Income Support and ESA (Employment Support Allowance)

Since Oct 2008, the Government introduced ESA(Employment Support Allowance) to replace new income support claim on the ground of incapacity.

I met an client the other day, she claimed income support back to 2002 on the ground of she is a lone parent for her daughter. She has been also assigned a lone parent advisor from local Job Centre Plus.

She later developed serious heart problem, that Disability Living Allowance had been awarded as well.

She told her lone parent advisor about her disability ground, and the advisor said "everything will be fine".

Now, because her daughter had reached aged 14, that her Income support had been stopped. Job Centre Plus also asked her to claim ESA. However, ESA advisor told her that her income support will continued pay to her, (they must over look the ground of the IS).

Therefore, this lady had her Income Support stopped, and ESA refused to log her claim.

Why?

Housing Benefit

I have two single mum came in today both asked me the same questions, how can they claim housing benefit?

Actually, there is no such answer for "How to claim". I always advise people to claim for any benefits they think they might entitle for. And then just see if their application would be approved.

Having said that, housing benefit application form is very thick. Some councils even use the same form for applying the council tax benefit. It is a nightmare for many people if they are very bad on filling forms.

Here is some tips for applying housing benefit:

1. Many people thinks they can only get housing benefit if they only live in a council flat. NO, as far as you are a tenant, you can claim. However, if you are a private tenant, then Local Housing Allowance will be applied.

If you are living in a council flat or housing association property, your rent will likely 100% covered by the housing benefit.

2. If you have more than 16k in saving or capital, then save you time and council workers' time. Because you are not entitled to anything. The capital limit is 16k, but salary does not count. They are using a complex formula to assess your housing benefit amount.

If you are in low income with limited saving, starting phoning your council now to apply for the housing benefit, and council tax benefit.

Career Development Loan

Mr SJ wants to get out of the finance agreement that funded him to attend the training course. He is getting a bit difficulties in keeping his outgoing, therefore he wants to stop paying his course.



The finance agreement was with Career Development Loan ltd, which is the government back scheme for people getting more skills trained.



It is very clear that he was into a triangle contracts.

He entered a contract with the training provider. Its term and condition says very clear that it cannot be cancelled after 7 days. However, you might get part of your money back, it really up to their management discretion .

He entered a contract with the finance agreement. The agreement is regulated by Consumer Credit Act. That means if he fails to keep up with the repayment, he will be in REAL trouble. However, he could ask for help from them. i.e. payment holiday, reduce repayment amount, or extend payment terms etc.

He All the docs says very clear, he is no right to cancel. He needs to pay the money back anyway.

New Start

I have some many blogs aross many different places nowadays. I am behind my own schedule to maintain all the blog.

However, I think it is the time to give it a spring clean.

This blog, "My life in the UK" will be mainly for my work in the third sector advice charity. I hope my case record will provide some interest read for anyone may need it in the future.

The blog, "My life in the UK" will also show my view in day-to-day UK life, political, economics, and other interesting things.