Help needed - short term benefits

NewMumKH

Hi everyone

This is my first time posting but I’m hoping for some advice / assistance...

I’m currently on maternity leave, my LG is 5 months (our first child) and I’m due to return to work at the beginning of June. I will receive only SMP from now until then. Unfortunately my husband has been made redundant - he was given 4 weeks notice at the end of January and has been looking for work but no luck as yet. I’m just wondering what help we might be able to get to help us through until he finds work or I go back to work - whichever happens first.

We are already getting Child Benefit (about £20 a week) and I assume my husband will be entitled to some sort of job seekers allowance or whatever it’s now called...

Any advice would be great, thanks!

WhenIam64

First thing to check is whether you are in a Universal Credit full service area. If so, your OH should start a UC claim. The date of the first payment will depend on the final payment made to him when made redundant e.g. pay in lieu of notice.

The amount payable will be related to your personal circumstances.

poppy12345

WhenIam64 wrote: »

First thing to check is whether you are in a Universal Credit full service area. If so, your OH should start a UC claim. The date of the first payment will depend on the final payment made to him when made redundant e.g. pay in lieu of notice.

The amount payable will be related to your personal circumstances.

As the OP has been working then they have most likely paid enough NI contributions for Contribution based JSA. If so then if their area is full UC area they would need to claim New style JSA and not UC. UC doesn't include CB benefits.
https://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate

NewMumKH

Our area doesn!!!8217;t roll out UC until July 2018...

sulkisu

Possibly housing benefit - are you renting or homeowners?

poppy12345

NewMumKH wrote: »

Our area doesn!!!8217;t roll out UC until July 2018...

Then it will be Contribution based JSA he will need to claim.

Alice_Holt

1) CB (New style) JSA
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-jobseekers-allowance
Payment depends on NI contributions in the last 2 tax years.

2) If renting HB. https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit may be a possibility (it's means tested)

3) Dependant on savings - Council Tax reduction https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction

4) As you already receive CB (so must have a dependant child already) update Tax Credits with your change of circumstances re CTC.
https://www.gov.uk/changes-affect-tax-credits

5) https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

NewMumKH

Thank you for the replies everyone - and particularly thanks for the links Alice! That!!!8217;s all very helpful, reassuring to think we should be able to get some assistance.

McKneff

How long has he worked for the company.
Has he some accrued holiday pay to come. Is he due some redindancy pay