Extended Housing benefit after 3 months on SMP

Mimmsie

I will be returning to work in July after 9 months Maternity Leave. I am claiming HB and CTB from April so on return to work I will have claimed for a total of 3 months. I have not claimed income support. I am wondering if my HB will stop immediately or will roll on for a few more weeks when I am back in work. I am really worrying as if it is stopped immediately I will be in arrears for July meaning that at the end of July I will have to pay 2 months rent which I cannot afford.

Horseunderwater

Are you a single parent? If so and you are over 25 years old then you can claim Working tax credit along with child tax credit. You only need to work 16 hours to qualify if that is the case, but without knowing a little more detail it is hard to give an accurate answer. Anyway you can get the CTC now so should apply as soon as possible. Not sure how long they can back date it but it may be one month.

Mimmsie

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Are you a single parent? If so and you are over 25 years old then you can claim Working tax credit along with child tax credit. You only need to work 16 hours to qualify if that is the case, but without knowing a little more detail it is hard to give an accurate answer. Anyway you can get the CTC now so should apply as soon as possible. Not sure how long they can back date it but it may be one month.

Thanks for replying. I am a single parent and over 25. I am claiming CTC and work 37 hours a week. I am not entitled to WTC. It is just the HB I am wondering about as I am already skint and do not know how I will be able to pay everything as had to pay a nursery deposit of £370 and will need to pay nursery fees of over £800p/m in advance when my little one starts while waiting for CTC to be updated for childcare element.

fluffymovie

HI there

A Housing Benefit Extended Payment can only be paid for someone who meets certain criteria;

1 - Must have been in receipt for a qualifying benefit for 26 weeks or more which has ended as you have started work - Benefits which are considered qualifying are Income Support, Income Based JSA, Income Related ESA, Incapacity Benefit. If you had been on a contribution based income but had then ended on an income related one, you would be eligible (E.g, 26 weeks on JSA C, 1 day on JSA IB would work but 26 weeks on JSA C would not)
2 - Your job must be expected to last 5 weeks or more.

Unfortunately, in your circumstances, you would not be entitled to this and so your HB would likely be suspended whilst your award is recalculated. You would need to show what income you would have upon returning to work and they could recalculate it.

We are allowed to disregard up to £175 per week of your earnings against Childcare so we can award more HB in these circumstances. It is unlikely that you would be responsible for paying all your own rent based on your income.

Mimmsie

Thank you fluffymovie. I wll wait and see what happens once I am back at work.