Benefits and career break

Gemmay

Hi

I was wondering whether anyone knew if I could claim benefits whilst on a career break?

My daughter is 6 months old and I would like to spend some more time with her before going back to work, so was thinking about maybe taking a career break.

However, I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to claim any benefits, I don’t own my house and I live by myself so have no other means of income.

Any help would be most welcome

Thank you

anamenottaken

Claiming NI credits - but I guess you are doing that already.

poppy12345

OP first thing you need to do is check to see if your area is a full Universal credit area, if it is then it's this you'll need to claim and not legacy benefits. https://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate This has replaced all means tested benefits and is one monthly payment.

If your area isn't a full UC area area then you can claim Income Support because your daughter is under 5. You would also be eligible for housing benefit but for this you'll need to apply to your local council.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

WhenIam64

OP first thing you need to do is check to see if your area is a full Universal credit area, if it is then it's this you'll need to claim and not legacy benefits. https://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate This has replaced all means tested benefits and is one monthly payment.

If your area isn't a full UC area area then you can claim Income Support because your daughter is under 5. You would also be eligible for housing benefit but for this you'll need to apply to your local council.

This is the normal process you should follow. Whether or not you will get benefits will be determined by your own personal circumstances and the statutory guidance that a Decision Maker will follow.

Unlike some of the views here, and I make no comment on whether they are right or wrong, a DM has to follow the law and cannot rely on their opinion of you personally. Just follow the process and if you need further advice on the process just come back.

TELLIT01

Making the logical conclusion from the OP, that she is a single parent, she will be entitled to claim Income Support if she is not in a full UC area. I don't know the rules around UC but assume there is a similar entitlement.
If the OP does have a partner that will become clear when the claim is made and will obviously affect entitlement. Savings etc are taken into account.

Alice_Holt

OP - In not in a Universal Credit area, then:
Income Support,
Child Tax Credits,
Housing Benefit.

UC and the 3 legacy benefits listed above are all means-tested.

In addition to the above -
Child Benefit
Council Tax reduction.

You can find more info on all these benefits here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/

Please try to ignore the unpleasant and judgemental comments.
Most people do post information in order to help others and answer the question, but for some people it's an opportunity for superciliousness.

clairec79

Can you claim income support if you still have a contract of employment though? I'm sure someone told me they had to resign to claim benefits rather than take a career break (but this was some 15 or so years ago so may be completely wrong)

oldhand

clairec79 wrote: »

Can you claim income support if you still have a contract of employment though? I'm sure someone told me they had to resign to claim benefits rather than take a career break (but this was some 15 or so years ago so may be completely wrong)

I had thought that also,If I remember what I was told by taking a career break the firm was still holding your job open for you and as such you were not unemployed in that sense of the word and so couldn't claim benefits,but like yourself this was many years back.

Alice_Holt

clairec79 wrote: »

Can you claim income support if you still have a contract of employment though? I'm sure someone told me they had to resign to claim benefits rather than take a career break (but this was some 15 or so years ago so may be completely wrong)

If you had googled Income Support, you might have found the following:

"Who can get Income Support
It's for people who all the following apply to:
- are between age 16 and the age they can get Pension Credit
- have a low income
- work less than 16 hours a week, depending on the amount of your wage
- aren't in full-time study (but there are some exceptions)
- don't get Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- don't have savings above £16,000

You may get Income Support if you are one of the following:
- a lone parent with a youngest child under age 5 (in Northern Ireland, under age 7)
- on parental or paternity leave
- a carer
......
From https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/eligibility-income-support

Or, you may have found the uk.gov site which states:

"Eligibility
Use a benefits calculator to check if you can get Income Support before you apply. You may need to claim Universal Credit instead.

To be eligible for Income Support, you must be between 16 and Pension Credit qualifying age.

All of the following must also apply to you (and your partner if you have one):
- you have no income or a low income, and no more than £16,000 in savings
- you’re not in full-time paid work (you can work less than 16 hours a week, and your partner can work less than 24 hours a week)
- you’re not eligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- you live in England, Scotland or Wales - there are different rules for Northern Ireland

You must also be at least one of the following:
-pregnant
- a lone parent (including lone foster or adoptive parent) with a child under 5
- a carer
- on maternity, paternity or parental leave
- unable to work and you receive Statutory Sick Pay, Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance (or are appealing a decision about work capability for these benefits)
- in full-time education (not university), aged between 16 and 20, and a parent.........."

From https://www.gov.uk/income-support/eligibility

I may be being rather harsh, but I really think it would be more helpful to the OP (and other forumites) if you can check the facts before posting potentially misleading suppositions based on something someone told you 15 years ago. It only adds confusion to a thread which has already been diverted off course.