benefits

[mumj18]

Hi everyone,

Not sure if I have posted this in the right forum but I am a teen so that's a start! Anyone in Scotland started looking into their benefits yet? I am so confused with it all! I have tried to use the benefits calculator thingies but because I will be a student when I have the baby it says I can't use it. I mean surely I'll get working tax credits and child tax credits as well as child benefit obviously. I would just like to know exactly what I'll be getting as it helps me plan better.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks

 

[Natasha2605]

I get Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits, that's it. It really depends on everything, you can't really go by what everyone else gets. Maybe pop into the jobcenter or citizen's advice? xx

 

[rubixcyoob.]

I currently get child benefit and waiting on my Child Tax Credits claim pack to come through. If you work over 16 hours a week you will also get Working Tax Credit. Depending on what kind of student you are you may be eligible for Income Support - however, those in university are not eligible!

Where abouts in Scotland you from hun? Not meaning to sound creppy lol, just don't get a lot of Scots on here Natasha I didn't know you were from Edinburgh! :O

 

[mumj18]

I get Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits, that's it. It really depends on everything, you can't really go by what everyone else gets. Maybe pop into the jobcenter or citizen's advice? xx

Are you working? I know you have to be to get the working tax credit. Also does being on mat leave count as working do you know?

thanks xx

 

[mumj18]

I currently get child benefit and waiting on my Child Tax Credits claim pack to come through. If you work over 16 hours a week you will also get Working Tax Credit. Depending on what kind of student you are you may be eligible for Income Support - however, those in university are not eligible!

Where abouts in Scotland you from hun? Not meaning to sound creppy lol, just don't get a lot of Scots on here Natasha I didn't know you were from Edinburgh! :O

Can I apply for a pack so that I have it for when bubs is here or does it have to be when the baby is born that I apply for the pack?
See I'll be on mat leave from work so don't know if that counts as me working or not. My OH will defo be working though so will he get them? Can we both get them. Well I'm going to be studying before and after I've had the baby I'll be at uni but it's called a college and it's a HNC I'm doing so don't know what that counts as. Sorry for all the Q's!!

I'm from Ayrshire what about you?

xx

 

[rubixcyoob.]

I think you can get Statutory Maternity Pay if you meet the requirements. Your OH should be able to get Working Tax Credits. I would pop into your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Job Centre to see someone for more information.

I'm from North Lanarkshire

 

[Natasha2605]

Sorry I didn't elaborate earlier, hard to type when Summer's lying Sleeping on my left arm haha.

Yeah I work... worked so much last year I'm not entitled to Working Tax Credits this year....don't even start me on the shitty benefits system! I'm currently appealing their decision but have just been told I won't get a decision until December.

I go to Uni in Dundee next September, not sure what I'm doing about work yet, I'll see how it all influences the benefits and income.

For SMP you have to have worked at the same place 24 week prior to being pregnant then you qualify for a maximum of £493 a month. I think that's the timeline but it's definitely the payment. But it can be less, can't remember the terms.

Yeah Amy I am, I always wonder where in 'sunny scotland' you are but didn't wanna ask haha

EDIT: Why are those in Uni not applicable for income support when people who choose to do nothing all day are? Is that as black as black : If your in Uni, no Income Support? xx

 

[mumj18]

Oh thanks both of you! While I'm on a question asking roll I will bother you both with a few more ... hope you don't mind! I'm going to sound really stupid here but it's only cause I've always lived with my parents but do either of you know how much I need each month to pay bills? Like say I have my monthly rent how much should I add on for all my bills inclusively? I'm on a mission to find out if I can afford to move out cos I have found a flat for like £300 per month which seems way cheap!

Thanks

 

[Natasha2605]

That's cheap hun, I pay £550 for a 2 bed, but ours has an ensuite and balcony.

I'll tell you all the bills I pay(monthly) :

£155 - Council Tax ( this varies area by area so you could be cheaper)
£68 - Sky and Internet (obviously optional)
£26 - BT for a line we don't use but need for internet
£78 - Gas and Electricity set amount. If you have a meter where you pay as you need it you prob wouldn't use as much?
£25 - TV License ( yours will probably be about the same)
Previously I spent at least £75 a week in ASDA on crap like food we didn't eat but I've cut down by making meal plans and spend around £30 a week. Includes ingredients for everything I make ( fresh every night) and a tenner for Summer's nappies and milk.


TBH I though living with my OH and Summer meant I'd never have money for myself and would always be skint but I still go shopping every month and we're having a family holiday to Spain next year so don't let people put you off by saying you'd never manage... there's ALWAYS a way to manage xx

Do you work? Sorry if you said yes earlier, didn't see. You may also be entitled to housing benefit, coucil tax benefit, depending on income If you need more info and I forget to reply to the thread, just PM me xx

 

[mumj18]

That's cheap hun, I pay £550 for a 2 bed, but ours has an ensuite and balcony.

I'll tell you all the bills I pay(monthly) :

£155 - Council Tax ( this varies area by area so you could be cheaper)
£68 - Sky and Internet (obviously optional)
£26 - BT for a line we don't use but need for internet
£78 - Gas and Electricity set amount. If you have a meter where you pay as you need it you prob wouldn't use as much?
£25 - TV License ( yours will probably be about the same)
Previously I spent at least £75 a week in ASDA on crap like food we didn't eat but I've cut down by making meal plans and spend around £30 a week. Includes ingredients for everything I make ( fresh every night) and a tenner for Summer's nappies and milk.

TBH I though living with my OH and Summer meant I'd never have money for myself and would always be skint but I still go shopping every month and we're having a family holiday to Spain next year so don't let people put you off by saying you'd never manage... there's ALWAYS a way to manage xx

Do you work? Sorry if you said yes earlier, didn't see. You may also be entitled to housing benefit, coucil tax benefit, depending on income If you need more info and I forget to reply to the thread, just PM me xx

Wow that all seems a lot - I just added it up and it's over a grand a month how can you afford that? Do you and OH split it?
I have tried to add it up on the council website but it's hard I don't understand all the questions it's asking me haha. There is stuff we could do without ie sky and internet maybe which means we could not bother having the BT phone I think but even then it's still a lot of money. Way more than I earn! Yea I work but I'm a waitress earning minimum wage working about 25 hours a week so work it out it ain't a lot lol. Don't think I'm even going to qualify for SMP it's going to have to be MA which is pennies. xx

 

[Natasha2605]

Well my money is his money and his is mine IYKWIM? He earns anything between £800 and £1050 per month depending on overtime and I get my SMP which is under £500. We do live a little in excess, i.e I spend money on things we don't need just because it's there. Is it just you or do you have an OH that would help pay for things? I think you should definitely go to citizens advice, or even give them a call. They'll tell you what to do next xx

 

[mumj18]

Yea I know what you mean. Yes I have an OH. He is refusing to move out of his parents house so I will need to find out if I could do it on my own. I'm thinking probably not so I'm going to have to try and persuade him to move out! I mean it's not going to be a gorgeous place but we can do it up and stuff you know? It's only 5 mins from where he already lives so I can't see why he shouldn't move but IDK maybe he has his own reasons for wanting to be at home with his Mum and Dad. Did you and OH live together before you were pregnant or did you decide to move in together when you found out you were expecting? You get good maternity pay - I'm only staying at work just now for the maternity pay but I'm beginning to think it might not be worth it for the amount I will get!
I think your right about going to citizens advice because they will have accurate info for my area. I just don't want them to think I'm some stereotypical teen mother in to see what I can sponge from the government you know? xx

 

[Natasha2605]

No we moved in together after we found out we were expecting. If you've worked for the same company for 6 months before you give birth I think you should get the same as me. If you do it on your own you prob will get housing benefit etc. Dont bother what people say, your doing the best for you and you baby xx

 

[rubixcyoob.]

Ah it's Cumbernauld - 'sunny shitty Scotland' I should have put lol.

And yeah Natasha, it's for all uni students. It's because SAAS pays our tuition fees straight to the uni that is classed as £1820 of income, even though we never see a penny of it, nor do we get a choice on whether it gets paid or not! (if it is your first undergrad degree). And then before they let you apply for income support they make you apply for all the grants/burseries/loans etc. you can and the amount of all that totals more than what you would get on benefits.