Redundant on 30/11/12 - what can I claim, and when please?

McKneff

Hopefully you will have found another job by then,

The upside is that you are very very lucky to be single and in subsidised housing.

Have a look around and see how much the private renting sector is paying.

Morlock

McKneff wrote: »

The upside is that you are very very lucky to be single and in subsidised housing.

Oh God, not again. How is council housing subsidised?

pmlindyloo

You will be entitled to contribution based JSA (based on your NI contributions during the last two tax years.) This is not means tested and any savings/capital/income will not make any difference.


You can then apply for HB and CT separately. This is means tested, so your savings (including your redundancy money) will be taken into account (on a sliding scale above £6000)

Benefits do not take into account any debts.

If you are still out of work at the end of 6 months (when the contribution based JSA stops) you can then be assessed for income based JSA. If you are awarded this then you will be entitled to full HB (up to your local housing allowance for privately rented accommodation - check what this is on your local council website - dependant on age and status). You can have up to £6000 savings when you claim income based JSA.

Hopefully you will get a job before then.

If you are on a DMP ( you used a free service I hope!) you may want to let them know your change of circumstances so they can adjust your payments.

Please be aware that you are not allowed to pay off any of your debts unless there is a very good reason to do so e.g. threat of court action - seems unlikely as you are in a DMP. This would be seen as deprivation of capital (google for more information) and the various benefit departments woud treat you as if you still had the money.

You can, of course, spend your redundancy money on living expenses but you will be expected to use it sensibly and not blow it on the 'holiday of a lifetime' if you want to claim benefits in the long term.

Sorry to be the bearer of not too much good news but you will be fine!

LunaLady

Morlock wrote: »

Oh God, not again. How is council housing subsidised?

Its cheaper than private rent!

pandaspot

You won't get full hb or Ctb on jsa conts. Also you will have to pay water rates for yourself.

Hopefully you will find a new job by April cause if you are under occupying your hb will be cut, and Ctb is going in April and being replaced with a localised scheme, your are more than likely have to pay more ctax as well.

Morlock

LunaLady wrote: »

Its cheaper than private rent!

By that logic, private rentals have a higher subsidy, right?

LunaLady

No.

Private rentals are at the market rate. Council houses are cheaper and therefore subsidised.

I rent in an area where there are also LHA houses. I know some of my neighbours (and friends) pay less than I do.

Morlock

LunaLady wrote: »

No.

Private rentals are at the market rate. Council houses are cheaper and therefore subsidised.

Just because something is cheaper, does not mean that it is subsidised.

LunaLady wrote: »

I rent in an area where there are also LHA houses. I know some of my neighbours (and friends) pay less than I do.

If you and your friends all claimed housing benefit, who would receive the most, or be subsidised more?

miduck

Morlock wrote: »

Just because something is cheaper, does not mean that it is subsidised.



If you and your friends all claimed housing benefit, who would receive the most, or be subsidised more?

Not everyone is on benefits! Are you suggesting those that pay their own rent in private accommodation are subsidised in any way, like their counterparts in social housing?

Morlock

miduck wrote: »

Not everyone is on benefits! Are you suggesting those that pay their own rent in private accommodation are subsidised in any way, like their counterparts in social housing?

How is someone who pays their own rent whilst living in council housing being subsidised?

Rent being cheaper is not a subsidy, it means that less profit goes to the landlord.