Income support?

mich13x

Hi

Could anyone tell me how to work out how much a single mum would get on income support?

Tried to work it out myself but the premiums are a little confusing.

Circumstances are mum has two children, age 3 and 4, the older child gets middle rate care dla and mum currently receives carers allowance and had a part time job.

She recently lost her job but would it be worth claiming income support or as it overlaps the carers would she just get the same amount anyway?

Thanks

merlin68

About £100 a week and yes it would be worth claiming as you then get full housing and council tax benefit and health costs.
you get the carers allowance of 62 then an income support top up of about 40

mich13x

Thanks that's good to know.

She has a mortgage, it's in her sole name as husband had bad credit and at the time she worked full time. They separated last year.

Would she still get the council tax reduction? She currently gets single person discount

rogerblack

'3 and 4'.
While in principle, she may be able to claim IS for another 12-24 months (till youngest turns 5), keeping searching for work while on IS is a really good plan.

Especially if the government decide to lower the age for IS.
(It was 12, not so long ago)

mich13x

I thought that rule was different for carers, no?

Indie_Kid

The rules for carers are different. If you have a child and are receiving carers allowance, there's no upper age limit for a child. As you're claiming on the basis of being a carer rather than a single parent.

pmlindyloo

Put her details into the benefit calculator here:


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

The Carer's Allowance is deducted from the Income Support and a Carer's Premium added on.

So she will get Carer's Allowance and a top up of Income Support.

She will also be entitled to council tax reduction and Support for Mortgage Interest after 13 weeks.

She should also be getting Child Tax Credits and Child Benefit (don't forget to notify tax credits that she has stopped working)

mich13x

Thanks lindyloo

What is support for mortgage interest?

Could the bank not make her sell up if she received this as her income is much lower now than what they based lending to her on?

pmlindyloo

Support for Morgage Interest - have a read of this:

https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest/overview

Has there been a financial settlement as regards their separation? Are they divorcing? Although her husband wasn't on the mortgage he could claim a beneficial interest in it? What has been agreed about the house? Has she been paying the mortgage up to now?

Different scenarios according to the answers to the questions!

mich13x

Not that I am aware of, the mortgage is relatively new (2 years)

He only actually lived with her there for just under a year of that.

She has always paid for the mortgage from her account, from her earnings. She is up to date with payments, even on the reduced income since losing her job.

Thanks for the link will read it now

Horseunderwater

When you claim IS - it entitles you to the Full amount of child tax credit for both children & on top of that if she has not already told them the disabled element of CTC too as her child gets Mid rate DLA care. She will also get SMI after 13 weeks to cover 3.63% of interest due on her mortgage. Full council tax Support & she should also advise them about the DLA too. Free prescriptions for dr, dental care & if in need of glasses some help there too. So the sooner she claims the better IMO.