Confused about benefits???

[busymummy]

My partner was recently mad redundant so has had to make a claim for Jobseekers Allowance.
I done an online benefits checker when we first found out he would be made redundant and it said we would receive £111.45 per week income based JSA.
He made his claim 3 weeks ago and we have just received his award letter through the door. He has been awarded contribution based JSA of only £56.25 per week??? Surely this can't be right? There is myself, my partner, our 3yo LG and 7week old LB. How can we be expected to live of that???
I have just re done the benefits calculator and it's still saying we should be getting £111.45 pw income based JSA.
My OH is just heading down to the Job Cntre to phone them and find out whats going on but I am so worried. Has this happened to anyone else and if so was it just a mistake or is this really all we are entitled to?
We really didn't want to have to claim, my OH is a hard worker and has such a great work ethic, but with 2 small children we didn't really have a choice. But it just seems like so little. I do think that with benefits, you should only be given enough to cover the basics (ie rent (housing benefit will cover this at least), food, electricity) but this won't even cover the weekly foo shop, never mind anything else.

 

[tinks77]

It would only be a contributions based claim if that's what he claimed or any household income you have wipes out the income related side, if its the later it would say so in the letter as it would detail what income they are taking into account. If its the first one then its easily fixed but filling out another form


Mummy to Gracie 26/10/11

 

[tinks77]

Also if he was getting working tax credits that will have a 4 week run on so will be taken into account until they stop paying


Mummy to Gracie 26/10/11

 

[busymummy]

Thanks tinks77. We have no savings, but we are getting the working tax credits run on, so must be that? Although that's only £30pw, and seems a bit pointless having the run on if it affects other benefits. But thanks for the advice at least now I know why this may have happened x

 

[tinks77]

If its only £30 per week then that's all you should be short by. how old are you both? The £56 per week sounds like he's under 25 & if you are under 25 as well then the weekly couple rate is lower so the working tax credit will seem like a big difference


Mummy to Gracie 26/10/11