part time work and HB benefit

pariskate

Hello, I'm hoping someone here may shed a bit of light or point me in the right direction. My friend (who hasn't got internet access and is very unmotivated) works as a learning support assistant in a school for four days a week, term time. So that's about 22 hours a week for 39 weeks of the year. Her pay is averaged out over the year and she takes home about £450 pcm. Having 2 children she also gets some tax credits. The problem is with housing benefit as they have said they will only give her £200 towards rent, leaving her with a shortfall of £300.
So the question we are wondering is whether the entitlements are based on the fact that she only works part time, and that for only 'term' time whilst school is in. Would she get more help if she worked more hours? Will she have to change job and do more? I know the site entitledto so will check that but would appreciate any insight,
Thanks
Kate

lindsaygalaxy

If its like it is here, they will just go on what is on her payslip, so as long as she is paid the same every month it wouldnt make a difference.

dmg24

lindsaygalaxy is correct. If she worked more hours she would get less HB.

pariskate

thanks, looking at the figures I can't help but think that HB must have made a mistake (otherwise they expect her to feed her children on Fresh air!)

seven-day-weekend

It also depends what sort of house she has.

If she has two children they will not pay all the rent on, for example, a four bedroomed house.

lindsaygalaxy

Also depends what they count fair rent is ( which is never fair in private rented!) for example, my rent is 775 for 2 bed house, standard price for area. I have 1 daughter. My housing benefit is based on 135 a month as this is their level of what they think i should be able to rent for (ha!) . They also count tax credits as income, but disregard any amount paid for childcare.

Rain_is_Insane

They awould also take in to account her WTC, CTC, and FA

pariskate

Thanks for your replies. She rents a three bedroom house as she has two teenagers of different genders (or would housing benefit expect her to share with her daughter?) I think they determined the 'fair rent' at around £500 but are only paying £200 a month. Her income which is made up of wage, WTC, CB but no maintenance is about £950. I just can't see how she could be expected to manage especially as they haven't given her a reduction in council tax.

real1314

If her rent has been allowed at £500 but they are only paying £200 of it, and she has 2 dependant children, her income is a lot more than £950 a month.

Weekly income allowance = £60 (self)+£90(2 kids)+£16(family)+£25(wage disregard)+£15(further wage disregard) = £206 allowed income before any reduction i.e £892 pcm

as they are taking off £300 pcm, i.e £69 pw, which has been tapered by 65%, that implies an income of £106 above the allowed income, so the total income would be £312 pw or £1352 pcm.

[Deleted User]

lindsaygalaxy wrote: »

Also depends what they count fair rent is ( which is never fair in private rented!) for example, my rent is 775 for 2 bed house, standard price for area. I have 1 daughter. My housing benefit is based on 135 a month as this is their level of what they think i should be able to rent for (ha!) . They also count tax credits as income, but disregard any amount paid for childcare.

Really ????