MSE News: Autumn Statement: Benefits to rise by just 1%

Morlock

wayne0 wrote: »

in 10 years of working i have spent about 1 yr on benefits (2 claims) both times recieving about a fiver a week because i worked at the same time...

I can tell you, i know how easy it is to put money aside when on benefits... i saved up about 900 quid in about 6 months when i was on jsa a couple of years ago... i wish i could do that now i work...

i got my whole rent paid, plus council tax paid, a 25 quid cold weather payment for fuel (if temps were as cold as this week)

You managed to save £900 in six months claiming JSA a couple of years ago? So, you were living on around £25 per week to pay for bills, food and any other necessities. Also, why did you qualify for a cold weather payment? Just claiming JSA will not net you a cold weather payment. I smell bullsh*t.

princessdon

Gareth56 wrote: »

More supposition! The fact is that someone coming off CB ESA after one year with a partner earning >£150 a week or who just works more than 24 hours a week are expected to live off that.

QED

The fact is that someone coming of Cont based JSA that lasted only 6 months with a partner would get less.

And NO if they earnt £151 a week that is not all they get, they are entitled to low income related benefits such as CTC, HB and WTC.

What they won't get is benefit in their own right but they would not be expected to pay rent, council tax on £151 pw.

seven-day-weekend

Gareth56 wrote: »

More supposition! The fact is that someone coming off CB ESA after one year with a partner earning >£150 a week or who just works more than 24 hours a week are expected to live off that.

QED

Then as a family they may be entitled to other Benefits such as Tax Credits.

Gareth56

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Then as a family they may be entitled to other Benefits such as Tax Credits.

May!!!!!!!

princessdon

Gareth56 wrote: »

May!!!!!!!

Unless they had no mortage, no rent, no children, didn't work the 24 hours needed for WTC, and no council tax, then they would get some additional benefits.

Not sure how many fit into that category, but I feel sure most would get additional benefits.

Of course it doesn't always happen that way, some DO lose. Eg my OH was made redundant in a year or so ago, because I worked part time (at that time), we got cont based at £71 pw.

Hypothetically if he had not found a job when it ended we would have continued to get nothing bar the child benefit.

So yes there are some who lose but they are few and far between and not the majority IMO.

Gareth56

princessdon wrote: »

The fact is that someone coming of Cont based JSA that lasted only 6 months with a partner would get less.

How can you get less than nothing! Also we've established that HB is not paid to those people who don't rent and to SMI you need to be on income related benefits. Also you have to work a certain number of hours to qualify for tax credits. These are not all automatic benefits that a couple with one partner bringing home £150 can claim.

It has been suggested that given the situation where someone's CB ESA is coming to an end and the partner earns just above the IR ESA threshold that the partner gives up their job thus enabling the household to claim IR ESA and other income related benefits. This was factored into the Impact Assessment that the government carried out when they estimated how many sick/disabled people would loose their CB ESA s a result of time limiting.

princessdon

True, but ESA gives cont based for 12 mos and JSA gives it for 6 mos

Also the test for IR ESA is higher than JSA, so technically the partner can earn pennies more.

I am not saying I agree it's fair, I am just saying that MOST will have other benefits or a decent wage.

Very few at £151 pw will not have either additional salary or benefits.

I agree Re giving up a job - Work doesn't always pay, its the same for many.

Look at my personal situation. We had to raise myself, hubby AND children on £71 pw JSA, my wages of 12 hours a week, and CB. Nothing else. I had a mortgage etc.

If I gave up work, we'd have got full tax credits, free school meals, SMI etc.

Working doesn't always pay

Gareth56

princessdon wrote: »

Unless they had no mortage, no rent, no children, didn't work the 24 hours needed for WTC, and no council tax, then they would get some additional benefits.

Not sure how many fit into that category, but I feel sure most would get additional benefits.

I'm not too sure how they cannot have any Council Tax obligation in light of a working partner being in the household, however the Impact Assessment on Time Limiting CB ESA may shed some light on your uncertainty!

For interest if you're aged 25 or over, you need to do paid work of at least 30 hours a week to qualify for WTC.

Gareth56

princessdon wrote: »

Very few at £151 pw will not have either additional salary or benefits.

What other income related benefits can you claim if you are earning £151/week and working less than 30 hours/week?

seven-day-weekend

Gareth56 wrote: »

May!!!!!!!

I said may because some people may not be entitled, but if the income as a family is low enough for their circumstances then they will be entitled to low-income support of some nature.

You know, my son works 24 hours at little more than minimum wage, he lives with his girlfriend who has a disability and claims DLA, he claims no Benefits and they pay their way, including my son paying a mortgage. His girlfriend does work but only minimum wage and in fact I think they would actually be entitled to a small amount of Council Tax Benefits and a bit of Tax Credits, but they have never claimed and manage well. So I do know that it is possible to live on a small income.

No one family has to live on £57 a week, that is just giving a false impression