Not entitled to anything no reason why?

Jgib284

Hi all, hoping someone can guide me through the benefits system a little as it appears to be complicated!
My partner is 20 I am 25, we have a 9 month old son. Before she was due to return to work from maternity leave she was made redundant, no pay off but they paid to the end of her maternity pay. Now she is unemployed and I earn 16k a year but we are not entitled to child or working tax credits? And according to the job centre she is unable to claim job seekers also (not enough national insurance paid?)

As all benefits are based on last tax year we were in a different position, both earning 15k each, no child etc but now we need the help nothing is available. This is very frustrating, can any one point me to where to start or to why we cannot claim despite such a change in circumstances and a low income???

Thanks

princessdon

Maternity pay has a disallowance of £100 pw £3900 pa.

Does your income for the year come under £26k less the deduction above?

If so ask them to base on this year.

Also try now for jsa as they use different years.

SPELLKASTER

i understand how frustrated you are and i am in the same boat.

because i live with someone who also earns over £16k a year, i cant get nothing either!

all i get is £105 per week con based esa, we cant get working tax credits, and i cant get any help with dental costs, glasses, etc etc.

i would pop into your local citizens advice bureau to ask for some advice about what you can claim for.

good luck xx

Horseunderwater

If you are only earning £16k, then providing you are working 24 hours min per week - you can get both a little working tax credit and more or less full Child tax credit. You should also be getting child benefit. Initially Tax credits are based on previous years income, but you can now ask to base this years award on an estimated income. When you fill out a benefit calculator - you need to answer your ages - how many hours work per week you work and also tick the box to state that this years income will be lower than previous year and then you fill in another bit of the form for the current year. It will then tell you what can be claimed. You might also get some help with council tax, worth asking. And maybe some Housing benefit - but I do not know rules to this and they are changing anyway. but still ask - you never know.

Gentile

Jgib284 wrote: »

Hi all, hoping someone can guide me through the benefits system a little as it appears to be complicated!
My partner is 20 I am 25, we have a 9 month old son. Before she was due to return to work from maternity leave she was made redundant, no pay off but they paid to the end of her maternity pay. Now she is unemployed and I earn 16k a year but we are not entitled to child or working tax credits? And according to the job centre she is unable to claim job seekers also (not enough national insurance paid?)

As all benefits are based on last tax year we were in a different position, both earning 15k each, no child etc but now we need the help nothing is available. This is very frustrating, can any one point me to where to start or to why we cannot claim despite such a change in circumstances and a low income???

Thanks

That is because the system assumes that the family has one able bodied and hard working and responsible parent who will bring home the bacon. Which was true decades ago when women stayed at home to take care of children and men went out and got the job done. Life was so good then. People had kids if they could afford and accordingly planned their family.

Now on the other hand if you partner was to "split" from you on "paper" she should get shed loads. Not that I am suggesting anything.;)

princessdon

Gentile wrote: »

That is because the system assumes that the family has one able bodied and hard working and responsible parent who will bring home the bacon. Which was true decades ago when women stayed at home to take care of children and men went out and got the job done. Life was so good then. People had kids if they could afford and accordingly planned their family.

Now on the other hand if you partner was to "split" from you on "paper" she should get shed loads. Not that I am suggesting anything.;)

They'll get loads anyway - it's only because they use last years income, all op needs to do is give them a ring with this years. Depending on their rent etc you can be looking as a fair whack they are entitled to.

annie1975_2

princessdon wrote: »

They'll get loads anyway - it's only because they use last years income, all op needs to do is give them a ring with this years. Depending on their rent etc you can be looking as a fair whack they are entitled to.

Yes that's what we did. Our income was just over £26,000 last year (but you could earn £32,000 last year before you lost tax credits).
But this year we will have nearly £8,000 less income and they worked in on this years income.

SPELLKASTER

so i would like to ask this question; a few years ago my partner and i tried to claim tax credits, although i qualified for the disabled element we couldn't get it because they said he earnt to much!!

is it worth retrying as after deductions he gets between £16k - £24k a year?

we have no children, but i am disabled?

AimeesMum_2

I don't think that you can get tax credits unless you are working unless you have a child. were you working with your disability? Xx

Horseunderwater

To get the disability element of WTC it is the disabled person who has to be working the 16 hours per week - so not just about the partner earning too much.