Need some advice on benefits please..

Sarah1971

I have posted this on another MSE forum and was advised to post on her regarding advice on benefits, here is my original post...

This is a long story but I'll try and keep it short.

I was left on my own just over 2 years ago when my youngest son was born, by my ex husband (I have 6 year old and a 2 year old). I had to return to work earlier than expected to make ends meet.

After struggling all this time juggling childcare, money, stressful job etc I've done a mad and silly thing. I quit my job. Mainly due to stress and depression. I couldn't cope any longer doing all this on my own. I have no friends or family members that live close to me.

Anyway I finish a week on Friday and my income will just be my monthly child maintenance and child allowance, I get tax credits but I think that will stop if I'm not working.

I am seeing my doctor on Friday, 1st appointment I could get, to tell him that I think I'm suffering from depression and could he sign me off for my final working week, I feel ill at the thought of having to go back in there. What do I do from there? Are there any benefits I can claim towards looking after the children, paying the bills, the mortgage. I have just enough equity in the house to pay off all my debt but then we would be homeless if I was forced to sell. I have no savings. No access to any money whatsoever. I am really really scared and feel like I'm going to lose everything.

I'm thinking of going to the CAB next Monday with a list of all of my outgoings and asking for their help. Is this the best thing to do?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

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I had some really helpful replies to this in the other forum and I was advised to try the entitled to website. I did this and it looks like I would be better off not working as I would have no childcare costs, 100% council tax relief and I would get free prescriptions etc. Can anyone tell me whether this could possibly be the case.

My only income I entered was my child maint £300 pm and child allowance for 2 children. In the section for housing costs I entered my weekly costs at £180 which is my mortgage payment. I looked into this and it says that they only help with this after 8 weeks then it's only 50% until week 19 then 100%. Also that this was only for clients who fell into various categories, I think I would fall into the category of single parents whose partner abandoned them? could anyone clarify this for me please?

Morglin

The "entitledto" website is pretty good for giving details of entitlement.

This is a good guide:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Bfsl1/BenefitsAndFinancialSupport/Expecting_or_bringing_up_children/index.htm

But, the CAB are good - so I would go and ask them what you could claim for.

Lin

Scarlett1

Sarah1971 wrote: »

I have posted this on another MSE forum and was advised to post on her regarding advice on benefits, here is my original post...

This is a long story but I'll try and keep it short.

I was left on my own just over 2 years ago when my youngest son was born, by my ex husband (I have 6 year old and a 2 year old). I had to return to work earlier than expected to make ends meet.

After struggling all this time juggling childcare, money, stressful job etc I've done a mad and silly thing. I quit my job. Mainly due to stress and depression. I couldn't cope any longer doing all this on my own. I have no friends or family members that live close to me.

Anyway I finish a week on Friday and my income will just be my monthly child maintenance and child allowance, I get tax credits but I think that will stop if I'm not working.

I am seeing my doctor on Friday, 1st appointment I could get, to tell him that I think I'm suffering from depression and could he sign me off for my final working week, I feel ill at the thought of having to go back in there. What do I do from there? Are there any benefits I can claim towards looking after the children, paying the bills, the mortgage. I have just enough equity in the house to pay off all my debt but then we would be homeless if I was forced to sell. I have no savings. No access to any money whatsoever. I am really really scared and feel like I'm going to lose everything.

I'm thinking of going to the CAB next Monday with a list of all of my outgoings and asking for their help. Is this the best thing to do?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

---

I had some really helpful replies to this in the other forum and I was advised to try the entitled to website. I did this and it looks like I would be better off not working as I would have no childcare costs, 100% council tax relief and I would get free prescriptions etc. Can anyone tell me whether this could possibly be the case.

My only income I entered was my child maint £300 pm and child allowance for 2 children. In the section for housing costs I entered my weekly costs at £180 which is my mortgage payment. I looked into this and it says that they only help with this after 8 weeks then it's only 50% until week 19 then 100%. Also that this was only for clients who fell into various categories, I think I would fall into the category of single parents whose partner abandoned them? could anyone clarify this for me please?

understand your predicament hun as im a single parent myself, but with the amount of mainteance you get you are better off working as you will get WTC/CTC, help with childcare costs, and free prescriptions because you are on a low wage.

You wont get Income Support because the maintenance is around £75 per week which is more than the IS rate, so that would mean you wouldnt get any help with the mortgage interest rate either, do go to see the CAB because they are more experienced so will help you, good luck