Fallen on hard times

Jimeji

Hi, would appreciate any advice on the current situation.

Now in mid 40s, have worked my entire working life paying tax. Have recently lost my job. Have a wife, and 4 children to support, one of which is severly disabled. Wife can't work as full time carer to our child.

Looking for a new role, which is proving challenging. In the meantime, are we entitled to any benefits to help us through this challenging time?

Muttleythefrog

Best bet to save asking lots of questions at this stage is to go to one of the benefit calculators. 
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

If after that you've got queries come back here is my advice.

p00hsticks

The obvious possibilities  I can think of would be  

• New-style Job Seekers Allowance for you (not means tested - depends on your recent NI record)
• Universal Credit, if you have savings of less than £16k
• Child Benefit if not already claiming it 
• DLA / PIP for your disabled child if not already claiming it 
• Carers Allowance for your wife if you child gets the ablve 
• Council Tax Reduction

As Muttley says above, plug your details into one of the calculators in their post and see what it comes back with 

Jimeji

Thanks all. Have interviews lined up and hopeful of being offered a job and starting as soon as next Monday.

This would mean I would have been out of work for only 2 weeks, which is a relief. In the meantime I have applied for JSI, and they have summoned me to a meeting tomorrow.

Is it worth my time attending, explaining my situation in order to secure two weeks worth of payments? OR would they refuse if new job is on the horizon OR is it simply not worth the time and effort? (any additional funds would be helpful for my family at this stage.

TIA

peteuk

Jimeji said:

Thanks all. Have interviews lined up and hopeful of being offered a job and starting as soon as next Monday.

This would mean I would have been out of work for only 2 weeks, which is a relief. In the meantime I have applied for JSI, and they have summoned me to a meeting tomorrow.

Is it worth my time attending, explaining my situation in order to secure two weeks worth of payments? OR would they refuse if new job is on the horizon OR is it simply not worth the time and effort? (any additional funds would be helpful for my family at this stage.

TIA

I would attend, just in case things dont work out with the new employment. 

Grumpy_chap

Jimeji said:

Thanks all. Have interviews lined up and hopeful of being offered a job and starting as soon as next Monday.

This would mean I would have been out of work for only 2 weeks, which is a relief. In the meantime I have applied for JSI, and they have summoned me to a meeting tomorrow.

Is it worth my time attending, explaining my situation in order to secure two weeks worth of payments? OR would they refuse if new job is on the horizon OR is it simply not worth the time and effort? (any additional funds would be helpful for my family at this stage.

TIA

Yes, it is worth attending the meeting tomorrow.

If everything goes to plan, assuming you have the NI credits to qualify you will still be entitled to the nJSA back-dated to when you first submitted the claim.  It won't be a life-changing amount, but better than nought.  That claim will run until you actually start the new job, so three week's worth.  You will also accrue NI credits for the period of the claim.

You may be entitled to further benefits in the mean time (UC) subject to any other income and savings.  These might also be back-dated to start of claim.

By attending the meeting you also cover yourself for the new job not actually starting for any reason.  You might find it hard to imagine any reason,  The new employer might find it hard to imagine a reason.  Something totally unexpected might happen that is beyond anyone's fault - as it were - an exceptional event such as business destroyed by fire.

Congratulations on securing new employment so quickly.

Jimeji

OK great, I'll ensure I attend in that case.

I attempted an application for UC, it then gave me a reference number that my partner needs to use for us to proceed with the application. Does she need to begin the application from the beginning?

(She doesn't work as full-time carer to our disabled daughter)

freesha

Jimeji said:

OK great, I'll ensure I attend in that case.

I attempted an application for UC, it then gave me a reference number that my partner needs to use for us to proceed with the application. Does she need to begin the application from the beginning?

(She doesn't work as full-time carer to our disabled daughter)

Yes, as you will have a joint claim. You then link the claims together.

And it's 'eligible for', not 'entitled to'.

Spoonie_Turtle

freesha said:

And it's 'eligible for', not 'entitled to'.

It's both, no?  People are entitled to claim any financial help they're eligible for.

kaMelo

It is, though personally I try to avoid using the words entitled to or entitlement preferring 'qualify for or eligible for. The outcome is the same but it just has a better vibe about it.

HillStreetBlues

kaMelo said:

It is, though personally I try to avoid using the words entitled to or entitlement preferring 'qualify for or eligible for. The outcome is the same but it just has a better vibe about it.

I've never really thought about the difference before, but now I have I prefer entitled.
Qualify for or eligible for are more IMHO neutral words, "entitled" is more emotive it give the impression that a person should have it. If a person feels they should have a benefit they are IMHO more likely to claim that benefit. Any thing or words that increase the uptake of benefits that a person is entitled too can only be good.