Looking for advice on allowances to claim
Q: I left college due to anxiety and depression and now I am feeling better. I am unsure what I can do or claim?
A: You would need to have contributed two years worth of tax and NI contributions in order to apply for new style Job Seekers Allowance (JSA).
JSA had been replaced with Universal Credit (UC). You would need to be careful though, because if you are on either WTC or CTC as these would stop and that you might be worse off.
If you have a partner who you live with or any dependants, this would affect your claim.
You could contact our Help to Claim helpline on 0800 023 2581 and they will help answer questions about UC and help guide you through the application process, if this is the route you wish to take.
Q: I am in receipt of Universal Credit due to a low income and no disabilities. I have four children aged 16, 11, five and four weeks. My eldest child will turn 17 years old soon and is starting a university course in the autumn and due to leave school soon.
I have three children who were born before April 6, 2017. I am wondering if I would still get the two child elements of universal credit.
My children do not have any disabilities.
A: Generally only the first two children born before April 6, 2017 would qualify for the Universal Credit child element. You could claim Child Benefit for your newborn baby but not Universal Credit. You would need to contact the Universal Credit department via your online journal and note on the journal the change in circumstances.
The child element could be transferred between children and your children would now move up a place.
Thus meaning that the Universal Credit child element payment would remain the same and not reduce.
Q: I wish to find out whether there is any tax relief that my wife could claim as I
A: Marriage Allowance lets you transfer £1250 of your personal allowance to your civil partner, wife or husband.
It reduces their tax by up to £250 in the tax year. The lower earner must normally have an income below your personal allowance this is usually £12,500.
If you are not sure who should apply you can call the Income Tax helpline. You can apply for marriage allowance online at Gov.uk and it can normally take up to two months for the tax code to be changed.
Q: I wish to get a divorce from my husband but I know this costs money. Is there any way I could do it cheap as I also have our nine-year-old son to look after.
We have already agreed on a lot of financial things so far.
A: There are two procedures with regards to divorce (DIY and ordinary procedure). You would not be able to get a DIY divorce as there is a nine-yearold child.
You would have to get an ordinary procedure divorce and this would involve a divorce lawyer.
You would possibly be entitled to legal aid, to help with the legal costs.
You should shop around and enquire about lawyers’ fees and charges, so you are not given a massive bill on completion of the divorce.
Remember if there are a lot of financial accounts/ property then it could be quite costly.
Q: I am currently receiving a state pension plus pension credit, I have no savings and currently live in council rented accommodation.
I would like assistance in applying for a Scottish Welfare Grant, as my cooker has stopped working and I do not have any spare funds to pay for a new one.
I do not have any internet facilities in my house and I am not computer literate.
A: We can help clients apply online for the Scottish Welfare Fund. The application normally takes about ten minutes to complete – there is criteria that clients must meet and the eligibility can be found on the council website.
Your local Q&A may also be able to assist you in making an application.
■PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau is open for telephone / e-mail advice on Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm.