worried about finances!!! need help to calm done:-)

aimme13

Hi, Ive been on this site for a year or 2 and read this board nearly every day but do not post that often:o

Im have been on a dmp with payplan for 5 years and although i still allow treats I do have a tight budget. I use this site to get me motivated and keep me on the straight and narrow.

OK HERE IS THE PANIC!!

Ive been on income support for 3 years as a single parent and yesterday started back at work part time, so today i am phoning round the benefit people to let them know!

Its completely stressing me out and I am normally a calm person!

The reason for this is I just dont know what money i am now getting??? and the thought of not knowing my income is freeking me out:eek: i have spoken to tax credits and they seem to be talking another language and income support have stopped my claim from today! I have no money in the bank and am now at a complete panic!!

Oh and payplan keep emailing me to ask about my annual review!!

4littleone

Hi,
take each issue a step at a time.

1. Email payplan back and tell them you have started work this week and will email them a revised SOA as soon as you have confirmation of tax credits etc.

2. Speak to your employer to find out exactly what your salary will be.
3. Go to entitledto.co.uk and use the online calculator to input your salary and circumstances, this should give you an idea of your entitlement. I think the tax credits site has a calculator too.
4. Go to your local job centre and get an interview with the benefits advisor/back to work advisor. She/he can tell you exactly what you are entitled to.
5. Apply for your tax credits online.
6. Contact local council and let them know your circumstances have changed and you need to have your benefits adjusted. They will tell you if you need to fill in any forms etc.

7. Congratulate yourself on your lovely new job!!!!

aimme13

thanks so much for your reply, payplan review was up the day i heard about my job and i emailed them to say i would call them in a moth, but it took a month before i actually started work and they have emailed me twice and called once.

I know my salary but cant work out exactly what i will take home, also to add confusion it is 2 part time jobs and i have to call tax office to sort out tax code.

will try entitled.co.uk now but always afraid it will come out with more money than i will get and lead me into a false sense of security!!

back to work benefit advisor was near on useless the whole time i was on benefits, so really dont want to have to go there unless i have to.

Income support told me not to contact local council as they deal with them?

thank you so much, feels so good to be back working.....I have just come of the phone to the CSA (just to cheer me up lol)

aimme13

just been on entitled to and it says i will be getting £210 a week?? this is WTC CTC and housing benefit. But this is all based on last years earnings which were next to nothing!.....what happens next year? all very confusing