What are we entitled to?

JakeElliott

Hi,
I am just making a post to see what benefits etc. My girlfriend and I are entitled to. Here's my situation:

My girlfriend and I have a 4 month old son and are currently not claiming anything.

I am a student, in 2nd year of university, privately renting. My girlfriend took some time out of university to work and is currently on maternity until June 2014.

As we are not living together I believe we are classed as single. My Girlfriend left the UK to stay in Ireland for the birth of our child and has stayed there, since September. She is looking to come back to the UK and we will move in together in August 2014.

In the last year my total earnings would be around £2500 from a summer job in 2013. My girlfriend earned £9000.

We are looking to claim ASAP so looking at what we are entitled to both now and then when we are living together.

Thanks everyone

BP1987

Your girlfriend can claim Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit and maybe Working Tax Credit if she is receiving SMP from her employer but you might have to double check that one. Is she renting her own home at the moment? if she is she should put in a claim for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

As you are a single student you do not qualify for Housing Benefit. Do you receive Student Loans? If so when you move in together this amount would be taken into account for your Housing Benefit / Council Tax Support claim(tax credits maybe be different). There are benefit calculators available online and also there is a tax credit calculator on HMRC website which is useful.

lld01

So she is not returning to the UK until August?
She will need to look into the Irish benefits system in the meantime