Tax credits & benefits for people in work or looking for work

recowils · 19 November 2012 at 9:31PM

hi can anybody help i want to move in with my partner but she does not work and has 3 children / 2 in school and the other in colleage full time. i earn £26,000 will we get help if any as i feel we will struggle with this

CAB_Birmingham_representative · 20 November 2012 at 10:52AM

mel48rose wrote: »

Hi, my partner is claiming jsa. He has been receiving full HB and CTB. He has just managed to find e temp job contracted for 11 hrs a wk (prob be more leading up to Xmas).
He's worried that he will be worse off if he has to pay rent and CT.
Its only minimum wage for the job.
Thanks for your time.

Hi Mel48rose,

If your partner is only working 11 hours per week then he may still be entitled to receive a top up of Jobseekers Allowance.

The following information has been extracted from our website: www.adviceguide.org.uk and is titled ‘Benefits for people looking for work’

“To claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you must either not be working at all, or working less than 16 hours a week. If you are living with a partner and claiming income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, your partner must either not be working or working less than 24 hours a week. If you or your partner are working 16 hours or more, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit instead.

If you are working under 16 hours, or your partner is working under 24 hours, the amount of Jobseeker's Allowance you can get will depend on your earnings. If you earn too much, you will not be able to get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance. You will also have to look for a full-time job as part of the conditions of getting Jobseeker's Allowance. Your partner may have to look for full-time work as well.”

If your partner’s hours increase over the Christmas period then he could look at claiming Working Tax Credit instead (as long as he meets the minimum hours as explained in the link below.)

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/search.htm?query=working+tax+credit

Your partner may wish to visit his local bureau to get a benefit check which will clarify his entitlements.

Kind regards,
Birmingham CAB

CAB_Birmingham_representative · 20 November 2012 at 11:19AM

madmoose wrote: »

Thanks for your reply and for the links.

My husband works around 60+ hours per week at his own business, so it appears I can't claim JSA even if I'm just working 1-2 days per month?

I fall under the 'less than 16 hours a week' bracket, but with him working more to help us meet mortgage and bill payments, it looks like I'm not eligible? Do you think this is the case?

Thanks for your help.

Not a problem!

If your partner is working 60 hours and has a reasonable income, unfortunately it may be unlikely that you would be entitled to benefits. We do suggest you get a benefit check to confirm this.

Kind regards,
Birmingham CAB

CAB_Birmingham_representative · 20 November 2012 at 11:59AM

recowils wrote: »

hi can anybody help i want to move in with my partner but she does not work and has 3 children / 2 in school and the other in colleage full time. i earn £26,000 will we get help if any as i feel we will struggle with this

Hi Recowils,

If you decide to move in with your partner this may affect the benefits she is currently receiving as the benefits will then be assessed on household income so your earnings (£26,000) will also be taken in to account. She must make the relevant benefit offices aware of the changes to her circumstances.

If you wish to move in together, you could look in to benefits such as Working Tax Credit (if you work more than 24 hours a week) and Child Tax Credit. The HMRC tax credit helpline will confirm this for you on 0345 300 3900.

You may be entitled to other benefits such as Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Benefit and Child benefit however you will need to visit your local bureau to get a benefit check. You can find your local bureau by typing your postcode in the link below:

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Kind regards,
Birmingham CAB

jomc_3 · 21 November 2012 at 3:28PM

My company have relocated my department and have made me redundant. I was on maternity leave until last month so it came into effect when my mat leave ended.
They offered me a new position in another department but it would have meant a large drop in pay and wouldnt have made financial sense. (£10,000 drop)
They have paid me 12 weeks pay (capped at the national figure of approx £400 per week for 12 weeks), plus 12 weeks notice (taxed) and unused holidays (taxed)
My husband is in full time employment earning £21000 per annum.

Am I entitled to any benefits, job seekers allowance etc. Should my husband be applying for child tax credits?

Many thanks

CAB_Birmingham_representative · 22 November 2012 at 12:51PM

jomc wrote: »

My company have relocated my department and have made me redundant. I was on maternity leave until last month so it came into effect when my mat leave ended.
They offered me a new position in another department but it would have meant a large drop in pay and wouldnt have made financial sense. (£10,000 drop)
They have paid me 12 weeks pay (capped at the national figure of approx £400 per week for 12 weeks), plus 12 weeks notice (taxed) and unused holidays (taxed)
My husband is in full time employment earning £21000 per annum.

Am I entitled to any benefits, job seekers allowance etc. Should my husband be applying for child tax credits?

Many thanks

Hi Jomc,

Thank you for your enquiry.

You may not be entitled to JSA if your partner is currently working full time. If you do have children then you may be entitled to apply for child benefit and child tax credit. Child Benefit is a tax-free benefit paid to most people with children. You do not need to have paid any national insurance contributions to get Child Benefit and you can get it regardless of your income. However, if you are getting Child Benefit and have income above a certain level, you may have to pay extra tax.

As long as your partner is working over 24 hours, you may make a joint claim for Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. For more information on this please click on the following link:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/search.htm?query=working+tax+credit

You can also contact the Tax credit helpline on: 0345 300 3900.

To clarify what benefits you are entitled to; please visit your local bureau or contact Turn2us on 0808 802 2000 (www.turn2us.org.uk) for a free benefit check.

Kind regards,
Birmingham CAB

bigbill · 25 November 2012 at 1:37AM

CAB_Birmingham_representative wrote: »

Hi Jomc,

Thank you for your enquiry.

You may not be entitled to JSA if your partner is currently working full time.

However, if you are getting Child Benefit and have income above a certain level, you may have to pay extra tax.

Kind regards,
Birmingham CAB

Hard to undersdstand the above advice?????????

Claim Jobseekers ASAP on 0800 0 55 66 88, it will need to be contribution based jobseekers so nothing to do with your partner or their earnings ect, and as you have been working over the previous years you should get it for 6 months at £71 weekly.

When did child benefit become taxable???

I would also get some specialist advice on being made redundant while on maternity leave, if that was the case?

Tax credits & benefits for people in work or looking for work

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