Can I claim?

[TwilightAgain]

Housing benefit and job seekers if my OH works full time and earning £16,000? I feel horrid not being able to contribute to the bills and the job centre told me that I may not be able to claim job seekers - though the estimate calculator said we may claim around £350.

Our rent is £550 alone.

Any input? I've never done anything like this before so i'm a bit clueless.

 

[aimee-lou]

I'd try at least to apply as the people in the job centre aren't always the best. Just don't get your hopes up. Are you actively seeking work? If so, you may be able to go for contributions only and work just on your own income. Worth a go.

What about tax credits? Working tax credits are for under £17.5k so may also be worth a try, as is housing benefit.

In my view the benefits system is there to help, so you may as well apply, and the worst they can say is no.

 

[TwilightAgain]

Very true

I am looking for work, and I may be going back to uni in September to do a postgraduate (waiting to hear back) but in the mean time i'm stuck for money.

I'll give it a try, thank you.

 

[Snow Owl]

You might be entitled to contribution based which is based on your national insurance payments

 

[Rainbow82]

I think it will depend on where you live really for HB and as for working tax you should be able to claim a small amount. As a guide my OH was earning 15.5 and I think we got £70ish per month 2012/2013 tax year. If you have just finished uni you probably won't gave paid enough NI in last two years for contribution based JSA and as you are couple you won't get income based JSA as they will tell you to make a joint claim for working tax. It us worth trying for HB and when you apply for working tax they may be able to backdate payments up to 3 months. It's tough living on a low wage as a couple but it is possible. Get the app for tax credit in ASAP as it's renewal time at the moment so they're extra busy.

 

[sheeps24]

I know how you feel! Our rent is 550 and OH pays all the bills and i feel so bad. The only thing i seem to be entitled to is JSA and my local job centre is over 30 mins away!

 

[IsabellaJayne]

Our situation is the same as OP but OH earns £15000. I work at the minute but will need to stop due to pregnancy related issues. Am I entitled to anything? Does it make a difference that I have a child on the way?

 

[Abz1982]

OH got contribution based JSA last year, but we got no help with rent or council tax. That was with me on £12.5k and our rent was £300 a month.

However he had to show he was actively seeking employment every 2 weeks.

 

[tallybee]

You will be entitled to tax credits on that income hun! I get them and I have other income. No idea about rent or council tax benefits though.

 

[TwilightAgain]

My worries were unnecessary, I got a job had my first day yesterday. So feeling a million times better about things