Part time work/benefit/shared ownership query

GirlFromMars_2

paddedjohn wrote: »

If you can only claim LHA for half the rent how are you going to manage your mortgage on the other half? If you work a few hours to pay for this will the income affect your entitlement to LHA?

... the flat she currently has is one bed ... so she's not under occupying ...

... if she moves into a two bed shared ownership then she would be renting the rented portion from a Housing Association, which would make it Housing Benefit, not LHA right? ...

... and Shared Ownership homes are not subject to the Bedroom Tax ... (as in this instance she says she owns/mortgages 30% of the home already, so is already contributing to a larger percentage of the home than either the 14% under occupancy charge for one extra bed, or 25% under occupancy charge for two or more extra beds)

... I suspect however, that someone capable of paying £400ish a month on Mortgage/Service Charge would not be entitled to full housing benefit?

AliceBanned

paddedjohn wrote: »

If you can only claim LHA for half the rent how are you going to manage your mortgage on the other half? If you work a few hours to pay for this will the income affect your entitlement to LHA?

I just wanted to know I might have something to fall back on, if I have a couple of weeks out of work or if I work about 25-30 hrs a week. Nothing really decided yet. What is LHA?

In all probability I will continue to pay it all but just wondered what the score was re rental on shared ownership.

AliceBanned

StormyWeather wrote: »

Could you teach German now? If so, I don't think you'd be limited to doing a PGCE and schools. You could look into teaching in a business environment and adult education.

If you're in a tourist area, would being a guide for German tourists be something you could do?

My German isn't good enough. I did my degree 20 years ago - so would do some kind of refresher but I doubt I could teach above GCSE. Also considering teaching English as a foreign language, in this country, and in the future taking in foreign students to teach them English; but I need a bigger place before I can do that.

I need to look into all of it but I know my German is rusty. Also I only got a 2:2 which was unfortunate as my English lecturer told me i could do very well if I dropped the German (after my first year) and stupidly I didn't listen.

AliceBanned

GirlFromMars wrote: »

... the flat she currently has is one bed ... so she's not under occupying ...

... if she moves into a two bed shared ownership then she would be renting the rented portion from a Housing Association, which would make it Housing Benefit, not LHA right? ...

... and Shared Ownership homes are not subject to the Bedroom Tax ... (as in this instance she says she owns/mortgages 30% of the home already, so is already contributing to a larger percentage of the home than either the 14% under occupancy charge for one extra bed, or 25% under occupancy charge for two or more extra beds)

... I suspect however, that someone capable of paying £400ish a month on Mortgage/Service Charge would not be entitled to full housing benefit?

No on my earnings at the moment I wouldn't qualify for any benefits. Just if I am looking at retraining and/or giving up my job and temping for a while - was just trying to get a picture of how much I need to try and save to make this possible and to not lose my home. Feels risky giving up a permanent job but I'm unlikely to be out of work, in reality as I have always found temp work in London which pays reasonably well. I haven't done it since the recession though, so have no idea how it is now. Also I don't want to end up with the duff jobs that are available because they are horrible - worse than my current situation! But will need to make a decision and a change somewhere along the line and soonish.

AliceBanned

SkyeKnight wrote: »

There are bursaries for both English and foreign languages PGCE courses.

Languages are: £20k for a 1st, £15k for a 2.1, £12k for a 2.2
English are: £9k for a 1st, £4k for a 2.1

I think these training bursaries are in addition to normal student loans. The other possibility is to train on the job (School Direct) which the government want most people to do nowadays.

Yes perhaps the on the job training would be best for me. A bit tough, but I think it's a tough job either way.

I have one hindrance to that - only got CSE maths at school, embarrassingly as I hated the subject and it was a rough school - kind of refused to try I think but did ok in subjects I liked. Seems a shame now but as a kid I had problems and it was the last of my worries. I am looking into taking it this year. A friend who taught GCSE and GCE maths previously, said the old O level was massively harder than the GCSE today, so I should be fine. It is a mental block though and I have to find time to do that too. I suppose it will make me look like a bad candidate for teaching but I just specialised from a young age.

GirlFromMars_2

AliceBanned wrote: »

No on my earnings at the moment I wouldn't qualify for any benefits. Just if I am looking at retraining and/or giving up my job and temping for a while - was just trying to get a picture of how much I need to try and save to make this possible and to not lose my home.

... yes ... that's what I'm wondering about ... if (after your life changes) you still have enough money to pay the mortgage/service charge, would you actually have a low enough income to receive housing benefit? ... you may receive some housing benefit, but I don't imagine it would cover the entire rental portion of your home ... that's what you would have to look into!

... and what happens if you can't pay your mortgage/service charge?

... what happens if the property suddenly needs repairs?

Feels risky giving up a permanent job

... that would be an understatement!

but I'm unlikely to be out of work, in reality as I have always found temp work in London which pays reasonably well. I haven't done it since the recession though, so have no idea how it is now. Also I don't want to end up with the duff jobs that are available because they are horrible - worse than my current situation! But will need to make a decision and a change somewhere along the line and soonish.

... is there any good reason you cannot look for work while in your current position? ... yes, your current position sounds awful, but if you give it up without a good enough reason then the DWP aren't going to look upon you favourably! ... and you seem so sure you would get work quickly, why not look while you are still in permanent employment?

Poppie68

You have got to be aware any income could effect your housing benefit entilement.. and any savings over £6000.

AliceBanned

I don't have any savings, and can't save at the mo due to my debts.

I am only thinking of housing benefit, if needed, as a very temporary measure. I am certain that I could pay the mortgage and service charge - £470pm isn't too much for me to cover with temporary jobs.

I have applied for one permanent job already - it took me two days to do the application and I didn't get an interview. I haven't applied for jobs for over 4 years so I'm just getting back into it - that would be ideal, to get a permanent job that is ok for me whilst in this job; but my notice period is two months and I fear it will put employers off. I have seen another job to apply for, and I am on LinkedIn and connected to many agencies there - just getting the ball rolling at the mo to see what's out there. In some ways maybe I have too many directions and potential options and when I get stressed at work it all feels like too much - but doing my best to stay in current job until i can change things. It brings me down quite a bit so am just toying with the best way forward which may not be to hang on there for more than the rest of this year. I def want to be out of there before the end of 2014 in fact. So I'm not doing anything rash - just looking at the worst case scenario so that i can free myself up a bit, if that makes sense. I may not be as trapped as I feel..