Benefits after redundancy

cherryade44

Hello I was made redundant last week. I currently get child tax credits and working tax credits. I wiil be contacting the tax credits tomorrow to inform them I am no longer in work.

I was also off sick for the last few weeks before finishing my 12 weeks redundancy notice. I am not currently looking for work as I am still not fit for work.

My questions are

1 Will I still qualify for child tax credits

2 Am i entitled to any non means tested unemployment type  benefits if not looking for work at the moment,

I have been in work continually for the last 30+ years

Many thanks

tacpot12

You will still qualify for child tax credits, but not working tax credits. You could well be entitled to claim the new style Employment and Support Allowance based on you NI contributions. 

Do you rent you home and do you have any savings or assets that are worth more than £6000?

You can check your entitlement using the Benefit calculators at entitledto.co.uk and turn2us.org.uk.  

poppy12345

New Style ESA can be claimed with a fit note from your GP. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#how-to-apply

It pays £74.70 per week for 52 weeks, unless placed into the Support Group and then it's paid for as long as you remain in that group. It's taxable income so do be aware of that.

If you claim Universal Credit at any point then this will end your tax credits and you won't be able to reclaim it in the future.

Your ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement if you claim them both.

calcotti

You asked about means tested benefits. The only means tested benefits you may be able to claim are Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction. However just applying for UC will end your Tax Credits claim even if it turns out you have no entitlement to UC so you should not apply unless you are certain it is right for you.

If you use a benefits calculator you need to deduct £86.67/month from the results for UC because UC amounts are set to reduce from October.

Nannytone

The op asked about NON means tested  benefit;)

calcotti

Nannytone said:

The op asked about NON means tested  benefit;)

So they did - totally misread it!

cherryade44

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated. It's good that I will still get child tax credits. I woud not qualify for any means tested benefits ike UC so wouldn't apply.

As for a fit/sick note , I think i may leave it and use some of my redundancy pay to live off. I own my own house so no rent to pay.

I am hoping to be fit enough look for part time work in a month or two, and am still having tests from the doctors.

I really appreciate your advice , you are kind people

poppy12345

You will of course need to report the changes to HMRC.

calcotti

cherryade44 said:

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated. It's good that I will still get child tax credits. I woud not qualify for any means tested benefits ike UC so wouldn't apply.

And take note of poppy’s advice about new style ESA which is not means tested.

If you become fit for work there would be new style JSA.

Spoonie_Turtle

cherryade44 said:

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated. It's good that I will still get child tax credits. I woud not qualify for any means tested benefits ike UC so wouldn't apply.

As for a fit/sick note , I think i may leave it and use some of my redundancy pay to live off. I own my own house so no rent to pay.

I am hoping to be fit enough look for part time work in a month or two, and am still having tests from the doctors.

I really appreciate your advice , you are kind people

It is of course up to you but what do you gain by not claiming something you are most likely entitled to?  Even if you decide the stress of a work capability assessment isn't worth it, you would likely have weeks or perhaps months before they sent you the form.  If you claimed and then just didn't send the form back, I'm fairly sure they would simply close your claim and you'll have not lost anything, rather gained £70-odd per week for the time up until that point.  If you did continue a claim and fill in the form, you are allowed to do up to 16hrs work a week and earn up to ~£140 per week before it affected the ESA. 

Please do look into it before deciding whether to pass it up or not.  If it helps, the initial claim ought to be quite straightforward and can be done online   you just need to have a fit note for the start of a claim, which also should be quite routine for your GP.

EDIT for clarity: my opening question was rhetorical and I am in no way expecting or asking you to justify yourself!  Nor expecting any real reply to this post - just giving you some information for you to do with as you wish.  As I said, it's entirely up to you whatever you decide

calcotti

If you not already claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12 and therefore getting NI credits for this bear in mind that claiming new style ESA would also give you Class 1 NI credits.