I get nearly £300 a month I had no idea I could claim – it’s changed my life

A DAD gets nearly £300 per month in benefits which he had no idea he could claim.

Jeremy Griffiths, 39, said he was drowning in debt when his marriage broke down and left him unable to afford his bills.

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Unexpectedly becoming a single parent to his kids, the college worker from Dudley, West Mids, reached out for help to cover the basic necessities.

Initially seeing no way out, Jeremy surprisingly found out he was entitled to benefits – which he says changed his life.

Now claiming £282 per month through Universal Credit, Jeremy is able to cover any spiralling bills during the cost of living crisis.

The monthly sum was issued to him in the form of childcare support because of his sudden single parent status.

He told BirminghamLive all he did was fill out a form setting up a payment plan for creditors he owed money to – and that’s when he was informed.

Universal Credits can act as a third party to facilitate payments between people who owe money and the company they owe it to as a way of managing debt.

Jeremy said: “I completed a simple form which I could then give to all of my creditors who I owed money to.

“But in addition to sorting out a payment plan which was great, the form highlighted that I could gain an extra £282 in Universal Credit to cover childcare as a single parent.”

Jeremey added a huge “financial weight” was lifted from his shoulders.

It comes as millions of people across the UK are estimated to miss out on benefits.

You can find out more on creditor forms here.

How much Universal Credit can I get?

Your individual circumstances will affect how much Universal Credit you receive such as how many children you have, your earnings, and how many people you reside with.

But it’s also affected by the benefit cap, which limits the amount of welfare you can get.

The benefit cap outside Greater London is:

• £384.62 per week (£1,666 per month) if you’re in a couple or if you’re a single parent and your children live with you
• £257.69 per week (£1,116 per month) if you’re a single adult

The benefit cap inside Greater London is:

• £442.31 per week (£1,916 per month) if you’re in a couple or if you’re a single parent and your children live with you
• £296.35 per week (£1,284 per month) if you’re a single adult

During the pandemic, Universal Credit claimants had their payments boosted by £1,040 or £20 a week but this stopped in October 2020.

How is my Universal Credit calculated?

The Department for Work and Pensions works out how much your household is entitled but this could be affected by deductions or sanctions.

If you live with your partner then their circumstances will also be taken into account.

Everyone who is accepted on Universal Credit will be entitled to a Standard Allowance – how much you get isn’t affected by whether you’re single or not.

• Single and aged under 25: £265.31 per month
• Single and aged 25 or over: £334.91 per month
• Joint claimants both aged under 25: £416.45 per month
• Joint claimants where one is aged 25 or over: £525.72 per month

Once your household allowance is calculated, the DWP will take into account any additional claim elements such as children, housing, or disabilities.

Here are all the elements you may be entitled to:

Child element

If your child is under the age of 16 then you can be entitled to:

• £290 per month for a first or only child born before 6 April 2017
• £244.58 per month per child in all other circumstances

You can only claim this element for a maximum of two children unless you have twins or you’ve adopted.

If your child has a disability you may also be entitled to:

• £132.89 per month per child receiving DLA or PIP
• £414.88 per month per child if they qualify for the highest rate of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component, enhanced rate of PIP for daily living, or are registered blind.

Childcare costs element

Working parents can claim up to 85% of childcare costs, up to a maximum of £646.35 a month for one child, or £1,108.04 a month for two or more children.

They also currently have to pay the costs of sending their child to nursery or with a childminder upfront.

However, in the Spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the maximum rates will go up to £951 and £1,630 respectively from summer 2023.

Meanwhile, the Government will start paying parents on Universal Credit claiming the childcare cost element up front instead of in arrears this summer.

Housing costs element

Universal Credit can help you pay your rent, or part of it, as well as some service charges.

The amount you get depends on whether you’re a private or social tenant.

Private tenants

The amount is calculated on the Local Housing Allowance where you reside, which determines rental prices in the area for the number of rooms you need.

For example, a single person without children will be able to claim the average cost of renting a one-bedroom flat in the area.

Social housing tenants

Your benefit is calculated based on your eligible rent, which takes into account the number of rooms you actually need.

You’re allowed one bedroom for each adult couple, each person over 16, two children of the same sex under 16, two children under 10 regardless of gender, any other child, and an overnight carer who doesn’t live with you full time.

If you have more bedrooms than you need then your eligible rent is reduced by 14% for one spare or 15% for two or more spares.

If your household has no other income or savings then you’ll receive the full amount that you’re entitled to.

Carer element

Those caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week will get £168.81 a month.

If you’re making a joint claim you can both receive the carers element but not if you’re caring for the same person.

Can I work while on Universal Credit?

The government says that the flagship welfare system has been designed to help people get back into work.

This means you can work as many hours as you want while claiming benefits but it may reduce the amount you get.

This is due to your wages will be subject to the taper rate: for every £1 you earn, your Universal Credit payment will go down 55p.

If you’ve got a job and a child who is dependent on you or you can’t work due to an illness then you might be entitled to a work allowance.

This is the amount you can earn every month before the taper rate kicks in.

If you get help with your housing costs then this will be set at £344, or £573 if you don’t.

If you don’t get a work allowance then all of your salary is subject to the taper rate.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk