Single Persons Benefits

[bloomingflower]

Hi All !

Please may I have some advice on what other benefits a single person can claim? I am asking on behalf of my friend and next door neighbor. (Yes, I seem to be helping a lot of people out this week, feel like an agony aunt LOL )

She lives in a 3 bedroom house and is responsible for all household bills. She is receiving Income Support and Housing and Council Tax benefits.. She is 24 and also about 4 months pregnant.

Her total weekly income is £40 per week (after stoppages,arrears,debts etc) and this is all she has to live on to buy herself food, pay bills/utilities,clothing etc...She is actively seeking work, which means she has to also pay for the travel out of the £40 she receives. (she doesn't drive)

I can see clearly she is struggling, and I personally don't know how she lives on such a small amount of money TBH. She recently applied for a crisis loan, they refused as they said she was not entitled to it.

Is there anymore help for her?




Bf xx

[scottishlass]

Re: Single Persons Benefits

Hi Bloomingflower,

It's not easy found myself having to live on benefits for a while has she checked out Start Calculation
.

It's a shame but she might find it difficult to get a job being pregnant, has she any other children?

I got Income support
child tax credits
i only got about 14 per week housing benefit as 2 of mine are working
and DLA for my son and child benefit.

SL xx

[bloomingflower]

Re: Single Persons Benefits

Hi Bloomingflower,

It's not easy found myself having to live on benefits for a while has she checked out Start Calculation
.

It's a shame but she might find it difficult to get a job being pregnant, has she any other children? Yes, I agree, trying to find work is difficult when you are expecting as I have been there myself too.
This is her first child. So it is a bit daunting for her at the mo, struggling to cope with little money coming in...she says she has support from her boyfriend and his family, but at the moment they live apart as he and his family are based in London and she lives here in Surrey.

I got Income support
child tax credits
i only got about 14 per week housing benefit as 2 of mine are working
and DLA for my son and child benefit.

SL xx

Hi SL ... I will pass on the above calculator for her to use ..Thankyou..



Bf xx

[Jester]

Re: Single Persons Benefits

She should be entitled to Child Tax Credits if she has kids (unfortunately, the 'bun in the oven' will not count until it is born). This is a funny area to deal with, but if her income last year was vastly different from her income this year, then she can asked to be assessed on this years income. If it turns out she should be getting more than she has been, then they will backdate it to the beginning of this tax year.

[Emerald]

Re: Single Persons Benefits

Where does the £40 per week income come from?
Is she over 25?
Is she renting the house?

[bloomingflower]

Re: Single Persons Benefits

She should be entitled to Child Tax Credits if she has kids (unfortunately, the 'bun in the oven' will not count until it is born). This is a funny area to deal with, but if her income last year was vastly different from her income this year, then she can asked to be assessed on this years income. If it turns out she should be getting more than she has been, then they will backdate it to the beginning of this tax year.

Hi Jester !

Does this mean she can claim Child Tax Credits while she is claiming Income Support? If so, then this is good news for her, as it is an extra bit of income for her. I will ask her if her income was much lower last year, (but I suspect it was )

This is her first child and her baby is not due til the 6th January 2009, (so if I read your post correctly),can she claim CTC before her baby is due,from April this year to April 2009?


BF xx



Hi Emerald

Where does the £40 per week income come from?

She is claiming Income Support

Is she over 25?

She is 24 yrs old

Is she renting the house?

Yes, I assume the Council pay the majority of the rent, as on top of her Income Support she also receives Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

bfXx

[Emerald]

Re: Single Persons Benefits

Hi,

She cannot claim CTC until the baby is born, but she will be entitled to a sure start grant of £500 11 weeks before the baby is born which is very soon.
She cannot claim WTC as she is under 25.

Regards her housing benefit is she receiving the full amount? She is overhoused according to the rules, and this may be why her income is reduced.

Personally I dont see any point in her looking for week this near to the EDD, as she will gain very little before she is on maternity leave, and her benefits will be all over the place, and I admire her ambition, but she is best looking at this when the baby is oldr and she has reliable childcare.

After the baby is born she will be entitled to CTC, IS (or whatever the new name will be applicable to her) and Child Benefit, it amounts to just about £125 per week, and then Housing and Council Tax are extra.

[Happyolddog]

Re: Single Persons Benefits

This is always a good place to see which benifits you are entitled too.

http://entitledto.co.uk/