Benefits after being made redundant and taking into account children!

Jo_R_2

Hi all!

Just been made redundant as of yesterday. Single parent of two children aged 1 and 4. Was claiming WTC, CTC and childcare costs, and some HB/CTB.

Notified council of change of circumstance, waiting to hear from them.

Spoke to Revenue and Customs about change of circumstance. They mentioned a WTC four week 'run on' which I may be eligible for and the advisor will put in a claim for this. Advised for me to call back when have info re: JSA claim to amend their records accordingly.

Phoned up about JSA, they arranged a call back as they were nearly finished for the day (LOL!) so waiting for that phone call - in fact will give them a call back in a mo actually.

Does this all sound about right, and is there anything else I need to do? Am panicking a bit as regards money as was hoping to have found something else by now but not been successful yet.

Also am I right in thinking that I will get a straightforward amount of JSA as any child-related supplements aren't paid anymore in favour of Child Tax Credit? I've had a look on the Job Centre Plus website but it wasn't totally clear.

I'm hoping this is only a short-term measure as I really can't afford to just live off JSA and the children's father doesn't pay me any maintenance.

Any input welcomed!

krisskross

Do check on https://www.entitledto.com what you will be entitled to as a lone parent, especially if you are renting your home. You could be pleasantly surprised. It must be a difficult juggling act with children that young to work.

good luck

Jo_R_2

Thanks.

It hasn't been too hard so far, I've been lucky in my last job to have a very family-friendly, flexible employer and a great nursery close to home.

The trouble I'm finding at the mo is now DD1 has started preschool in the mornings, I am going to have to arrange some way of getting her to school if I start at 9 (which shouldn't be too much of a problem as there's a breakfast club at the school) but I will have to arrange some way of getting her from school at 11.30am to nursery for lunch and the afternoon. I can get their dad and my parents to help out a couple of days but the rest I may need to find a childminder for. And then there's the cost - I've been claiming for childcare through Tax Credits but am looking for a full-time position now and I'm not sure how things will balance out with childcare costs.

shellsuit

Jo_R wrote: »

Hi all!

Just been made redundant as of yesterday. Single parent of two children aged 1 and 4. Was claiming WTC, CTC and childcare costs, and some HB/CTB.

Notified council of change of circumstance, waiting to hear from them.

Spoke to Revenue and Customs about change of circumstance. They mentioned a WTC four week 'run on' which I may be eligible for and the advisor will put in a claim for this. Advised for me to call back when have info re: JSA claim to amend their records accordingly.

Phoned up about JSA, they arranged a call back as they were nearly finished for the day (LOL!) so waiting for that phone call - in fact will give them a call back in a mo actually.

Does this all sound about right, and is there anything else I need to do? Am panicking a bit as regards money as was hoping to have found something else by now but not been successful yet.

Also am I right in thinking that I will get a straightforward amount of JSA as any child-related supplements aren't paid anymore in favour of Child Tax Credit? I've had a look on the Job Centre Plus website but it wasn't totally clear.

I'm hoping this is only a short-term measure as I really can't afford to just live off JSA and the children's father doesn't pay me any maintenance.

Any input welcomed!

Jo, Is it Job Seekers Allowance you mean? (JSA)

If so, you won't get that, you get Income Support for yourself and tax credits for the children.

Also, depending on your rent, you may get it all paid by housing benefit, and council tax too.

I think you would get some kind of vouchers too which replaced the milk tokens that used to be issued.

Jo_R_2

shellsuit wrote: »

Jo, Is it Job Seekers Allowance you mean? (JSA)

If so, you won't get that, you get Income Support for yourself and tax credits for the children.

Also, depending on your rent, you may get it all paid by housing benefit, and council tax too.

I think you would get some kind of vouchers too which replaced the milk tokens that used to be issued.

Hi shellsuit

I did mean Job Seekers Allowance. I was slightly confused tbh, it appears that I can actually claim either? I am intending to look for work, what confused me more than the single parent issue was the fact that I've been off work for various periods over the last year, including the last few weeks up to being made redundant, as I suffer with depression. Tbh I have been doubting my ability to undertake a full-time job with my state of mind as is at the moment, but financially I can't afford NOT to work so I'm in a bit of a quandry really!

krisskross

Jo_R wrote: »

Hi shellsuit

I did mean Job Seekers Allowance. I was slightly confused tbh, it appears that I can actually claim either? I am intending to look for work, what confused me more than the single parent issue was the fact that I've been off work for various periods over the last year, including the last few weeks up to being made redundant, as I suffer with depression. Tbh I have been doubting my ability to undertake a full-time job with my state of mind as is at the moment, but financially I can't afford NOT to work so I'm in a bit of a quandry really!

Perhaps it would be a good idea to see a lone parent advisor at the job centre who could go through your options with you. You sound as if you need a bit of a breathing space before you think of going back to work. Honestly with tax credits and income support, council tax benefit and no childcare to worry about you could be better off.

Jo_R_2

krisskross wrote: »

Perhaps it would be a good idea to see a lone parent advisor at the job centre who could go through your options with you. You sound as if you need a bit of a breathing space before you think of going back to work. Honestly with tax credits and income support, council tax benefit and no childcare to worry about you could be better off.

That is true and I hadn't thought of that. It's really the financial side of things that worries me most, I have debts from my ex (in my name) that need paying, and also from our joint claim, an overpayment that needs sorting but I simply haven't got the money for that...

It kinda makes me mad, he's just got married and they've just got a mortgage on a four-bed house, and he's claiming he can't afford to give us anything because he's only got a part-time job (which is true, it's all based on her earnings) and their mortgage payments are huge. Irks me somewhat that getting a nice new house takes up all his money whereas before he needed it for bills and living, which is fair enough but here's us stuck in this tiny house just about managing to scrape by, I worked so he could go through uni and I'm seeing nothing from it. *shrugs* I'm not greedy at all, I just hate worrying about every penny whilst they don't seem that bothered.

Also I do feel that working gives me an added sense of purpose and the routine helps with my depression. But talking to the advisor at the Job Centre is the way to go I guess. I'm applying and going for interviews, I'm just not sure how my sick leave will look to employers and whether it's going to be a fruitless search.

shellsuit

Jo_R wrote: »

Hi shellsuit

I did mean Job Seekers Allowance. I was slightly confused tbh, it appears that I can actually claim either? I am intending to look for work, what confused me more than the single parent issue was the fact that I've been off work for various periods over the last year, including the last few weeks up to being made redundant, as I suffer with depression. Tbh I have been doubting my ability to undertake a full-time job with my state of mind as is at the moment, but financially I can't afford NOT to work so I'm in a bit of a quandry really!

Jo, definitely ring the job centre and ask to speak to a lone parent advisor. Let them know you no longer have a job and have 2 children.

If you suffer with depression, maybe take some time out for a while and concentrate on your own well being, then you can look for a job in your own time and find something to suit you and your circumstances.

Don't claim JSA (I didn't even think you could if you had kids?!), claim Income Support for yourself and TC for the little ones. On Income Support you will also get help with school meals, free prescriptions, free dental work etc.

Jo_R_2

shellsuit wrote: »

Jo, definitely ring the job centre and ask to speak to a lone parent advisor. Let them know you no longer have a job and have 2 children.

If you suffer with depression, maybe take some time out for a while and concentrate on your own well being, then you can look for a job in your own time and find something to suit you and your circumstances.

Don't claim JSA (I didn't even think you could if you had kids?!), claim Income Support for yourself and TC for the little ones. On Income Support you will also get help with school meals, free prescriptions, free dental work etc.

I have an appointment at the Job Centre next week for my JSA claim. From what I have read, lone parents can choose whether to claim Income Support or JSA, to be honest I just assumed I would claim JSA as I have been looking for work. When I made the phone call about JSA, they ask you some qualifying questions then tell you that from what you have said, you may be eligible for JSA. I explained when they asked about if I was fit for work, and if I would be having any medical treatment, that I had been off for various periods of time over the last year and that I was regularly seeing my GP. I asked what constitued medical treatment and they said, for example, inpatient stays at hospital, so I said no.

In retrospect, I don't know if I should have explained that following starting taking anti depressants, I will be hopefully referred to see either a psychiatrist or a CPN. I'm torn really because there's no point denying that I *am* ill, but I never thought about NOT working because I always have worked. But then again I have to be realistic because what point is there taking a full-time job then spending weeks off with depression?

krisskross

It sounds very much as if your GP would be happy for you to stay at home for a while, just so your treatment and medication can work and enable you to get back to your best. Incapacity Benefit could be another avenue to explore if you have the required NI contributions. I think this could be more than JSA. But when you go for your appointment ask the advisor to go through ALL your options from a financial point of view so you can make an informed decision about what is best for you and your children.

Jo_R_2

Yes, I think that would be a good idea. I'm trying so hard to not let this depression get control of my life, so I hate the thought of having time not in a job. But it's what to do for the long-term greater good if that makes sense...

I am lucky as my GP is very supportive. I am also seeing him next week so can discuss this with him too.