WTC eligibility

HGLTsuperstar

POSTING ON BEHALF OF FRIEND - don't know how to advise them - help please.

Have been on the WTC website but it doesn't let me put in figures for future dates to estimate what/if he could get so thought someone here might be able to help.
He's been on IS with disability premium for over 12/12 and doesn't get IB but DWP pay NI contributions (if that makes sense).

He has gone for a job he thinks/hopes he can take without making himself ill again (long story and not really part of the relevant question) but the pay is £14.5K p.a. and means moving to an expensive part of the country etc (currently lives with parents near rent-free as part of his recovery).
Basically he is worried he couldn't live on that wage in the circumstances (and I mean simply running car as needed for job, rent, bills, and food - he basically has no social life owing to his years of illness leading to social isolation).
Phew - bottom line is can he get wtc?

[Deleted User]

tax credits calculator

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/calculator.htm

shelley_uk

To be eligible for WTC he must be either over 25 and working 30 hours a week...or 16 or over and working 16 plus hours per week and and have a dependent child, or a disability that would normally put him at a disadvantage of having a job.

As you state he is in receipt of IS and a disability premium its assumed that he is in receipt of at least the lower rate of either componment of the DLA? He should qaulify under this criteria if thats the case or he may qaulify under the IS (credits for IB) dependent on the payment period up to the claim

Otherwise he will have to be over 25 and working 30 plus hours per week to qaulify

Either way just by being eligible to claim does not necessarily mean he will recieve an award of payments........all he can do is apply and see.

When he applies he should ask the tax credits office to base his calculation on whichever year (2007/08 or 2008/09) he had the lowest income which will obviously be the year benefits was his only income. This will give him a better chance of obtaining an award but it may also attract an overpayment next year.

His local Citizens Advice will produce a calculation for him to see how better off he will be.

If it turns out that no tax credit award will be paid he might be able to get help with his rent instead (via Housing Benefit)

HGLTsuperstar

No he doesn't get DLA (has never applied)
Yes he wil be working 37.5hrs a week and is nearly 29yrs old.
Think the best thing is to speak to the DWP and see what they come up with.
Thanks