Help with Benefits

jeanybeany

Hi can anyone help please. My daughter who is 38 and nearly 8 months pregnant has been abandoned by her partner. She is currently on Maternity leave from her position as a Care Worker and in receipt of £186.16 for 6 weeks and then £136.78 for a further 33 weeks. She is in a privately rented one bed property which is £450 per month and her Council Tax is £753.99 per year. She is not coping at the moment due to being left alone at this vulnerable time and I am trying to find out if she is entitled to any help financially. She has never before received anything from the State and so this is all completely new to us. If anyone can assist we would be most grateful. Many thanks.

pmlindyloo

jeanybeany wrote: »

Hi can anyone help please. My daughter who is 38 and nearly 8 months pregnant has been abandoned by her partner. She is currently on Maternity leave from her position as a Care Worker and in receipt of £186.16 for 6 weeks and then £136.78 for a further 33 weeks. She is in a privately rented one bed property which is £450 per month and her Council Tax is £753.99 per year. She is not coping at the moment due to being left alone at this vulnerable time and I am trying to find out if she is entitled to any help financially. She has never before received anything from the State and so this is all completely new to us. If anyone can assist we would be most grateful. Many thanks.

At the moment she can apply for Housing Benefit (local housing Allowance at the one bed rate) and Council Tax reduction. She is also entitled to the 25% single person's discount. She can get the forms from her local council. HB and CT reduction are means tested so any savings between £6000 and £16000 will reduce her entitlement.

When the baby is born she can apply for Child Benefit and Child Tax credits. She must also notify the council of her change of circumstances after the baby is born as she will then be entitled to the two bed rate of Local Housing Allowance.

Has she sorted out Child Support from the father? Any financial support from the father will not affect her benefits. Has she sorted out her current housing arrangements i.e. is she on a joint tenancy agreement?

It must be a difficult time for her. There is some good information on the CAB website about ending a relationship. I will try and find a link.

Edit>

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/relationships_e/relationships_relationship_problems_e/ending_a_relationship_when_you_re_living_together.htm

She can also put her details into the entitledto benefit calculator to find out what she can claim.

jeanybeany

Thank you pmlindyloo very informative. I will make sure we contact the local authority with regard to HB and CT. She was only with her partner for 1 year she just discovered yesterday that he is married and has gone back to his wife (the B.....). He is also 20 years older than her and only works part time. Not sure what to do about him but will try CAB. Many thanks for your help.

fabforty

jeanybeany wrote: »

Thank you pmlindyloo very informative. I will make sure we contact the local authority with regard to HB and CT. She was only with her partner for 1 year she just discovered yesterday that he is married and has gone back to his wife (the B.....). He is also 20 years older than her and only works part time. Not sure what to do about him but will try CAB. Many thanks for your help.

CSA - he has an obligation to support his child. Might make things awkward with his wife though .

jeanybeany

CSA - thanks I agree but that surely is his problem. Now how to go about it.

seven-day-weekend

I feel so sorry for your daughter and hopes she gets the helps he needs . PMlindlyloo's post is most informative but also contact the Child Support Agency (CSA) - he had a legal duty to support his child.

Hope it all works out for her.xx

jeanybeany

Thank you very much for your kind words, the CSA will definately be contacted. Many thanks again.

jeanybeany

Hi all further to my previous threads in relation to my daughter. She has now had her baby daughter 9 days ago. The father is no where to be seen which she is, in the circumstances, very pleased about. She is a one parent family and she has already made the decision not to return to work as a carer and would like to know can she leave her job and apply for income support sooner rather than wait until maternity leave has finished or does she have to wait until maternity leave has ended. Your comments would be very much appreciated.