Benefits have been stopped

stepollard1

Hi all,

I/we are looking for a little bit of advice on entitlements if possible.

Me and my partner have both been in full time employment until we had our first child last year in March, he is 10mths now. My partner was working in retail earning 900GBP after tax based on a 37.5hr week. I myself was earning around the 1,100GBP mark after tax.
Giving us a joint income of 2,000GBP/mth

She left work on maternity and the wage dropped to 635GBP. Baby was born and we started claiming 82GBP/mth child benefit and 105GBP/mth working tax credit.
This was giving us an income of 1,922/mth, which left us 80/mth down. We could cope with this with a few cutbacks etc.

My partners maternity payments stopped in November 2013 until Jan 2014 when she returned to work on 16hrs/week.
This gave us 2mths income of 1,287GBP.

My partners new wage based on 16hrs is 476/mth, we have been living on this with a struggle and me having to do overtime to make up the loss.

Today we have received a letter from HMRC stating that we have been overpaid by 800GBP on our TAX CREDITS and that from this month until April we are not receiving nothing. This is due to my partner still receiving work bonuses while on maternity (we didn't know that she would still receive these, in hind site as soon as she received one we should of notified them but this is our first time claiming for anything so both very naive to it all). Then in April we are entitled to 45GBP/mth up until the renewal in which we will again, receive nothing.
Our new income for 2014 will be my wage 1,100+partners wage of 476+child benefits 82 = 1658/mth

Our outgoings are RENT + House bills 800GBP (3 bedroom small terrace)
Food for month is 200GBP
Travel to work 100GBP
Partners personal bill 100
My personal bills 190GBP (mobile/car tax/car ins etc)
This equals to 1390GBP/mth which leaves us appprox 268GBP/mth for nappies, formula,dog food,car tax,clothing (baby clothing), medicines, teething powder etc etc. We are not able to save any money a month for unexpected failures like household appliances or car failures.

I am currently in the process of downgrading the car to save where I can. We do not go out to eat or for a social drink etc.

I am very confused as to what we can claim for.
Is my partner better off out of work?
I can potentially earn an extra 6,000/year in overtime to make up for this. I know it means more time away from my family to do so but as the bread winner I understand my job is to provide and quite happy to do so. Would we get penalized for this? Is it worth me trying to earn extra?
Is there anything else we might be entitled too?

It seems that the more we try to make a better life for ourselves the more we get penalized for doing so, it is a very frustrating world at times. And it doesn't help the moral thought process when you see these benefit programmes in which nobody seems to have a care in the world.

Sorry its long winded I have tried to include as much information as possible.

Thanks for taking the time


Steve

mummyroysof3

Who looks after your child when you are both working? It's a case of cutting things back such as mobile, sky etc as much as can and only spending on needs for a while. If either of you can work more hours that will help too. I hope you can sort out your money situation to your satisfaction but it is hard when kids are young

StormyWeather_2

Put the different scenarios through one of the benefit calculators. http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

If she stops work, it could be harder for her to find a job when the baby is older.

You could post a detailed SOA(statement of affairs) on the debt free wannabe board. They are very good there for suggesting ways of cutting back.

nannytone_2

£268 a month after rent, bills
and food doesnt seem that badf to me

tommix

Is GBP 'Great British Pounds?':(

teddysmum

Any mum and baby medications are free. Baby won't need formula much longer, as he will now be weaned. You can get some fantastic bargains in baby clothes from Ebay (local so no postage), where people sell bundles of unused, or little used, good brand items for a couple of pounds.