cant get off benefits !!! Can anyone give me some info

audreyone

Hi, I am 42 with three children, 18, 17 and 14, the 14 yr old is homeschooled.
The council have put me in a house (of which I am grateful for) but the full rent, if I start work would be £312 per WEEK !, along with full c/t and so on. I have worked all my life and never claimed benefits before last year but I cant find a job that will pay me enough to pay the rent let alone all the other bills. Can anyone help me with some advice of how to get out of this horrible benefit trap. (the house I am in is owned by a private landlord and he rents it to the council), The landlord has informed me that he will be selling this house within 18 mths. I have had to move my family 5 times in 2 yrs, I am so tired, I have been approved by TeleTech as a home worker but when I enquired with the Income support dept and C/T dept they told me I would lose all benefits, so I cant take the job. Just at my wits end... any info would be welcome.

red_devil

no its the poverty trap and its not unusual. Your 18 year should be paying towards the rent if he/she is working. They are not considered a child at 18. There is nothing wrong with being on benefits if you cant make it pay to go out to work its just the way the system is.

Fran

Are you still on the Council and Housing Association waiting lists? As the council have put you in that accommodation rather than a council house you need to find out if they still intend considering you for affordable accommodation.

exil

You need to look at tax credits. Put your figures into www.entitledto.co.uk. You can still get housing benefit when working.

red_devil

are you sure about that i was under the impression if you worked full time then you couldnt get hb and you would have to work to make it worthwhile i think.

You say your child is homeschooled how can you work then? do you teach him?

tigtag02

yes, you can work full time and claim HB ~ thats not to say it will be awarded though and the full amount is highly unlikely.