Unemployed - on JSA & H/Benefit but can't survive!

missytee69

Following the end of a Fixed Term Contract with my employer, I have had to go on benefits until I can find another job. I don't intend being on benefits for long as I like working, but need to survive in the short-term. I live in a 2 bed flat with my daughter who is 18 and working part-time, but no longer in education. She pays me £150/month for keep and intends to work full-time following a 7 week back-packing holiday in May.

I have been awarded Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) of £73.10/week and Housing Benefit (HB) of £77.97/week. However, as she is earning and no longer in education, they have deducted £75.05/week from my HB. This means I only have £754.28 every 4 weeks coming in (including my daughters contribution) to pay rent of £700 and bills of £400. I have applied for a discretionary housing payment (DHP) but am still waiting to hear 2.5 weeks later.

So the end result is not enough money to pay all the bills and NO money for food and fuel!

If anyone knows of anything else to help, please let me know, as I'm desperate! :(:sad::mad::shocked:

HappyMJ

You need to ask your daughter for £75.05 per week...not per month. You will not get Discretionary Housing Payments unless you do that.

To get a deduction of £75.05 she must have a decent income to be able to afford to pay that. She must be earning more than £246 per week and less than £328 for that level of deduction.

If you then add the figures together £75.05 is £325 per month plus £316 in JSA and £338 in HB then you would have total income of £980.

Your daughter should be contributing to bills as well including her food and a small contribution towards the gas and electricity which will reduce your monthly expenditure from £1,100 down to £980.

What bills do you have that come to £400 a month? Can these be cut even temporarily? Unsecured debt payments should be reduced to £1 if you cannot afford to pay them. You cannot expect Discretionary Housing Payments to cover the shortfall. It is extremely difficult to get and only people in the most extreme circumstances get it.

pmlindyloo

A non dependent deduction for HB implies that your daughter is earning between £246 to £327.99 each week and working more than 16 hrs a week. Is this correct?

If it isn't then you need to speak to your council and produce wage slips showing how much she is earning so they can change the non dependent deduction.

If this is correct then your daughter is not paying enough to you for her keep. Obviously this is a decision that you have to make but on these earnings then she should be paying a minimum of the deduction plus the CT non dependent deduction plus an amount towards food and bills.

The council are not concerned as to how much your daughter contributes, just how much she is earning.

Also, when you applied for HB were you awarded a 13 week protection period? This is awarded if you were able to afford your rent when you took on the tenancy and have not claimed HB for the last 52 weeks. during the 13 weeks period you should have been awarded your full rent (£700) rather than the local housing rate.

So, basically check the figures and then explain to your daughter that she needs to up her contribution!

Edit: Cross posted!

McKneff

Sell the car....

missbiggles1

I have to say, if she can afford to go backpacking for 7 weeks she can afford to pay you an appropriate level of rent and keep. Don't forget that you're losing your 25% single person discount as well because she lives with you.

Poppie68

McKneff wrote: »

Sell the car....

Fuel? I think she's referring to gas and electricity.

marliepanda

Poppie68 wrote: »

Fuel? I think she's referring to gas and electricity.

Could be either but still I wouldn't sell my car as that could seriously impact finding another job.

Especially when there's a perfectly capable daughter to pay the deficit.

Definitely check into the full HB possibility though. Have you been paying your rent without HB help for 52 weeks as asked by pmindyloo. That would be a big help.

Darksparkle

Poppie68 wrote: »

Fuel? I think she's referring to gas and electricity.

I think she meant fuel because she already mentioned bills then food and fuel.