Advice please

Irn-Bru-Kid

I would appreciate some advice for a friend of the family as I know nothing about benefits etc

The friend is 26 and works full time. She has a young boy aged 2. Her partner has abandoned them and moved 300 miles away. It is now impossible for her to continue working as she doesn't have child care.

She rents a flat and is getting behind with the rent.

Naturally she is very worried and I would appreciate if anyone could advise if she would receive benefits of any kind if she is forced to quit her job.

Many thanks

pmlindyloo

Irn-Bru-Kid wrote: »

I would appreciate some advice for a friend of the family as I know nothing about benefits etc

The friend is 26 and works full time. She has a young boy aged 2. Her partner has abandoned them and moved 300 miles away. It is now impossible for her to continue working as she doesn't have child care.

She rents a flat and is getting behind with the rent.

Naturally she is very worried and I would appreciate if anyone could advise if she would receive benefits of any kind if she is forced to quit her job.


Many thanks

If she cannot sort out childcare then she can receive Income Support as she has a child under 5 yrs of age.

Income Support is means tested so any other income/savings is taken into account. (but not Child Support)

If she is eligible for Income Support then she will be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. Housing Benefit will be the maximum local rate for a 2 bed place (she can look this up on her local website). If her rent is more than this then she will be expected to 'top it up' from her other benefits. If her rent is higher than her HB then she can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment, especially if it means that rent arrears would make her homeless.

She is also eligible for Child Tax Credits and Child Benefit.

If Child Support has not been arranged privately then she can use the Child Support Agency to pursue this.

princessdon

Irn-Bru-Kid wrote: »

I would appreciate some advice for a friend of the family as I know nothing about benefits etc

The friend is 26 and works full time. She has a young boy aged 2. Her partner has abandoned them and moved 300 miles away. It is now impossible for her to continue working as she doesn't have child care.

She rents a flat and is getting behind with the rent.

Naturally she is very worried and I would appreciate if anyone could advise if she would receive benefits of any kind if she is forced to quit her job.

Many thanks

Can she use childcare if getting contributions towards this?

Ie is her job within office type hours because if so she will get help with her childcare.

Irn-Bru-Kid

Thanks very much for the info, much appreciated.

She does work office hours, but as she no longer has transport, she is unable to get the kid to the child minder.

Someone has suggested that she goes 'on the sick' long term as she is very stressed. Again, I have no idea what this actually means. She wouldn't get sick pay from work apparently, but she would be entitled to Income Support and everthing that comes with it. Is this correct?

Many thanks

pretzelnut

Yes she WOULD get income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit.

The best thing to do is APPLY NOW, as it can take an age to get sorted.

It's gonna be a rocky course of months till things settle but she'll be fine in the long run.

Ex's on to the landlord the housing situation as soon as possible.


However she will be entitled to child tax credits, working tax credits, child are help, if she continues to work. I'm unsure about housing benefit etc.

There is a website called "entitled to" google it, it's very good at letting you know what your entirled to. She can put working info in and then start again with unemployed info to see where she's better of financially.