What benefits if working 14 hrs per week

traveller

Hiya, a collegue at works sister, has been offered a job at our work for 14 hours a week .She's a single mum to two teenagers that actually live at home.She's been told she's not entitled to wtc.Does anyone know what she would be entitled to and if she would be entitled to help with her rent/council tax-as she's petrified she'd have to pay this out of her would be low wage and have nothing to live on-many thanks in advance.

hjb123

Hi, if her details are typed into https://www.entitledto.co.uk it will tell her what she may be entitled to. Or she could ring the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882200.

I would of thought that she would be entitled to Income Support if on a low income?!

Fran

What is she living on now?

DazzerG

Does she not have an opportunity of working an extra 2hrs/week?
This would mean she would then be entitled to WTC.

robindunne1

She should ask her employer to increase her hours by 2 - even if it is to not be paid. If she worked 16 hours her additional income through tax credits would be about another £8000 - £153 per week. Assuming she was close to the minimum wage.

singlehouseholder

She would be entitled to housing benefit council tax benefit childrens tax credit - and if she's only working 14 hrs sure she'd be entitled to claim Income Support as a top up- what with being a lone parent. Also, as a lone parent her lone parent advisor, at her local jobcentre may be able to assist with things like clothing grants, if she needed a specific work outfit, bus fares for the first month, she may be entitled to housing benefit run on, which means her wages would be more or less disregarded for hb/ctb purposes. Tell her to go to job centre and ask about the ADVISORS DISCRETIONARY FUND-ADF. Its there to help people like her get a foot on the employment ladder. Good luck to her.

DazzerG

robindunne1 wrote:

She should ask her employer to increase her hours by 2 - even if it is to not be paid. If she worked 16 hours her additional income through tax credits would be about another £8000 - £153 per week. Assuming she was close to the minimum wage.

To qualify for WTC you need to be in paid employment.

lynzpower

Dazzer, but the extra 2 hours can be unpaid IYSWIM, Ie work 14, get paid for 14, contract says 16.

I thought you could get JSA for up to 16 hours per week? Is that no longer the case?

Fran

lynzpower wrote:

Dazzer, but the extra 2 hours can be unpaid IYSWIM, Ie work 14, get paid for 14, contract says 16.

I thought you could get JSA for up to 16 hours per week? Is that no longer the case?

How does this work? If someone has a contract for 16 hours but only works 6 paid hours and 10 unpaid, is that possible?

Yes you might be entitled to JSA if working up to 16 hours.

astonsmummy

The best thing she could do is go to see her loan parent advisor, and they will be able to advise her properly, but my best bet would be to do 16 hours, because if you do less, you only receive £20 of what you earn if your on IS.

DazzerG

lynzpower wrote:

Dazzer, but the extra 2 hours can be unpaid IYSWIM, Ie work 14, get paid for 14, contract says 16.

Why not go the whole hog, and have a contract that says 30hrs, but only getting paid for 14hrs :rolleyes:
The whole country could then get all WTC elements.