I frequently get asked what single parent benefits are available to claim. Well there are a few but before you get excited and think you will be rolling in money and not have to work , be prepared for a downgrade in this assumption . And probably a down grade in most things in your life. The media portrayal that a single mum on benefits is raking it in is just a myth.
The advice given here is aimed at single mums however the official sites to get the most up to date information are
Direct Gov which as now been replaced by Gov.Uk
Entitled To, now known as Turn2Us
Please check with these sites for the most current and up-to-date information as each single mums situation is different and the information here is only a guide.
Being a single mum is not an easy option. In general it’s a struggle but with a bit of sideways thinking it can be achievable.It can be daunting though when presented with a list of benefits you can claim. It can also be a challenge actually filling in all the right forms to the right people at the right times. If you asked each of the departments which to fill in first they will all say their form is the most important form to fill in first.
They are all rather cagey too as to what you can receive and when you will get it too. They don’t want to say one thing only for you to find when all the paper work has been done, it’s a lot less. They all pay at different time intervals as well just to complicate things further. For example you probably pay your rent on a monthly bases, normally last or first day of the month. Housing benefit though is paid every 4 weeks so it does get out of sync at some point.
The pdf is now available after tweeting or facebook love [l2g name=”single parent benefit pdf1″ id=”5422″]
Benefit |
Where From |
More Info |
||
| [box]Income Support[/box] |
|
read more on Income Support | ||
| [box]Housing Benefit[/box] | Your local council | read more on housing benefit | ||
| [box]Council Benefit[/box] | Your local council | read more on council benefit | ||
| [box]Sure Start Maternity Grant[/box] | Gov.Uk | read more on sure start | ||
| [box]Child Tax Credits[/box] | HM Revenue & Customs | read more on child tax credits | ||
| [box]Working Tax Credits[/box] | HM Revenue & Customs | read more on working tax credits | ||
| [box]Child Benefit[/box] | HM Revenue & Customs | read more on child benefit | ||
| [box]Child Maintenance[/box] |
|
read more on child maintenance | ||
| [box]Job Grant[/box] | Stopped April 2013 | read more on job grant | ||
| [box]In Work Credit[/box] | Stopped October 2013 | read more on in work credit | ||
| [box]New Deal for Lone Parents[/box] | read more on New Deal | |||
| [box]Parents Learning Allowance[/box] | when you claim Student Finance | read more about Parents Learning Allowance | ||
| [box]Cold Weather Payments[/box] | its automatic | read more about Cold Weather Payments | ||
| [box]Free School Meals[/box] | Gov.uk | read more about free school meals | ||
| [box]Child Care Grant[/box] | part of you main student application | read more about Child care grant | ||
| [box]Care to Learn[/box] | learner support helpline 0800 121 8989 | read more about Care to Learn | ||
| [box]Healthy Start[/box] | healthy start | read more about Healthy Start | ||
| [box]Warm Front Scheme[/box] | Ended 19 January 2013 | read more about Warm Front Scheme | ||
| updated 3rd February 2014 |
This subject is a work in progress, as I find out and write more then more will get added.
[box type=”info”] When claiming benefits it’s a good idea to: Take copies of completed claim forms and letters before you send them off. Keep a record of the date, time and the person you spoke to if you contact them in person or by phone. If you think they have made a mistake in working out your claim its worth getting advice from CAB. Don’t assume just because they are a government agency doesn’t mean they always get it right or that you can’t appeal the decision. [/box]
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