Benefits & Tax Credits

A question about : MSE News: Minister answers concerns on lone parent benefits

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

Some benefits have been tightened this year so the minister in charge of them agreed to address your worries ...

Read the full story:
Minister answers concerns on lone parent benefits

A question about : URGENT Changes to Morgage Interest Support [merged]

A reminder for those who are aware and a heads up for those who arent.The June budget made a change in SMI (support for mortgage interest)upto 30/9 it will be paid at a rate of 6.08%(as it has been from january 09).From 1st Oct the rate will be 3.67%(the bank of england averaged mortgage rate).

A question about : How much to pay a live in carer

i have spent over 4 years looking after Mum and Dad ( he is now deceased) and latterly Mum has had agency visits 4 times a day which are funded by Social services. I have just gone back to work and as Mum has been hospitalised twice in the last 2 month due to falls the family think we now need to get direct payments and employ a live in carer.

A question about : Sanctions

With all this fuss about benefits, work and poverty I am curious of emergency situations. Situations where one is without work, on benefits and gets sanctioned due to consecutive error (regardless of whether it was the claimants fault).

These sanctions seem to be quite damn harsh! What does one do if ever in such situation? If they were sanctioned for being unable to meet the demands of a work placement, are they eligible for hardship payments?

A question about : Single mum bein hounded

Hi I were wonderin if anyone can give advice for me at moment?
I am 22 a single parent of five year old daughter and was on income support.
Have been put on JSA over last few months and findin it realy hard with gettin a job and bein pressured. Last week i was warned I may lose some money cuz I refused a job, 32 hours long, it was 15 miles from my house an wouldve ment not seein my daughter for nearly 8 hours a day. Have told them I just want part time hours not full time, to see my daughter.

A question about : A guide to benefits; please read before posting.

Hi, the Board guides have decided to compile a benefits guide to help posters understand benefits more easily.

If any poster would like us to include any information or believe that any part of it needs updating please email one of the Benefit and Tax Credit Board Guides.

Please note this is a working progress

If anyone would like to contribute and write one of the guides please let me know, obviously you will be acknowledged.

A question about : ESA, DLA and PIP chaos

The DWP is overturning more than half of its own decisions in relation to some benefits.

This has been revealed by Judge Robert Martin the outgoing president of the social entitlement chamber which deals with benefits tribunals.
The DWP itself has yet to publish any statistics about the 'mandatory reconsideration before appeal' system introduced last year.

A question about : No outgoings taken into consideration?

Our total weekly income is Ј305 per week, there is just myself and husband living in the flat, our rent is Ј96 per week, it's a HA place with 2 bedrooms.