Need to let off steam sorry!

Kt2012

I am in such a mess at the moment! Just feel I need to write it all down! Sorry people to bore you!
I split from my partner and have 2 kids under 3! I went back to work in sep 3 days a week. I'm in a rented house which is £1100 a month I get £300 housing benefit towards this rent (which I am truley greatful for!) no council tax benefit.
I also get £600 working tax credits/child tax credits. Here's the problem I take home £1100 wage but my outgoings are far more!! Dunno what to do! The lady at council benefit office basically said if I worked under 16 hours (currently 22) I would get more housing benefit!
Anyone else think this is crazy! I love working and it keeps me feeling good yet I'm thinking would I be better giving up!
I'm in debt with council tax now and loads of other debts.
Why is life so hard.........

gerkin

Kt2012 wrote: »

I am in such a mess at the moment! Just feel I need to write it all down! Sorry people to bore you!
I split from my partner and have 2 kids under 3! I went back to work in sep 3 days a week. I'm in a rented house which is £1100 a month I get £300 housing benefit towards this rent (which I am truley greatful for!) no council tax benefit.
I also get £600 working tax credits/child tax credits. Here's the problem I take home £1100 wage but my outgoings are far more!! Dunno what to do! The lady at council benefit office basically said if I worked under 16 hours (currently 22) I would get more housing benefit!
Anyone else think this is crazy! I love working and it keeps me feeling good yet I'm thinking would I be better giving up!
I'm in debt with council tax now and loads of other debts.
Why is life so hard.........

Why are you working more hours ??? Cut down on your hours so you get more in benefits.

Also, what outgoings have you got ? You might start cutting down on not so important bits. Keep things like Sky, Iphone etc but cut the rest like Gym or anything else.

Dunroamin

It seems to be the debts that are the problem and these won't go away wherever your money comes from. Are you getting any help from one of the debt management charities?

SPELLKASTER

my nephew's girlfriend kicked him out of their house cause he was working and she couldnt claim any benefit; now since she has kicked him out she gets nearly £400 per week in benefit, plus she gets her rent and council tax paid for!! fking disgrace if you ask me!!

heartbreak_star

Kt, try posting an SOA on the DFW board, they might be able to shine some light on where to save.

HBS x

Caz3121

Kt2012 wrote: »

The lady at council benefit office basically said if I worked under 16 hours (currently 22) I would get more housing benefit!

Whilst this may be correct, you will also have less wages. The increase in housing benefit will not replace the lost income £ for £ so overall you may be worse off

zoominatorone

SPELLKASTER wrote: »

my nephew's girlfriend kicked him out of their house cause he was working and she couldnt claim any benefit; now since she has kicked him out she gets nearly £400 per week in benefit, plus she gets her rent and council tax paid for!! fking disgrace if you ask me!!

Almost in the same league as someone being on the sick and getting money from the Gov for almost 20 years then without ever having a medical?

princessdon

At least they remembered the!!!!!!! This time though lol

fluffymovie

Kt2012 wrote: »

The lady at council benefit office basically said if I worked under 16 hours (currently 22) I would get more housing benefit!

This advice is not correct correct but also, very dangerous for a number of reasons.

16 hrs is the minimum working hours for a single parent which we call Remunerative. Any less than 16 and the money you earn will be taken into account but you would lose the additional earnings disregard. You would also cease to be entitled to any help with Child Care Costs.

Also, for WTC purposes, you have to work a minimum # of hours so be very careful there also. Less than 16 hours, you would lose your Working Tax Credit.

It does sound like you could seek some help with your debt and perhaps reschedule these to help.

You can also apply for a DHP from the council to help with your rent.

£1100 seems high. Do you know what the LHA rate is for a 2 bed in your area? It may help to look for cheaper / smaller accommodation? Are you getting help with your child care costs as if the council know, they can allow up to £300 pw from your earnings to be disregarded?

Also, if you could afford the property when you moved in, make sure they applied what we call, 13 week protection.

clearingout

is your ex contributing? if not, you have nothing to lose by going to the CSA.

Kt2012

Thanks everyone for your comments. Some very helpful things for me to think about! Ideally I don't want to cut down my hours I love my job and it wouldn't be easy to do it only 2 days a week. It's the child are costs that are getting me! It's about £600 a month I am getting help towards this which is helpful.
Going to start the new year off posotivly and try and cut costs on things. To be honest I don't have any luxury things to cut down on, I see my house being a luxury. The system is wrong! I have never claimed anything until now and just can't believe what they do offer some people!
Thanks again everyone happy new year