What help would I get?

nicky7
nicky7 Posts: 9 Forumite
in Housing benefit help
Hi,

I am self employed on a low income, my children are over 20. I currently live in rented councl property and was wonderng what help I could get to get by on my low income?

I work about 16 hours a week roughly, and earn around £400-£500 month which is not enough to cover the rent etc.

Do I qualify for tax credits even though my children are not young anymore?

Thanks

Comments

  • muckybutt
    muckybutt Posts: 3,761 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Have a read here benefits advisor and calaulator
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  • McKneff
    McKneff Posts: 38,822 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    I presume your children live with you

    They need to contribute to the household

    You need to look for either more hours or a job that pays a wage to supplement your first job.

    Or a full time job.
    make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
    and we will never, ever return.
  • NeverInDebt
    NeverInDebt Posts: 4,634 Forumite
    If your income is that low and self employed you might be better looking for paid employment. If you can get a job at least 16 or 24 if you are a couple you might get tax credits. Might also be worth contacting your council for possible help with rent

    http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/workingtaxcredit/work.htm
  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,049 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    NeverInDebt wrote: »
    If your income is that low and self employed you might be better looking for paid employment. If you can get a job at least 16 or 24 if you are a couple you might get tax credits. Might also be worth contacting your council for possible help with rent

    http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/workingtaxcredit/work.htm


    If you are single and have no dependent children then you will need to work 30 hours a week to get tax credits.

    You may be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit.

    If your children live with you then a certain amount will be deducted from your entitlements (depending on what your children earn) as they are expected to contribute towards their living with you.

    A good calculator to use in here:

    www.turn2us.org.uk (go to Benefits tab and click on calculator)
  • nicky7
    nicky7 Posts: 9 Forumite
    McKneff wrote: »
    I presume your children live with you

    They need to contribute to the household

    You need to look for either more hours or a job that pays a wage to supplement your first job.

    Or a full time job.

    My child is at uni so only lives with me during the hols and is not in the osition to contribute atm.

    Might look into a second job if I can fit it around my day hours
  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    If you self employment pays around £500 for 16 hours, can you not say double the hours and thereby double your income?
  • skintandscared_2
    skintandscared_2 Posts: 2,781 Forumite
    Is there a reason you can't work full time hours? You need to do whatever hours are enough to pay the bills.
    DMP Mutual Support Thread member 244
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  • Fergie76
    Fergie76 Posts: 2,293 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited 19 August 2012 at 8:52PM
    nicky7 wrote: »
    Might look into a second job if I can fit it around my day hours

    What do you mean might?

    You are hardly rushed off your feet working 16 hours in a week, Some people work that in a day and most people will work that in 2 days.

    Get a full time job and support yourself!

    What is it you do? Because working 64 hours over 4 weeks and getting £500 for that only works out at £7.81 an hour. I thought most self-employed hourly rates would be at least double that?
  • CAB_Wyre_Forest_representative
    CAB_Wyre_Forest_representative Posts: 117 Organisation Representative
    Hello Nicky7 the link below will take you to a site where you can input your details and check what benefits you may be entitled to

    http://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/entitlementcalculator.aspx

    If your children are students and you have no partner you may be entitled to a 25% discount on council tax. If they are not then any benefit you may be entitled to will be affected by a non dependent deduction this link will explain how you can claim help with rent and the effect of having others live with you
    http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_help_if_on_a_low_income_ew/help_with_your_rent_-_housing_benefit.htm

    There is also a link here for a fact sheet about tax credits that you can down load http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/b_working_tax_credit.pdf
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