What benefits for retired with with children

catford

I am 65 and retiring very soon due to poor health and my wife has left me for a younger/healthier model . We have 2 children of 13 and 14. I am hoping to be able to stay in our house with the children and be the main carer but have just found that to claim CTC I have to work 16hrs. As I will have retired what other benefits can I claim?
My pension of £170pw will just cover the mortgage and utilities but not food,clothing and other expenses for the children.:eek:
Any suggestions please?...

Dunroamin

You need to be working 16 hours to claim WTC, to claim CTC you simply need to be claiming the child benefit. You should also be claiming maintenance from the children's mother.

skylight

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Try here.

CTC you should be able to claim - its WTC (Working Tax Credit) that you need 16hrs or more. Plus Child benefit, you need to be claiming that before anything else.

You may also be eligible for council tax support (benefit), but check the link out above.

McKneff

Is there any reason why you cant work 16 hours, the children are old enough to help out in the house.

p00hsticks

McKneff wrote: »

Is there any reason why you cant work 16 hours

THe OP says he is retiring due to poor health

McKneff

Apologies, missed the 'poor health'

lld01

catford wrote: »

I am 65 and retiring very soon due to poor health and my wife has left me for a younger/healthier model . We have 2 children of 13 and 14. I am hoping to be able to stay in our house with the children and be the main carer but have just found that to claim CTC I have to work 16hrs. As I will have retired what other benefits can I claim?
My pension of £170pw will just cover the mortgage and utilities but not food,clothing and other expenses for the children.:eek:
Any suggestions please?...

Assuming the state pension is your only income and you have under £10k savings you might qualify for Pension Credit once the mortgage assistance is included (depending on how much you owe and what it was used for)

One_Enchanted_Evening

Dunroamin wrote: »

You need to be working 16 hours to claim WTC, to claim CTC you simply need to be claiming the child benefit. You should also be claiming maintenance from the children's mother.

Claiming maintenance from the children's mother is unlikely to happen, many people struggle to get fathers to pay, asking a mother would be pointless, anyway she may not be able to afford it herself.

jacques_chirac

One_Enchanted_Evening wrote: »

Claiming maintenance from the children's mother is unlikely to happen, many people struggle to get fathers to pay, asking a mother would be pointless, anyway she may not be able to afford it herself.

What a very bizarre post given that you know nothing of the woman in question!

paddedjohn

One_Enchanted_Evening wrote: »

Claiming maintenance from the children's mother is unlikely to happen, many people struggle to get fathers to pay, asking a mother would be pointless, anyway she may not be able to afford it herself.

Why would it be pointless? She is just as much responsible for her kids as the father is. Stupid post.

RAS

catford

You can apply to the CSA for Maintenance from your wife. twently percent of her salary.

I assume you also need to sort out the financial settlement re the divorce at some stage. You can do the divorce without a solicitor but do get help with the financial settlement.