Help - not sure what to do.

magicat

I'm currently receiving JCA but when I last signed on I was told that my money would stop in January as I was only entitled to 6 months worth of JCA as my other half works.

I'm so worried as we are only just managing to pay the mortgage and bills so if I'm not getting the JSA we're going to be so stuck.

I had to sign on as my maternity pay finished in July and I had no job to go back to.

to be honest I'd prefer not to work and to stay home with our daughter but I really can't afford to do that.

Am i entitled to income support or anything? DP earns £12,000pa

seven-day-weekend

I don't think you would be entitled to Income Support but I think probably you would be entitled to Tax Credits.

I don't know who you contact about this though, but I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell you.

You may also be entitled to Council Tax Benefit.

Try p[utting your details into www.entitledto.co.uk

Hope this helps.

calleyw

You need to apply for Tax Credits and make sure you are getting child benefit.

Look at claiming Council Tax Benefit and even housing benefit if renting with such a low income.

That is all you would get.


Yours


Calley

bestpud

You will definitely be entitled to tax credits, based on you oh's income.

Are you getting that now though? I'm guessing you'd have been informed about tax credits when claiming jsa?

Re council tax benefit - I'd say just claim and see what happens. The worst outcome will be a 'no'. They will only backdate to the date you get the claim in so it's best just to apply I reckon. If the £12000 is gross income then you are likely to get something off your council tax I'd have thought.

I don't think you can get help with mortgage payments while your oh is working though.

magicat

we do get child benifit, we also get tax credits but thats only £20 per week as its based on last years earnings when we both had very good jobs.

bestpud

In that case, inform tax credits that your income has fallen as you are no longer working. They will then change your award. It may take a couple of weeks to sort out (maybe more than that if they are busy) but they will backdate it to the time you informed them.

You may be entitled to more even before your jsa runs out, assuming your jsa is less than you were earning last year. It's got to be worth a try anyway - give them a ring and see what they say. You definitely don't have to wait until April if your income falls.