Can I - Should I claim

debtfree1day

Hi, I dont think I will get much or probably any money, but is there an advantage in making a claim

Situation

Aug 12 took redundancy
Sep to Nov took temp job
Dec 12 been doing some networking / CV sending, and prepping for xmas
JAN 13 - Need a job

Home - Mortgage, wife, 3 children under 18 and 1 over (uni living at home)

Assets - c 30k of redundnacy, old car, some odd shares

Debts - credit cards.....£15k

like I say, any benefit in applying for anything? school dinners? council tax relief? NI stamps etc etc?

If so how would I do it?

[Deleted User]

debts dont count,savings/shares over 16k preclude you from means tested benefits,only cont based JSA left to claim

HappyMJ

You can claim JSA. Contributions based JSA will pay you £71.00 per week no matter how much cash you have. Then over the next 6 months you would live your life normally spending the £30k of redundancy money on general living expenses and repaying your debts. Credit card debt is considered short term debt so can be repaid in full with your money. If you need more money you can always use them again to buy essesntial items with. This should reduce your cash to under £6,000 if possible then after 6 months you can switch to income based JSA which will get you and your OH £111.45 a week. You can also claim Child Tax Credits. You won't get any council tax benefit until you have less than £16,000 in cash. The value of the car doesn't count.

Go online and apply for JSA. If you did it today your claim would start from today. https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/how-to-claim

debtfree1day

Thank you both. I am not worried about 6 months plus. I am confident I will find work - even if its not what I am after

re child tax credits...does the Jsa application link straight thru(never applied previously as salary with wife was over 70k)...or do I need to go elsewhere

benefitbaby

The JSA does not 'link through' to HMRC for a CTC claim you need to contact them separately

HappyMJ

debtfree1day wrote: »

Thank you both. I am not worried about 6 months plus. I am confident I will find work - even if its not what I am after

re child tax credits...does the Jsa application link straight thru(never applied previously as salary with wife was over 70k)...or do I need to go elsewhere

Child tax credits are claimed through HMRC.

JSA is claimed through DWP.

Pay the credit card debt back anyway you will save interest even if it currently zero percent you will eventually save when the deal expires. I'd also pay as much off the mortgage as you feel comfortable (at least 6 months payments) then apply for a 6 month payment holiday. If you were to pay 6 monthly payments upfront and then nothing for the next 6 months you will also save more in interest over paying 6 monthly payments.

debtfree1day

Thanks.......

My wife moving forwards could work either 21 or 25 hours per week. The difference is income is neglibible as she is low wage per hour and the 4 hours will be on a seperate date - leading to increased bus fares etc etc

can you advise if 21 or 25 will impact the tax credit / child credit at all?

Thanks

Matt

HappyMJ

debtfree1day wrote: »

Thanks.......

My wife moving forwards could work either 21 or 25 hours per week. The difference is income is neglibible as she is low wage per hour and the 4 hours will be on a seperate date - leading to increased bus fares etc etc

can you advise if 21 or 25 will impact the tax credit / child credit at all?

Thanks

Matt

If you were to do more than 24 hours per week between you (even if she does them all) then you (as a couple) can also claim Working Tax Credits. You won't be abe to claim income based JSA but your contributions based JSA would continue until the end of 6 months.

debtfree1day

You may be able to claim the following benefit(s), which we have estimated for you:
Child Tax Credit£0.00 per weekWorking Tax Credit£0.00 per weekJobseeker's Allowance (Contribution based)£71.00 per week

HappyMJ

debtfree1day wrote: »

You may be able to claim the following benefit(s), which we have estimated for you:
Child Tax Credit£0.00 per weekWorking Tax Credit£0.00 per weekJobseeker's Allowance (Contribution based)£71.00 per week

What figures did you use? You aren't entitled to tax credits based on last years income......but....You have to apply first then you get the above letter then you ring them and advise them of a drop of income which is more than £2,500 then your tax credits are based on that amount. You then get a back payment. It's confusing... When you get a job you ring them up again and advise them of an increase in income. They'll continue to pay you whilst they process the change of circumstances then they'll ask for the overpayment back. Even more confusing....most people just give up.

bloolagoon

The problem is they use WTC and CTC over the financial year, so as you worked you get nothing until April.

I was in your postion earlier this year and it stinks when you see the benefits paid to others.

From April if you haven't found work, (though I assume you will) will mean access to Tax Credits.

Good luck with you job hunting and I hope you find something soon