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Please advise...

mirand
mirand Posts: 66 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
edited 25 August 2014 at 1:17PM in Benefits & tax credits
In due course and providing she satisfies the habitual residence conditions, what would a returning UK citizen with three children aged 19, 14 and 12 be entitled to claim from the DWP till she sorts her life out? thanks.

Additonal info.
She is 50 years old, lived and worked in Africa for 20 years,was an office manager, decided to return when marriage broke down. Willing to work and applied for many jobs however age and previous experience seems to hinder chances. she studied as a mature student business adminstration and graduated from an African university.

No savings and currently being supported by family members and such support will cease at some stage. As such, she is considering renting privately and applying for housing benefit as the chances of getting social housing accommodation are very slim.

She returned to the UK 5th June 2014
«1

Comments

  • jetplane
    jetplane Posts: 1,622 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    That is too general a question to ever be answered on a forum.
    The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Steve Biko
  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,100 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Need more information - can she work and does she have a partner?
    Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
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  • allen35
    allen35 Posts: 1,516 Forumite
    Once residencyconditions are satisified, possible entitlement to Child benefit and Child Tax Credits for 2 younger children.

    Possible entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support for the parent but dependant on savings.

    19yr old may also be entitled to Jobseekers Allowance.
    Forums can be/are a good guide to entitlement and it is good practice to back it up with clarification from the relevant department/specialist with written confirmation to safeguard yourself.
  • jetplane
    jetplane Posts: 1,622 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Possible entitlement to Tax credits for 19 year old, possible entitlement to ESA, possibly entitled to nothing, the new EEA rules prevent any benefits for the first 3 months. The guessing is endless without the facts, hopefully the OP can provide more detail when they return.
    The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Steve Biko
  • allen35
    allen35 Posts: 1,516 Forumite
    jetplane wrote: »
    Possible entitlement to Tax credits for 19 year old, possible entitlement to ESA, possibly entitled to nothing, the new EEA rules prevent any benefits for the first 3 months. The guessing is endless without the facts, hopefully the OP can provide more detail when they return.

    Tax credits for the 19yr old, i thought would have to register for a non advanced course before the age of 19.
    Forums can be/are a good guide to entitlement and it is good practice to back it up with clarification from the relevant department/specialist with written confirmation to safeguard yourself.
  • BigAunty
    BigAunty Posts: 8,310 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You can model the scenario in the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

    It might be a bit optimistic to describe the 19 year old as a child for benefit calculations. There's a possibility if they are in certain types of education, that the parent may get child tax credits on their behalf, otherwise they could be classed as a non-dependent and get benefits in their own right, such as job seekers allowance.

    She should look into her Local Housing Allowance rate (housing benefit calculated for the private sector).

    Her children are too old for her to be on Income Support as a lone parent (if that's what she is and assuming there are no disabilities in the family) so she would be on Job Seekers Allowance. She may qualify for child tax credits (probablyfor the two youngest) and council tax discount. HB and council tax is applied for with the local council, not DWP.

    If she is a lone parent, then she is only required to work 16 hours per week to qualify for working tax credits if her employment income is low enough.

    More general info here

    http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/migrants/habitual_residence_test_hrt.aspx
  • missbiggles1
    missbiggles1 Posts: 17,481 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Does she own a property anywhere and what level of savings/capital does she have?
  • jetplane
    jetplane Posts: 1,622 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Re 19 year old; Relevant EEA education can count, a break in education can be taken into account. However, my point was that the possibilities are endless without knowing the circumstances. :)
    The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. Steve Biko
  • mirand
    mirand Posts: 66 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    jetplane wrote: »
    That is too general a question to ever be answered on a forum.
    added more info
  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,104 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    How long has she been in the UK?
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