Uk - I have no income and I am still refused all benefits

[Blue Puppet]

What can be done in this situation?. I am too ill to work but am awaiting a redecision on incapacity benefit, but they made me transfer to Job Seekers Allowance in the meantime and then refused that because of some mix up with contributions which I have paid through my employer at the time but for some reason they claim have not been paid.

My partner does not earn enough to cover our house repayments and all other bills even without having to support me.

What legal things can I do in this situation?

Is it right I can be refused any income at all?

[bednobs]

probably, because your partner has an income. Many benefits are income related, and they will take into account household income when calculating stuff.

[Blue Puppet]

In that case we must loose our house for we cannot afford to live off one income. I had thought that a partner was entitled to some money since people can apply for it seperately and in secret from partners to help reduce dependency and potential domestic abuse on one partner on the other. Perhaps I was wrong or this was something that only used to happen.

[yesmadam]

Do you have a spare room? because you could rent it out to a student.

You also need to look at your options for mortgages and maybe pay interest only for a while.

Do not despair. It will make you more unwell and that's no good for either of you!!!

Time to sit down and write out what you may be able to do.

even if it's a dog walking service :-)

[yesmadam]

were you PAYE? with your previous employer? you can get the proof from the tax office of your payments. Do you have your P60?

[bednobs]

i am not a benefits expert, so maybe you should contact your local cab. Contact your creditors and explain the situation, that you are waiting a decision for benefits. they may give you some breathing space. Have you got any income protection poicies you may have forgotten about?. is there any way of reducing your outgoings/bills? (eg cancelling internet, cutting food bills by sopping around, paying minimum off credit cards, taking a payment holiday on your mortgage, renting somewhere smaller for a bit). I think the problem is that ib is also related to the amunt of ni contributions you have too, so you will probably have the same problem. Have you tried the benefits enquiry line for people with illnesses/disabilities. will your inability to work be permanent, or do you expect to recover? is there some other work you could do in the meantime, even if its lower paid or different to what you were doing before?

[Shazza36]

Get the benefit processing centre to check out your contribution record- if you were receiving Incapacity benefit that was based on you national insurance contributions, any new claim you make within 12 weeks should link to your incap claim and use the same qualifying years. ALso does your wife qualify for Working Tax Credit do you have kids and claim Child Tax Credit?