How does this work.?

[LauraLoo86]

Hiya,

We have just applied for housing benefit. We went all the way to the council office only to be told we don't qualify. The lady asked how much is in our bank accounts.. We both said about 0.00 as we are broke..! The rent and bills are really adding up and with me on maternity pay half of my wages are missing..! We have been told by all the council people we are entitled to all the benefits.. now we are privatly renting we aren't allowed.. But then when I first found out I was pregnant I wasn't entitled to council housing as my income was too high..

My partner is paying child maintence to his ex for his 4 year old daughter. The goverment said that he has to pay 44.00 a week :-0 hes paid her all her life and has been in her life. Then we get told that it goes down to fiver a week when the benefits kick in..

Now we are claiming we have been told it doesn't go down but his ex is entitled to a percentage of MY benefits.. Yer right.. which will be taken out of my partners wages.. Does that mean that coz we have a joint bank account that when my wages go in she will be entitled to my maternity pay as well..

This woman hasn't ever worked and doesn't do anything all day... She gets her hair and nails done and goes out with her mates clubbing all the time..
I worked for 8 years paying taxes now its got to the point where Ive ran out of maternity pads and can't even afford a pack of sanitary towels.. Ive not got a coat for the winter. Ive not been able to have my hair done for about a year, my shoes are actually broken.. I can't afford to contribute much to my rent.. My hair strighteners blew up months ago and I can't buy another pair.. The fridge is almost empty.. Ive hardly touched the money in the joint account its gone on bills and my partner needing the money for his car and petrol and food..! Ive not been out with my mates since April..!

Im not complaining about having my social life Im just wondering why the hell I can't get no help what so ever and have to be poor and to the point that I will lose the house im living in when this other girl is living in a council flat getting every benefit going and still has money to chuck away at the end of the month..? How is that fair..?? Anyone else in a simular boat? maybe I should just jack my job in and have more kids and live off the state..!!

 

[tina_h75]

Its a mess and once you find yourself living on benefits its so difficult to get back off them again. I wouldn't be able to afford to live if I got a job as I would have to pay full rent, council tax and 30% towards the childcare for my 3 children. I would never get a job that paid well enough to survive. I have said it before, its so crazy that you can be better off not working and I never imagined that I would be living on benefits after working for all my life but you got to chose whatever is best for you at the time. Its unfair that so many abuse the system but for all the genuine cases it is a necessity. I hope you sort something out soon. x

 

[xxembobxx]

I'm confused - is your OH working and getting a wage?
You should be entitled to tax credits and these do not take into account £100 for each week of SMP you receive.
Unfortunately your joint income is assessed by the CSA. It's a very unfair system that means step-parents pay out and yet your OH's ex could be dating a millionaire and still get everything she's entitled to!