Help coming off Bereavement Benefit

Tuesdayschild

Hi all. I would appreciate some suggestions, as I am at a loss as to what may be the best thing to do.

In summary, this year myself and my family will be coming off Bereavement Benefit, and we will face a total cut in Child Tax Credit and WTC as well. My two children are 14 months apart in age and last year the eldest turned 19 and this year my youngest will also turn 19. They are both in full time education.

I work 20 hours a week and have been trying to get a full time position for the last three years. Realising that the kids turning a certain age was going to have a huge impact on our finances, three years ago I started taking night classes in order to improve my chances of getting a better job, as well as applying for everything in sight (not even getting to interview stage). First thing I studied for was to get that all important C in GCSE Maths, secondly I got a qualification in Health and Safety (level 3) and right now I'm doing a Foundation Degree in Civil Engineering, although this is not a night class but a day 9am to 9pm which I can work round my employment.

I was widowed through suicide when the children were younger and I am grateful for the Bereavement Benefit which has constituted half my income. I am also grateful for the CTC and WTC without which we'd be in serious trouble.

I must stress that I have done everything I could do to get employment and there are various impediments to me getting far with my efforts. Quite frankly, in my line of work which is skilled, I am the wrong age and the wrong gender but that's a discussion I'll keep to another forum. I am not a scrounger and replies to that effect will be summarily ignored.

The Bereavement Pension constituted half my annual income (circa 6k) and the other half being made up of wages (519 per calendar month) and CTC and WTC (will have to look up these figures).

I am aware that when I no longer have 'children' I will have to work 30 hours instead of 20 hours to get Working Tax Credit and at the moment all I can think is that I get 10 hours a week working in a shop or some other unskilled employment, and I'm happy enough to do that. I'd even consider moving (although my parents aren't getting any younger moving would be a last resort).

My 20 hour a week employment is fairly secure and I love it so much but there is no chance of getting more hours.

I cannot see how I can make ends meet considering how much income I'll be losing this year. There is no way, that I can find, to soften the blow. I have looked into getting Housing Benefit but having the two children at home, and with them being the same sex, they'll presumably be expected to share a room and therefore the Bedroom tax will apply. My housing is private rental at £110 a week. I have already moved house to get a smaller house with cheaper utility bills.

I am also on a list for social housing in order to have cheaper rent but my circumstances are not dire and so I have recieved 0 points.

Any ideas or will we have to resort to living in the car?

Darksparkle

What age are you currently?

When does eldest turn 20?
What type of education is your you best doing? If non-advanced you'd continue to get CTC/WTC until they are 20.

Alter_ego

Could the children get part time work?

tomtontom

Are the children seeking work alongside their studies?

It seems that you know the answer, you need to find full time work or another part time position. You could also post a statement of affairs on the Debtfree Wannabe board for help with budgeting.

nannytone_2

young people over 16 are allowed a room of their own.
'bedroom tax' only applies to social housing anyway)
you can receive tax credits and child benefit up to the 20th birthday as long as the 'child' is in non advanced full time education.

as you said ... you will need to be working a minimum of 30 hours a week after child benefit and ct. stops ....
that doesn't have to be in your regular field of work, as you said ... shop work will suffice.

once your children leave full time education, a non dependant deuction will be made to housing benefit, which they will be expected to pay ( although the liability will be yours as the tenant)

its a difficult time without a doubt, but there comes a point where they stop being a child and receiving the benefits that go along with childhood

Tuesdayschild

Thank you for your replies!

I am 42

My eldest turns 20 in Sept, next child turns 19 in November. My eldest is in advanced education, and doing this with grants and debt.

The youngest will be in advanced full time education in Sept, non advanced until June. Any work they do goes towards their education as I cannot afford to help out with it at all. Basically they just would not be studying otherwise. It's a pitiful situation but it is important they maximise their potential.

Nannytone, does that mean I would not get HB because I'm not able to get a house from the Council? It's hardly my fault, there's a shortage of available housing stock (thanks Maggie Thatcher) and too many people needing it and I'm way down the list because I work!

Tuesdayschild

tomtontom wrote: »

Are the children seeking work alongside their studies?

It seems that you know the answer, you need to find full time work or another part time position. You could also post a statement of affairs on the Debtfree Wannabe board for help with budgeting.

I'm trying, what happens if I can't find work, full time or part time! Skilled or unskilled! I'm not even getting interviews and I'm applying for everything in sight, things that are related to my education and skills across the board from needing a degree to barely even needing GCSE's.

And....I've been applying for three years! All the while I'm improving my education, adding to my CV...

Darksparkle

Okay so you've still got until end of Augist with your WTC, CTC, CHB.

Can't offer much else I'm afraid, the extra 10hrs would be needed for WTC whether that's in current job or additional work.

BigAunty

Pop over to the employment forum to vent your employment frustrations and get hints and tips there.

Do you think voluntary work could boost your CV by offering experience/skills over qualifications? Do you have anyone with recruiting experience to look over your CV, applications and cover letters?

Have you considered self-employment like cleaning, dog walking, child minder, etc, to get those extra 10 hours. A good house cleaner could get £10 plus an hour. Again, the employment forum could give you ideas about part time self employment that doesn't require much in the way of investment.

In the meantime, download the MSE budget planner and work through the website to identify where to slash your expenses - a root and branch review of every household bill. You can also use it to model the future scenario of the drop in income.

xylophone

Information on housing benefit.

https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit/what-youll-get

neilvw

nannytone wrote: »

young people over 16 are allowed a room of their own.
'bedroom tax' only applies to social housing anyway)

My understanding is that the under-occupancy charge was applied to private-renters years before it was extended to social housing.