Better off on benefits?

OhNoFlo

Hello,

I'm a fairly regular forum user but am posting under another account.

I'm 22 and currently don't work due to mental health problems. I haven't worked for two years but have only recently started claiming benefits. My partner is 39.

I receive:

ESA: £347 every two weeks.
PIP: £220 a month.
Full housing benefit and council tax.
I'm allowed to earn up to £400 a month and usually make around £200 doing various things online.

My partner receives around £310 DLA a month. As he is allowed to work he does the odd day basic labouring and brings in about £250 a month.

My question is, if we both found full time jobs at minimum wage would we be better off?

pmlindyloo

Put your details into the benefit calculator on https://www.entitledto.co.uk as if you were both working full time on NMW to see your entitlements.

cifpower

OhNoFlo wrote: »

Hello,

I'm a fairly regular forum user but am posting under another account.

I'm 22 and currently don't work due to mental health problems. I haven't worked for two years but have only recently started claiming benefits. My partner is 39.

I receive:

ESA: £347 every two weeks.
PIP: £220 a month.
Full housing benefit and council tax.
I'm allowed to earn up to £400 a month and usually make around £200 doing various things online.

My partner receives around £310 DLA a month. As he is allowed to work he does the odd day basic labouring and brings in about £250 a month.

My question is, if we both found full time jobs at minimum wage would we be better off?

If your partner gets £310 DLA every 4 weeks (high rate care/mobility?) how can he do labouring and still be eligible? Has his condition improved? Labouring implies manual work which would make me doubt.

evenasus

OhNoFlo wrote: »

Hello,

My question is, if we both found full time jobs at minimum wage would we be better off?

£1,224.00 a month plus full housing & council tax benefit?

The state certainly would be.

ladymarmalade222

OhNoFlo wrote: »

Hello,

I'm a fairly regular forum user but am posting under another account.

I'm 22 and currently don't work due to mental health problems. I haven't worked for two years but have only recently started claiming benefits. My partner is 39.

I receive:

ESA: £347 every two weeks.
PIP: £220 a month.
Full housing benefit and council tax.
I'm allowed to earn up to £400 a month and usually make around £200 doing various things online.

My partner receives around £310 DLA a month. As he is allowed to work he does the odd day basic labouring and brings in about £250 a month.

My question is, if we both found full time jobs at minimum wage would we be better off?

Hi Andy:hello:

OhNoFlo

Thanks for the calculator link.

That's made up of middle care and lower rate mobility. He has been fully assessed more than once and mobility is only affected at certain times.
When I say labouring I don't mean anything heavy I mean literally just general clearing up work for other companies.

evenasus

ladymarmalade222 wrote: »

Hi Andy:hello:

My first thoughts too.

OhNoFlo

£1,224.00 a month plus full housing & council tax benefit?

The state certainly would be.
Last edited by evenasus; Today at 4:11 PM.

It's not that much between two people, we have bills to pay and have to top up our housing benefit with this to afford our rent.

Also I'm a female and my name doesn't begin with A so I think you might have the wrong person ladymarmalade222

OhNoFlo

evenasus wrote: »

My first thoughts too.

Okay... I don't know who Andy is or why there's a problem with him but its not me. I was asking a genuine question.

cifpower

OhNoFlo wrote: »

It's not that much between two people, we have bills to pay and have to top up our housing benefit with this to afford our rent.

Also I'm a female and my name doesn't begin with A so I think you might have the wrong person ladymarmalade222

Add all your benefits up and then add tax on for what a worker's salary would be. It is a lot. £1224 a month just for bills? That's a lot of disposable income.

HappyMJ

OhNoFlo wrote: »

It's not that much between two people, we have bills to pay and have to top up our housing benefit with this to afford our rent.

Also I'm a female and my name doesn't begin with A so I think you might have the wrong person ladymarmalade222

So get a job then...you'll have the money to afford your rent and bills. Actually get 2 full time jobs...no hang on each of get a full time job and a part time evening/weekend job. You'll be much better off then. You make life how you make it. If you're happy as you are then stay that way. You want more money then the only way is to get experience move up the ladder and get more money.