Can I claim

garry81

Me and my Girlfriend would like to move in together but have been trying to work out how our finances would be effected, especially in relation to benefits and tax credits, if any.


Our situation - She has one child aged 3 and is on benefits, she gets child tax credits, child benefits, income support, her rent and childcare paid for her. I work full time and get £31500 per annum, with a mortgage and all usual bills expected.


I did not expect any help but thought I would look up tax credits on the chance I may be entitled to something, using the gov.uk tax credit calculator I inputted all these details and it seemed to say we could be entitled to help but this was on the basis that she claims for income support despite my wage, now as we understand it she would lose any income support moving in with me, so if we put that she don't receive this in the calculator we receive no help.


So if I was to make a claim do you fill in the details saying she claims income support or do we not, if she will not be getting it moving in with me.


It is all very confusing, I did not expect much if anything but I read some saying a household limit of £26k or in some cases 41k in certain cases.

Darksparkle

If you are doing a calculation based on living together then she won't be getting income support.

For a couple with one child then yes the limit is £26,000.

There are exceptions to this if anyone in the household is disabled or there are childcare costs. If so the threshold will increase.

She would also need to be working at least 16hrs per week to claim any help with childcare unless she is incapacitated (which I assume she isn't as you do not mention any disability benefits).

Is she considering working?

[Deleted User]

If she doesn't work (I'm making an assumption based on claiming IS )then why does she need childcare?
Have you tried "turn2us" or entitled 2 ?

Darksparkle

venison wrote: »

If she doesn't work (I'm making an assumption based on claiming IS )then why does she need childcare?
Have you tried "turn2us" or entitled 2 ?

She probably doesn't "need" childcare.

But whilst on IS its 15hrs free when 2yrs and 15hrs free for all 3 ans 4 year olds so why not use it? It's good for children to interact with other children before starting school and every parent deserves a break whether they work or not.

dippy3103

When you say that she has one child, I take that to mean that you are not the child's biological father. Could he not contribute to the upkeep of his child? I'd suggest it's his responsibility instead of the tax payers (not having a go at you- it's people that don't contribute to their kids that bug me).
If the child's Dad helped then that could solve your problems

garry81

She is not working at the moment, she would like to get some qualifications as she has none.
Darksparkle - She has said that is exactly the reason she is using the childcare.
Dippy - no I am not the father. He is a deadbeat and has had nothing to do with the child, it bugs me and it makes me quite angry actually thinking about it.

It really is a problem, we love each other and want do the right thing but it makes it hard when it will cost so much by being together.

Darksparkle

garry81 wrote: »

She is not working at the moment, she would like to get some qualifications as she has none.
Darksparkle - She has said that is exactly the reason she is using the childcare.
Dippy - no I am not the father. He is a deadbeat and has had nothing to do with the child, it bugs me and it makes me quite angry actually thinking about it.

It really is a problem, we love each other and want do the right thing but it makes it hard when it will cost so much by being together.

Do you mean college type qualifications? Or school qualifications?

She won't be renting anymore so only really losing out on IS and CTC which would be about £135 per week. She'll still get child benefit.

Assuming she is over 25 NMW would be £7.20, she only needs to work 19hrs per week to have the same level of income (just over 20hrs per week if under 25).

She could do this around your work and her free childcare so that there would be no additional childcare costs.

Whether this father has anything to do with the child doesn't stop him from paying maintenance.

kingfisherblue

Although your girlfriend will lose benefits, together you will only have one gas bill, one electricity bill and one water bill. This will save money. Also, you won't have transport costs to go and see her. You will lose your single person discount for council tax, but this should easily be recouped from savings on other bills.

FBaby

It's good for children to interact with other children before starting school and every parent deserves a break whether they work or not.

You have to be kidding? Children do not need to go in government paid childcare to interact, and no, parents don't 'deserve' a break, especially when they are fortunate enough not to have to work to support themselves and children.

It really is a problem, we love each other and want do the right thing but it makes it hard when it will cost so much by being together.

The problem is that single mums have it too good so yes, when that situation occur, it brings a dilemma as to whether it is worth giving it up for the benefit of sharing every day with the person you love. However, what do you think people who get together, and then have children do? They either make do with less, or both go to work to support their family. Why should it be any different in your situation?

Darksparkle

FBaby wrote: »

You have to be kidding? Children do not need to go in government paid childcare to interact, and no, parents don't 'deserve' a break, especially when they are fortunate enough not to have to work to support themselves and children.

We'll agree to disagree then. I think it is very important for children to interact with other children. Where I live currently there are no other young children, the only other interaction with children my son would get is to pay for a toddler group which is only one hour per week.

At ages 3 and 4, the 15hrs childcare is free for all regardless of their income, benefits, work status. Next September this is expected to increase to 30hrs per week. The funding is there so why shouldn't people use it?

And yes I do think parents deserve a break, again you don't need to agree. At the moment I'm on maternity leave with a 12 week old. If I could even get a couple hours spare time to catch up on the housework I would appreciate it!

garry81

FBaby wrote: »

The problem is that single mums have it too good so yes, when that situation occur, it brings a dilemma as to whether it is worth giving it up for the benefit of sharing every day with the person you love. However, what do you think people who get together, and then have children do? They either make do with less, or both go to work to support their family. Why should it be any different in your situation?

We do not believe it should be any different for us, I am prepared to make do with less, but it is a bit of a dilemma and I just wanted to make sure I understood the situation properly as it is a big step and not something to take lightly.

Darksparkle wrote: »

We'll agree to disagree then. I think it is very important for children to interact with other children. Where I live currently there are no other young children, the only other interaction with children my son would get is to pay for a toddler group which is only one hour per week.

At ages 3 and 4, the 15hrs childcare is free for all regardless of their income, benefits, work status. Next September this is expected to increase to 30hrs per week. The funding is there so why shouldn't people use it?

And yes I do think parents deserve a break, again you don't need to agree. At the moment I'm on maternity leave with a 12 week old. If I could even get a couple hours spare time to catch up on the housework I would appreciate it!

I do believe it is important for children to interact, it has helped the child when interacting with people and developed her volcabulary alot in the time she has been going.

Darksparkle - I just wanted to make sure about one point, the child was 3 in June and so will be 3 when she goes back in September, is it the case the near enough all 3 and 4 year old get the free 15 hrs childcare a week paid by the government.

She has been going to childcare since last September (when she was 2) and had got 15 hrs free since then, I just ask as the mother is under the impression that if moving in with me we will lose the 15hrs free and have to pay for them.