Benifit entitlements if i own my own house and lost my job

Robert_harvey

So if I lost my job what help or benifits can I get? We have our first child due in june. My wife earns £18000 a year but maternity leave is coming up. Our savings are less than £6000. We own our house on a mortgage. I've worked constantly for the last 15 years. Im a chef so chances of finding work are next to nothing. Live in the countryside so other work isn't exactly knocking on the door. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

calcotti

Look at Universal Credit. Information here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/. 
Claim online https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

You will be excluded from claiming UC if you have capital/savings over £16,000.

Be aware that claiming UC will end any Tax Credits, Housing Benefit or other means tested benefits you currently get.

You may also be able to claim Council Tax Reduction from your local council

While your wife is earning £18,000 you will not probably not qualify for UC prior to the birth of you baby (congratulations) but when her pay drops you amy do and after the birth your entitlement will go up. I suggest you use the benefit calculators to test different situations.

You can also claim new style JobSeekers Allowance bur this will be deducted from the UC when you do claim UC.

New style JSA counts as taxable income, UC is tax exempt.

For obvious reasons this advice is the same as in your other similar thread. I note that in the other thread you said you were furloughed whereas in this one you say you have lost your job. Obviously if you are furloughed your furloughed income will be taken into account.

poppy12345

Why start another thread? you already have one here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6128673/universal-credit-and-owning-a-house#latest

Robert_harvey

calcotti said:

Look at Universal Credit. Information here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/. 
Claim online https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

You will be excluded from claiming UC if you have capital/savings over £16,000.

Be aware that claiming UC will end any Tax Credits, Housing Benefit or other means tested benefits you currently get.

You may also be able to claim Council Tax Reduction from your local council

While your wife is earning £18,000 you will not probably not qualify for UC prior to the birth of you baby (congratulations) but when her pay drops you amy do and after the birth your entitlement will go up. I suggest you use the benefit calculators to test different situations.

You can also claim new style JobSeekers Allowance bur this will be deducted from the UC when you do claim UC.

New style JSA counts as taxable income, UC is tax exempt.

For obvious reasons this advice is the same as in your other similar thread. I note that in the other thread you said you were furloughed whereas in this one you say you have lost your job. Obviously if you are furloughed your furloughed income will be taken into account.

Ok that makes sense. Thanks. Just found out about child tax credit. I didn't even know there was such a thing. As you seem to know what your talking about can i ask what this is, and can we claim it even if i don't loose my job? We earn £41000 a year between us as a house hold income.

poppy12345

Robert_harvey said:

calcotti said:

Look at Universal Credit. Information here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/. 
Claim online https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

There are online calculators to help you assess entitlement  https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

You will be excluded from claiming UC if you have capital/savings over £16,000.

Be aware that claiming UC will end any Tax Credits, Housing Benefit or other means tested benefits you currently get.

You may also be able to claim Council Tax Reduction from your local council

While your wife is earning £18,000 you will not probably not qualify for UC prior to the birth of you baby (congratulations) but when her pay drops you amy do and after the birth your entitlement will go up. I suggest you use the benefit calculators to test different situations.

You can also claim new style JobSeekers Allowance bur this will be deducted from the UC when you do claim UC.

New style JSA counts as taxable income, UC is tax exempt.

For obvious reasons this advice is the same as in your other similar thread. I note that in the other thread you said you were furloughed whereas in this one you say you have lost your job. Obviously if you are furloughed your furloughed income will be taken into account.

Just found out about child tax credit.

New claims for tax credits are only possible in certain circumstances (if someone is claiming a severe disability premium) as you don't claim this then you won't be able to start a new claim for tax credits. It will need to be Universal Credit. Use a benefits calculator. Although at the moment it's very unlikely you will be entitled to any UC based on your circumstances. Maybe different once your child is born but you'll need to use the calculator for that.

calcotti

Universal Credit has replaced Tax Credits.