How much does a single mum with 2 children receive in benefits per year?

msmicawber

Thank you for putting your query into context. Yes, I did leap in there with both feet, for which I apologise, but this was your first post and read just like a lot of nasty posts that have been made in the past. I am sorry, however.

Beware of assuming you'll get a 'free house'. Housing benefit doesn't work like that and neither do Council waiting lists - you wouldn't have high elibility for social housing and there's a very long wait. With HB and CTB, there's an 'average rent' and if your rent exceeds that, you'd have to find the shortfall. The Council would decide what is suitable accommodation for you and your baby and if your property exceeds that (i.e. has 2 bedrooms or whatever), you'd have to make up the shortfall. Whatever your baby's father contributes will be regarded as income, with a certain amount disregarded, so your HB and CTB would be reduced. You will get £18.80 per week Child Benefit, which is classed as income and only partially disregarded ... and so it goes on.

Generally, you're usually better off working as you'll be eligible for Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits, and up to 75% (I don't think it's 80%, but am happy to be corrected) of childcare costs up to a certain amount. You may still be eligible for HB and CTB on top of that and if you're in receipt of Tax Credits, a certain amount of that is disregarded. The HB and CTB take into account the balance of your childcare costs. However, the amount they say that is enough for you and a baby to live on isn't very much, so you're not going to be rolling in it.

msmicawber

Oh, I forgot to add, why not look at https://www.entitledto.com to see what your likely eligibility is. Also, your Council may well have a benefits calculator on their web site from which you can work out how much you may be entitled to. Trust me, it's not 'raking it in'.

liney

£12660.98 is the total figure for a non working single mother with one child, based on £100 per week rent.

For the love of god, dont chose to bring your child up on benefits. What kind of example are you setting!

danijenner

Hi

New here :-) Single Mum (almost!) ;-)

I was previously self employed and after becoming pregnant Im now on Income Support, and waiting to hear on a claim for SMP (and also waiting for the baby to drop!!).

Housing Benefit is a hugely long winded process (despite what a benefits office will tell you). Most council websites have calculators on for you to work out a rough guide.

My local council told me they pay £75 to £85 a week for a housing association place, and upto £96 a week for a private landlord. This is based on a 2 bed place, but does not take into consideration the type of property (they pay more for houses than flats), the location (I live in quite a nice area, and the lady on the phone said they would probably pay an extra 5 to 10 per week for this area for a private landlord), service charges (if you opt for a flat and there is a service charge, HB wont pay this and you will have to pay it yourself whether its included or not) or whether it has any furnishings.

Danielle x

danijenner

liney wrote: »

£12660.98 is the total figure for a non working single mother with one child, based on £100 per week rent.

For the love of god, dont chose to bring your child up on benefits. What kind of example are you setting!

I completely agree, I HATE the fact im not providing myself, and have every intention of returning to work as soon as is humanly possible for me to :j

whowho

I'm no expert, but I would like to say that what Clow iseems to be doing isn't far off what most of us have done when discovering we are going to have a baby to feed, clothe and nappy. The wording may not have been particularly delicate, but for gods sake people give her a break.

Kudos to msmicawber for having the grace to apologise for judging. It's never an easy thing to do.:T

msmicawber

Clow wrote: »

£500 maternity grant to pay for my pram? A £500 CTF voucher? Free prescriptions?

How much are the milk tokens worth per week?

I believe the £500 maternity grant is the one you've already listed under Child Tax Credits.

You can't spend the CTF voucher as that's savings for your child and I believe it's £250, but may have gone up.

Milk tokens are worth about £2-3 per week (not sure of the most up-to-date figure), and can either be exchanged for formula or used to buy milk in a shop.

Your child will get free prescriptions anyway, and you will while you're receiving IS and sometimes Working Tax Credits, depending on level of income. On your current income, you probably would.

danijenner

msmicawber wrote: »

I believe the £500 maternity grant is the one you've already listed under Child Tax Credits.

You can't spend the CTF voucher as that's savings for your child and I believe it's £250, but may have gone up.

Milk tokens are worth about £2-3 per week (not sure of the most up-to-date figure), and can either be exchanged for formula or used to buy milk in a shop.

Your child will get free prescriptions anyway, and you will while you're receiving IS and sometimes Working Tax Credits, depending on level of income. On your current income, you probably would.

Milk Tokens were scrapped. Now called Healthy Start and worth £2.80 a week whilst pregnant, doubled when the child is born up to a year old then back to £2.80 a week from ages 1 to 4. They can also be used on fruit and veg.

The £500 is ONLY if you're on benefits and is called the Sure Start Grant.

misswig

Hi

Not sure but I think if you deliberately make yourself unemployed ie give up paid employment to live off benefits, you are not entitled to any for 26 weeks??

Surely you would not be just giving up your job but your self esteem??

Before any oone critisise me, i myself am a single mum of a 3 year old who needs extra support in the way of physio, speech therapy,etc etc. I would no doubt be better off living of benefits but have chosen to work in order to provide a roof over our head etc rather than living off benefits

shellsuit

misswig wrote: »

Hi

Not sure but I think if you deliberately make yourself unemployed ie give up paid employment to live off benefits, you are not entitled to any for 26 weeks??

Surely you would not be just giving up your job but your self esteem??

Before any oone critisise me, i myself am a single mum of a 3 year old who needs extra support in the way of physio, speech therapy,etc etc. I would no doubt be better off living of benefits but have chosen to work in order to provide a roof over our head etc rather than living off benefits

Not if you have children, No.