Help with benefits and starting work

beccalj

My sons started school and I can finally get back to work!
Not as easy as I thought. All benefits suspended (even carers ) until I submit payslips.
I don't get a payslip until 18/10 (started 10/09)
So rent is due 5/10. It's half term end of October and I'll need to pay for childcare.
Tax credits will send out an awards notice in 2 weeks I then send this with my payslip to HB.
What do I do in the mean time ?!
Job centre have just told me that's how it is !

DomRavioli

It is how it is - you could ask for an advance from your employer if you're short, or advise your landlord that because you need to provide wageslips you are having HB reassessed (you have to be 8 full weeks behind with rent for legal proceedings to start).

Liaise with your landlord, and make sure you have enough for basics.

beccalj

Thank you. It couldn't have happened at a worse time. I need to finish buying my sons school uniform. It's his birthday this month. And plus I need to pay £40 a week to get to work.
Even travel and food I do not have enough without all the other bills.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Have you been in continuous receipt of IS/JSA/ESA for the 26 weeks without a break before you commenced work?

If so you should qualify for Extended Payment Benefit (where a further 4 weeks HB is paid) before they start taking your wages into account.

It is a bit over officious for them to suspend your claim. Do you have an employment contract or letter from your employer showing date commencing work, hours worked and hourly wage?

If so ask your local HB Department to process you claim using your gross wage from your employment contract or employers letter and recalculate once wage slips are available.

suenortheast

beccalj wrote: »

My sons started school and I can finally get back to work!
Not as easy as I thought. All benefits suspended (even carers ) until I submit payslips.
I don't get a payslip until 18/10 (started 10/09)
So rent is due 5/10. It's half term end of October and I'll need to pay for childcare.
Tax credits will send out an awards notice in 2 weeks I then send this with my payslip to HB.
What do I do in the mean time ?!
Job centre have just told me that's how it is !

Ask DWP for a formal, official complaints form, and state clearly why, even state that you are contemplating writing to your M.p and need a record. (They don't like formal complaints, a friend of myne always gets his money, but never receives the form at that point).

beccalj

They said its a new process. My income support has rolled over. But HB say they won't do it incase of over payment. I've tried explaining to them that they won't be over paying was I don't get paid until the 18/10 and that salary will be for the following 4 weeks, they have on the 1/10 that's for the 4 weeks gone.
The person just said to me, don't worry you'll get it back dated!!
I'm really worried about my land lady I rent privately and have never been late in the 2 years I've lived here.
Working tax credits take up too 2 weeks to process.
I literally have £70 a week to live on which included transport to and from work. (£45)

beccalj

Yes , they didn't say they may consider a contract. I'll try that thanks. But need to wait for tax credits awards letter before HB can be assessed

Housing_Benefit_Officer

beccalj wrote: »

Yes , they didn't say they may consider a contract. I'll try that thanks. But need to wait for tax credits awards letter before HB can be assessed

We have direct access via the CIS system to your Tax Credit records and we get automatically notified by ATLAS everytime your award changes. So we don't have to wait for you to provide a letter. If you qualify for the run on then they should award the run on not suspend your claim.

They can suspend your claim after the 4 week run on if you don't provide any wage details but until then you still qualify for help because of the 4 week run on.

The aim of Housing Benefit isn't to put you in financial trouble and risk eviction due to rent arrears because someone won't desuspend and process your claim until you have your first wage. There are ways to be less over officious and use a gross wage figure pending wage slips. Using gross wage figure means in effect you are being underpaid - but it is better to pay something rather than nothing - the claim is then adjusted once wage details are known. Tax Credit details can then be updated as and when HMRC recalculate your claim.

beccalj

Thank you that's useful information to know. I've been told I don't qualify for a run on because I wasn't claiming JSA only income support tax credits and a small carers allowance

TattyG

You can also get a voucher for the food bank to help you through these couple of weeks where you have nothing coming in. Might help out a bit and ease the pressure x

Housing_Benefit_Officer

beccalj wrote: »

Thank you that's useful information to know. I've been told I don't qualify for a run on because I wasn't claiming JSA only income support tax credits and a small carers allowance

Income Support is a qualifying benefit for Extended Payment Benefit. As long as you received it continuously and unbroken for 26 weeks before you commenced employment.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/240125/hbsgm-sec12.pdf