Housing benefit help please?

Shelldean

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help shed some light and tell me I am working this out wrong?

Son has just been offered an apprenticeship.
We discussed what he'll pay for keep, as we cant unfortunatly afford to let him live at home for nothing ( as much as we'd like to)
I do realise loss is not quite the correct way to describe this, but can't think of a better word to describe ti.

We will loss hiss child benefit and his share of Child tax credit, so thats a reduction in our income of £56 weekly.

But my main concern is housing benefit....

I spoke with the housing dept today to see what info they would need. And I'm now at a loss.

Currently we get partial HB of £61, and when they change the applicable amounts (loss of CTC and not allowing us an amount fo him) we will then get £55, BUT until he is 18 although he is classed as a non dependant they wont take his wages into account.

So when he turns 18, they deduct a non dependant amount and our housing benefit will reduce by a further 11.45. So total HB loss of £17 per week.

Couple that into the loss of CB and CTC we will 'lose' a total of £73 weekly.
And yes i knew this day was coming, just didn't realise it would be such a whack in one go. (And I get to do it all again next yr when his twin leaves.)

As his wages are only just over £100, he obviously can't cover the loss, so am now stumped as to how we'll cope?

any thoughts?

princessdon

Do both of you work full time? I get no funding to support my children, I have no choice but to work. If so, can you move to a cheaper home?

nannytone_2

i feel for you, its a really big hit.
i have no suggestions apart from looking at how you can lower your outgoings.
the generosity of our benefit system to families with children really is a double edged sword

hope everything works out ok and well done to your boy!

Shelldean

cant move to cheaper home as this is probably cheapest going ( social housing) the only way to get cheaper would be smaller, and with four kids smaller isn't an option.
OH works full time I am SAHM. (me getting work is one option but wont help striaghtaway)

And dont get me wrong we're workign towards being benefit free, but 'loosing' that much per week, is going to be a shock, however I look at it

Shelldean

Nanny tone,

thank you, yes it is a double edge sword.

I am so pleased he's got a job and am sure we'll cope.... just not sure how.

( why cant i thank you?)

edited to add.... cant lower outgoings as have trimmed already to clear our debts. and your thank button has re appear!!!!

Shelldean

I should add I haven't been able to prepare for this event as he only decided in May half term he wasn't returning for yr 13.

So I should perhaps just simply be grateful, as he's been SO very very lucky in gaining apprenticeship so fast.

princessdon

Shelldean wrote: »

cant move to cheaper home as this is probably cheapest going ( social housing) the only way to get cheaper would be smaller, and with four kids smaller isn't an option.
OH works full time I am SAHM. (me getting work is one option but wont help striaghtaway)

And dont get me wrong we're workign towards being benefit free, but 'loosing' that much per week, is going to be a shock, however I look at it

So you have younger children and get their tax credits and child benefit? It may be a case of budgeting as your household income is higher than most.

Shelldean

I am budgeting, having had my lightbulb moment 3 yrs ago I've done nothing but budget.

I also worked it out wrong in my OP, we currently £68 housing benefit and it will drop to £55, so difference of £13 wkly. rising to £24 when he turns 18.
Add that to the CB and CTC i reckon we'll have a differnece of £80.

And i have no idea where/what I can trim to get that £80 back
although some will come from son in the form of keep

princessdon

I'm not being obnoxious, there are no benefits. You either need to cut back, get more hours or both work or take most of his earnings. Its the way it is, sugar coating won't help. When children leave child benefits they pay their way or you adjust, it's the way it is.

Shelldean

Can I just reiterate I am not complaining about losing the benefits, as this was always on the agenda.
I just thought the twins would not be leaving FT education until summer 2014 or later, and by this point we'd be almost debt free and able to absorb the loss easier.

Simply hadn't planned for this to happen now and am shocked at my calculations.

Shelldean

princessdon

I do understand your point, it was more of a rant than anything else.
I wasn't asking for more benefits, just wondered was there a way to stagger the change? IYSWIM?