advice here. But this is what hacks me off - here you have someone who is quite clearly trying to help themself, but is only just managing to live by the looks of things. Sorry, but had to get that off my chest! I think it's so sad that people have to consider giving up their jobs in order to be better off on benefits/help they will then get.
A big pat on the back from me Nickynoo, hope things get easier & some of the advice the others have given is a help to you x