Benefits entitlement minefield

Kabazzzz

Hi, I was hoping that someone could help.  I'm trying to get some information together for my daughter who is going through a breakup, with regards to what benefits she'll be entitled to.

She currently has a 7 month old, is 6 months pregnant and currently works 16 hours a week generating a net income of £392 per month and gets £83 child benefit.

I've been using the benefits calculator but it seems like an absolute minefield and is so confusing!

She's moving in with me and my partner on Thursday on a temporary basis and will be going to see the council on Friday to discuss options (we live in different counties).

Can anyone help?

TIA

calcotti

Universal Credit. She will be entitled to a basic personal allowance plus extra money for each child. The basic allowance is £317.82/month if she is aged 25 or over (£251.77 if under). The child element is £231.67 for each child.

Currently therefore she has a maximum entitlement of £569.59/month (if over 25) which will increase to £821.36 once new baby is born. Because she will not be claiming a housing element as she will be living with you the first £503 she earns each month will be ignored. In her case this means there will be no earnings deduction.

If she finds somewhere to live she will be entitled to help with rent but the amount of earnings ignored will then reduce to £287/month.
For help with rent she will be entitled to a two bedroom property. If renting privately the help with rent will be restricted to the Local Housing Allowance for her post code https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

She will also be able to get help with her Council Tax through Council Tax Reduction claimed from the local authority.

[Deleted User]

Councils have very long waiting list even for those seen as a priority, so as well as seeing the council she should look at private rentals, although some (not all) of them don't like renting to those depending on benefits. Not what you want to hear I know.

Kabazzzz

Thank you both for your replies.  Very helpful.

I'm aware that the waiting list where we live is very long so we are exploring options regarding private rentals.

I'm assuming that she'd be entitled to housing benefit in that instance.

The part that I find confusing with universal credit, is that you can still apply for tax credits separately.  I'm guessing this is the case because not everyone who needs tax credits will be entitled to UC and that if you claim separately, it would just reduce your entitlement to UC?

poppy12345

Kabazzzz said:

Thank you both for your replies.  Very helpful.

I'm aware that the waiting list where we live is very long so we are exploring options regarding private rentals.

I'm assuming that she'd be entitled to housing benefit in that instance.

The part that I find confusing with universal credit, is that you can still apply for tax credits separately.  I'm guessing this is the case because not everyone who needs tax credits will be entitled to UC and that if you claim separately, it would just reduce your entitlement to UC?

She won't be able to claim housing benefit because it no longer exists, same for tax credits. As advised above, it will be universal credit she will need to claim and this includes money for her child/herself and rent, which will be the housing element. UC has replaced all the old benefits such as tax credits and housing benefit.

calcotti

Kabazzzz said:

I'm assuming that she'd be entitled to housing benefit in that instance.

The part that I find confusing with universal credit, is that you can still apply for tax credits separately.  

As explained in my first post it is Universal Credit (and Council tax Reduction in the future if she has a place of her own). Nothing else applies.

Kabazzzz

Thanks Calcotti.  I think I've got it.

Fairly straightforward with regards to her entitlement from later this week.

When she moves out, her UC would increase as it includes an element for housing but the calculation will differ due to the ignored earnings.  So although it would increase the UC, it wouldn't be by a huge amount.

calcotti

Kabazzzz said:

So although it would increase the UC, it wouldn't be by a huge amount.

That will depend on the amount of help with rent she is allowed. Remember also that when earnings are taken into account the deduction is only 63% of the earnings.
A point to note is that UC entitlement is based on the circumstances at the end of the assessment period. This means that if your daughter starts a tenancy just before the end of her assessment period she actually gets help with rent for the whole assessment period even though she wasn't paying it.

Smyler79

Both 79 live in a cold 1 bed flat . I have incurable Pulmonary Hypertention. How do we get Grant for double glazing. We have never had any benefit except Gov. Pensions

poppy12345

Smyler79 said:

Both 79 live in a cold 1 bed flat . I have incurable Pulmonary Hypertention. How do we get Grant for double glazing. We have never had any benefit except Gov. Pensions

You've asked your question on the end of someone else's thread and your question is totally unrelated to what the thread was originally about. Please start your own thread.

oh_really

Smyler79 said:

Both 79 live in a cold 1 bed flat . I have incurable Pulmonary Hypertention. How do we get Grant for double glazing. We have never had any benefit except Gov. Pensions

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/post/discussion/benefits-tax-credits