Really entitled to nothing?

jfdi

Y

McKneff wrote: »

Tell her to forget the CAB and her parents.


Tell her to go to the DWP, they are the ones who will tell her if she is eligible for benefits.


There is no such thing as probate when a person dies without making a will.


All of their estate will pass to their next of kin.

^^^^^^ this!

If the estate is not settled yet, or if it is and is held in trust for her 8yo she should be claiming JSA or ESA, income-based.

They both take account of other income and capital, so depending on her personal circumstances, financially, it is possible:A there's no entitlement.

Go to gov.uk and read around the rules and regs.

She may also be able to claim housing benefit and council tax support, plus of course child benefit and child tax.

IF her postcode is in a Universal Credit area she MAY have to claim that instead of nearly all of the above! ( It replaces most of the means tested benefits ) but that is unlikely as Lone Parents (which she now is) are largely still on the 'old' benefits even in UC areas.

Well-meaning but uninformed parents could be depriving her of extra income, very frustrating for you to see, but sadly not a lot you can do other than try and inform yourself to support her. Well done you for trying to help, and hugs to your friend and the wee lad.

sarahRJ

I must admit, it's the last reply from her dad that he decided (after reading through the ESA notes himself) that there's no point claiming for her which made me despair and then search the internet for some other advice anywhere that I could go back to her with. It's how I found you!!

Tigsteroonie - no savings in her name. She has been putting money away for her son for the future and will dip into that now - no other option. And yes her son will eventually inherit - I believe it's going into a trust for when he' 18?

She tells me that when the trust is set up she will be able ask for money for his upkeep but until the solicitors have sorted all that out (and it took her a month to get to see a solicitor) she has no money other than the two benefits.

jfdi

Just to add - if she claimed ESA I would expect it to be comparatively short-term as she's bereaved, ie stress/depression/anxiety, not because she's deaf! It's up to her GP to decide on that!

Once she's mentally ok to work then she'd transition to JSA.

GwylimT

What rate of DLA does your friend receive?

Why isn't she claiming child benefit?

She should be getting each month
Child benefit £89
Child tax credits £277
JSA £456
And a reduction in council tax, so before her DLA she is receiving
The above brings in £822 per month, that is a lot for one adult and one child who are mortgage free, she will also then receive free prescriptions, help towards dental care and her child may be entitled to free school meals.

If she can access her sons saving it is considered her own capital where benefits are concerned.

sarahRJ

jfdi - I did suggest to her that she goes to her GP and ask for a sick note due to bereavement / stress, etc but that wasn't met with approval. I don't think they liked my idea!

Gwymlim - I haven't had any input into her claiming so don't know what the rate of DLA is and she only mentioned child tax credits - it's not really come up in previous conversations, how much / many benefits do you claim.

I'm going to tell her tomorrow that my suggestion was knocked back by her dad and see if she wants me to help anymore. If she does I will ask for more information on her benefits.

I really was just astounded that she doesn't think she gets any benefits (or has been told that) and has to live off her kids savings for now and is accepting of that.

I would be more a claim and get told no sort of person - her parents are look at the form, decide no, and don't claim people at all.

sarahRJ

Sorry I should have said thank you Gwymlim - that's the most I've seen for a list of what she could / should claim. I know she doesn't get JSA - that's what she was told she can't claim if she's not working?

The others I don't know details, if she's OK with it I will ask her and see how it compares to your list.

And, yes, if she could / does get all those it would be great for her. Of course, that won't bring back her partner but it would relieve the money worries.

Oh, yes she's just put in a claim for free school meals - she told me that at the weekend.

GwylimT

Why does she think she doesn't get any benefits when she receives DLA and child tax credits?

JSA is job seekers allowance.

Get her to fill in a benefit checker like the one on turn2us or on the DWP website, a quick google brings a few up.

elsien

How are the savings held for the child? Just wondering if anyone knows if that would count as her assets if she's able to dip into them?

GwylimT

elsien wrote: »

How are the savings held for the child? Just wondering if anyone knows if that would count as her assets if she's able to dip into them?

I know when I was on benefits any savings I could access were counted as capital, so her childs savings will be counted as she has chosen not to put them in an account she cannot access.

GwylimT

Sarah, I'm guessing her partner had savings if a trust is being set up to pay her a monthly allowance for their child?