Need some urgent advice about Benefits and Money

CuriouslyGeorge

Hi there,

My partner works 23 hours per week and I have Nil Income, I was receiving Jobseekers Allowance but when I moved in with my partner in September they took my Jobseekers off me because of my partner working, she only earns £900 a month.

We live in a private rented property and the rent is £500 per month and the Council Tax went up from £77 to £112 when I moved in, with all the household bills, food and my partners travel expenses a month for work (£130) and personal bills the outgoings are around £1,300 per month.

We were only awarded a paltry £41 per week for Housing Benefit and nothing for Council Tax, although we have put in an appeal but don't expect them to change this so our total income per month is around £1,064. so we have a shortfall of around £250.

I presume we can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments? Is there any other benefits we can claim?

Also, I was recently given a MED 3 note by my doctor because I have a lot of health issues and I am no longer fit for work, I was going to apply for ESA but I have barely worked over the last 6 years because my health has been getting worse, I was on Income Support for quite a few years and have been on Jobseekers for the last 2 and a half years up until they stopped it in September this year.

We just need some advice because we are in real trouble and could end up in rent arrears or homeless.

Thank you and I hope someone can help.

pmlindyloo

CuriouslyGeorge wrote: »

Hi there,

My partner works 23 hours per week and I have Nil Income, I was receiving Jobseekers Allowance but when I moved in with my partner in September they took my Jobseekers off me because of my partner working, she only earns £900 a month.

We live in a private rented property and the rent is £500 per month and the Council Tax went up from £77 to £112 when I moved in, with all the household bills, food and my partners travel expenses a month for work (£130) and personal bills the outgoings are around £1,300 per month.

We were only awarded a paltry £41 per week for Housing Benefit and nothing for Council Tax, although we have put in an appeal but don't expect them to change this so our total income per month is around £1,064. so we have a shortfall of around £250.

I presume we can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments? Is there any other benefits we can claim?

Also, I was recently given a MED 3 note by my doctor because I have a lot of health issues and I am no longer fit for work, I was going to apply for ESA but I have barely worked over the last 6 years because my health has been getting worse, I was on Income Support for quite a few years and have been on Jobseekers for the last 2 and a half years up until they stopped it in September this year.

We just need some advice because we are in real trouble and could end up in rent arrears or homeless.

Thank you and I hope someone can help.

The first thing you can do is put your details into the benefit calculator here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check and check your housing benefit and council tax reduction awards.

You can apply for a Discretionary housing payment.

Other than that I cannot think of any other benefits.

If your partner is over 25 then she could try to increase her hours to 30 a week then you may be entitled to working tax credits.

If you are not eligible for tax credits with an increase in hours then you will need to reduce your expenditure. There is no other way.

Are you getting treatment for your medical condition? You would not be entitled to JSA because of your partner's earnings but you can apply and get your NI contributions paid (if you are not already doing so). You would still have to abide by the JSA agreement. You could also apply for ESA if your doctor will continue with supplying fit notes but again, you will not receive any money.

There are some excellent forums on this site for reducing expenditure so you need to have a thorough read.

Perhaps the easiest way to reduce expenditure is to find a cheaper place to rent.

I am sure others will be along to give more ideas.

Dunroamin

It looks as if your options would be to cut your expenditure (OS board good for that), move somewhere with a cheaper rent or for your partner to find another 7 hours' work (if she's over 25) , which will not only mean a higher income but that you can claim WTC.

CuriouslyGeorge

Thank you for the replies, however when my partner first moved into this property she was working 30 hours per week and applied for WTC and was told she didn't qualify because she was earning just over £1,000 per month (she is over 25)

When we did benefit calculators it showed a lot more than £41 in Housing Benefit, it was something like £70 or £80 per week but we are only receiving £41 plus no Council Tax Benefit.

I don't see how we can cut much off the expenditure? we only spend around £30 a week on food as it is which isn't much for two people, plus Gas, Electric, Water, TV Licence etc can't be reduced, neither can her travel expenses or car insurance, the only things that could be reduced is her Credit Card and Loan which total around £100 per month but even then we will still be in trouble.

The problem with finding somewhere else to live is we don't have the money to pay a large deposit, we won't get our £800 deposit back for a month or two when we move out of here.

And it seems like a no win situation as even if she could up her hours to 30 a week which is unlikely then we would probably lose most of that Housing Benefit so would probably only end up £10-15 per week better off.

Her hours were reduced to 23 hours 2-3 months after she moved into the property and obviously I moved in in September.

Also, I presume I definitely wouldn't qualify for Contribution Based ESA?

pmlindyloo

CuriouslyGeorge wrote: »

Thank you for the replies, however when my partner first moved into this property she was working 30 hours per week and applied for WTC and was told she didn't qualify because she was earning just over £1,000 per month (she is over 25)

When we did benefit calculators it showed a lot more than £41 in Housing Benefit, it was something like £70 or £80 per week but we are only receiving £41 plus no Council Tax Benefit.

I don't see how we can cut much off the expenditure? we only spend around £30 a week on food as it is which isn't much for two people, plus Gas, Electric, Water, TV Licence etc can't be reduced, neither can her travel expenses or car insurance, the only things that could be reduced is her Credit Card and Loan which total around £100 per month but even then we will still be in trouble.

The problem with finding somewhere else to live is we don't have the money to pay a large deposit, we won't get our £800 deposit back for a month or two when we move out of here.

And it seems like a no win situation as even if she could up her hours to 30 a week which is unlikely then we would probably lose most of that Housing Benefit so would probably only end up £10-15 per week better off.

Her hours were reduced to 23 hours 2-3 months after she moved into the property and obviously I moved in in September.

The cut off point for a couple for working tax credit is about £17000 a year but I agree that your housing benefit would be affected.

Is there anyone who could loan you the deposit for another place until your deposit is returned?

Have you checked what your local housing allowance is for a one bed place by looking on your local council website? This should be the rent that you are aiming for.

The truth is that when there is only one person working it is difficult to manage financially and you have to be very determined to reduce your outgoings.

Have you anything that you can sell?

Can your partner share a lift to work? Would it be cheaper to go by public transport?

Have you checked you are on the cheapest utility rates? Have you got a water meter? All those kinds of things?

Without wishing to pry, is there any work that you could do? Something from home?

Could you stay with family instead of renting until you are well enough to get a job?

it is difficult to suggest more without knowing the details of your illness. You say you have been out of work for a long time. This suggests a long term illness. Have you any care/mobility needs?

Caz3121

as a single person the cutoff for WTC is around £13k, as part of a couple is is around £17k so if she had the same hours and income as previous she would now qualify for payment
What is the LHA rate for one-bedroom accommodation in your area and how does that differ to your rent?

McKneff

Could she find another part time job for 20 or so hours a week hence actually working full time.


Do you really need the car. Could she use public transport. Cars are a major expense.


Do you fit the criteria for PIP if you are not well enough for work
Will you ever get well enough for work.

CuriouslyGeorge

pmlindyloo wrote: »

The cut off point for a couple for working tax credit is about £17000 a year but I agree that your housing benefit would be affected.

Is there anyone who could loan you the deposit for another place until your deposit is returned?

Have you checked what your local housing allowance is for a one bed place by looking on your local council website? This should be the rent that you are aiming for.

The truth is that when there is only one person working it is difficult to manage financially and you have to be very determined to reduce your outgoings.

Have you anything that you can sell?

Can your partner share a lift to work? Would it be cheaper to go by public transport?

Have you checked you are on the cheapest utility rates? Have you got a water meter? All those kinds of things?

Without wishing to pry, is there any work that you could do? Something from home?

Could you stay with family instead of renting until you are well enough to get a job?

it is difficult to suggest more without knowing the details of your illness. You say you have been out of work for a long time. This suggests a long term illness. Have you any care/mobility needs?

Unfortunately I have Chronic Asthma that is getting worse, my lung capacity is little higher than a COPD patient, I am also on the verge of being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I also suffer from Pernicious Anaemia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other issues too, my health is likely to get worse and will not get better, if there was something I could do from home and it was only a few hours a week it could be a possibility.

My partner doesn't have family, I have limited family so we don't have anyone we can stay with.

We live in a house that is split into 2 flats, one at the top and one at the bottom, the Landlord controls all the bills and bills us and the tenant of the other flat 50/50, the bills seem reasonable.

It would cost more for my partner to get public transport to work and she cannot get a lift either unfortunately, she works 35 miles away.

We have looked at and into most things but there just doesn't seem much that can be reduced unfortunately, we are really stuck and we don't want to get into arrears because that would mean we would eventually end up homeless and be classed as becoming homeless deliberately.

CuriouslyGeorge

McKneff wrote: »

Could she find another part time job for 20 or so hours a week hence actually working full time.


Do you really need the car. Could she use public transport. Cars are a major expense.


Do you fit the criteria for PIP if you are not well enough for work
Will you ever get well enough for work.

Hi,

She has also some health issues so she feels that she might be unable to work more than 23 hours per week, she suffers from anxiety and depression.

We do need the car for various reasons so that cannot go.

I'm not sure whether I fit the criteria for PIP, I will look into it though as I will never get well enough to work, that is my GP's opinion.

pmlindyloo

CuriouslyGeorge wrote: »

Unfortunately I have Chronic Asthma that is getting worse, my lung capacity is little higher than a COPD patient, I am also on the verge of being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I also suffer from Pernicious Anaemia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other issues too, my health is likely to get worse and will not get better, if there was something I could do from home and it was only a few hours a week it could be a possibility.

My partner doesn't have family, I have limited family so we don't have anyone we can stay with.

We live in a house that is split into 2 flats, one at the top and one at the bottom, the Landlord controls all the bills and bills us and the tenant of the other flat 50/50, the bills seem reasonable.

It would cost more for my partner to get public transport to work and she cannot get a lift either unfortunately, she works 35 miles away.

We have looked at and into most things but there just doesn't seem much that can be reduced unfortunately, we are really stuck and we don't want to get into arrears because that would mean we would eventually end up homeless and be classed as becoming homeless deliberately.

In view of your medical conditions you should look at the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and see if you should claim. This is not means tested and your partner's income would not be taken into account.

You may wish to get advice from somewhere like CAB to help you with completing the application if you feel that you fit the criteria.

Voyager2002

Firstly, it is possible that they made a mistake in calculating your Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit: check the calculation and if necessary appeal.

Secondly: look at your partner's loan and credit card payments. How much interest is she paying? Would there be any chance of shifting the debt to an interest-free credit card? Or, if her credit rating is not important to her, she could contact the lenders and tell them that she can no longer afford the payments and let them know how much per month she is able to pay. She can probably get them to freeze the interest and accept only what she can afford, but of course her credit rating would be ruined for the next few years.