Hubby made redundant, will SF help?

flower24

Hi, my hubby went to work yesterday morning to be sent home because the administrators were coming in, he went back for a meeting and the company is shutting down.

I'm currently a full time student in the first year of my degree, I already get maximum maintenance grant but I'm wondering if we will be entitled to anything else now my husband is without a job. Our two children go to the out of school club for 4 sessions a week, which we weren't getting any help with, I'm unsure whether to take them out of the club now as we can't afford it plus their dad will be at home until he finds a new job, or will we be entitled to some help?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Dunroamin

immynjoesmum wrote: »

Hi, my hubby went to work yesterday morning to be sent home because the administrators were coming in, he went back for a meeting and the company is shutting down.

I'm currently a full time student in the first year of my degree, I already get maximum maintenance grant but I'm wondering if we will be entitled to anything else now my husband is without a job. Our two children go to the out of school club for 4 sessions a week, which we weren't getting any help with, I'm unsure whether to take them out of the club now as we can't afford it plus their dad will be at home until he finds a new job, or will we be entitled to some help?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

The first thing you need to do is for your husband to initiate a claim for JSA, which he will be eligible for 6 months. You also need to inform tax credits of the new situation.

flower24

Yes, we have just filled out the JSA form online, and phoned tax credits, just wondering if there's anything else? Thanks

nimbo

probably not - if you get the maximum grant already it would be benefits that might be able to help...

I would take the kids out of after school club as it is a saving, as your husband will be able to cover the shortfall....

you may be able to apply for the hardship fund at your university but they will have very strict criteria, and they will expect your income to be that of a benefits claimant, or less to pay you any cash - so in all probability they would say no - as your husband will be claiming, and you'll be getting tax credits etc. (they do allow extra for each child - but it is a small amount, as they would expect you to be living on the level the state deems appropriate for a job-seeker)...

It's probably worth taking the time to fill in the form though. - you never know.

Person_one

I take it you had to provide details of your husband's income when you applied? Your circumstances have now changed so I would definitely ring student finance and make them aware. Even if the amount doesn't change its always better to keep information up to date with them.

laurylaury

Definitely apply for your university's hardship fund. Make sure you have a set of up-to-date bank and credit card statements so that you can provide these. The quicker you provide your documents, the quicker they'll come back to you with a decision.

And call student finance and ask them if there's any other grants or sources of funding that you would be eligible for given that your husband now has no income.

Another thing is to apply for help from the council - now that your husband is no longer working you may not have to pay council tax. Also, did you apply for council tax discount when you started at uni? If you didn't you will be able to claim back what you were owed.
You can also find out if you are eligible to apply for housing benefit.

Good luck - and try not to let it affect your studies!

Fire_Fox

immynjoesmum wrote: »

Yes, we have just filled out the JSA form online, and phoned tax credits, just wondering if there's anything else? Thanks

Council tax - if you are a full time student you are exempt so get a certificate from university if you did not already do so, and your husband will be treated as a single adult. Your husband submit a claim for council tax benefit ASAP (don't wait until you have the certificate or hear about JSA) they *may* pay all the remaining council tax for you.

You *may* also be eligible for housing benefit/ local housing allowance or support for mortgage interest but it doesn't kick in for three months so you will need to use your savings in the mean time. If you are not taking the maximum loan available you will need to do so to support yourselves, it's not only a grant that is taken into consideration.

Honestly just apply for anything and everything.
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

5_princesses

The calculators do not work if you are a full time student, I have a similar problem but have not found a calculator yet that will give me a clue as to our entitlement

flower24

Thanks everyone, we already get discount on our council tax, hubby is at the job centre as I speak having his first interview, I will get on the phone to student finance to update them. Sadly this isn't the first time we have been in this situation as his previous employer also shut down and I remember just what a pain it was getting all the paperwork and phone calls done! Thankfully I am a student this time round (we had two children under 2 last time!) so at least we have my student loan and not just living off tax credits until it is all sorted! Thanks for all the advice

debzmanc

check if your entitled to a adult dependants grant. with your husband being out of work it will be classed as he is dependant on you