Can you ever be better of working under 16 hours per week but and still claming?

111222

So your JSA + HB + Coucil benefit is based on how much your earn and not the hours you do apparently and i have heard that you can even be worse of if you work up to 16 hours per week as i guess they just balance your benefits to fit your income. So am i right in saying that you will have no extra money working 16 hours per week than if you just stayed on benefits, basically you would be working just for the sake of it ?

dmg24

No, assuming you are talking about a single/ healthy person you are wrong. If you go to www.entitledto.co.uk, you can play around with some figures to demonstrate different scenarios.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

I believe if you go to your local jobcentre they can work it out for you - that or try working it out on www.entitledto.co.uk . Do calculations with and without the salary you would have working in whichever job you have in mind.

Don't take it as gospel though as the figures are not always 100% right but do give a very good indication.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

Lol, you beat me to it! As dmg24 says!!!

xnatalie81x

My housing benefit claim seems to allow me to keep 35% of what i earn over and above what they think is a basic amount.......(3 children and single adult) so for every £100 i earn i keep £35 and £65 goes towards my rent and reduces the housing benefit accordingly..........

I earn 14-15.70 hr and work 9.5hrs.... to be honest it is worth it but then i have roped my neighbour and mum into providing free childcare..............(me and neighbour take in turns as she works weekends and i work evenings)

Folio

111222 wrote: »

. So am i right in saying that you will have no extra money working 16 hours per week than if you just stayed on benefits, basically you would be working just for the sake of it ?

No you would be working to earn what you need to live on - nothing wrong with that, it's what we should all be doing if at all possible.

SomeBozo

Folio wrote: »

No you would be working to earn what you need to live on - nothing wrong with that, it's what we should all be doing if at all possible.

I think the OP was looking at it from a purely financial point of view, not a ethical one.

Bozo

Folio

SomeBozo wrote: »

I think the OP was looking at it from a purely financial point of view, not a ethical one.

Bozo

How can we separate the two? this country is falling apart under the weight of benefits, NHS, etc etc etc.....if you can work you SHOULD work whether you earn the same as benefits would pay or not....to sum up - a life on benefits should NOT be a choice. There are millions of people who need, really need benefits and pensions and those who choose to claim because they can get the same income from the state as they can from a job are stealing money that should be going to those who really need it.

alwaysonthego_2

This board is here for help and support for those on or looking to claim benefits, not for judgement.

Of course we all know the benefits system is a mess

Whatever you're political persuasion, we're all aware the benefits system is a mess. Whether its the malpayments of tax credits on one hand, benefit fraud on the other hand, or simply the fact that sometimes it doesn't pay to work - everyone has their grumble.

This board is here to help people with their money though..

Yet that isn't what this board is for. It's here to help people find out what they are entitled to under the current system, and to help them get it. Benefits do provide a lifeline for many, and this site is here to help people with their money, and not to judge. Of course, how to illegally defraud the benefits system shouldn't be discussed here, but ensuring you're getting your entitlement is exactly what its about.

Want to discuss the benefits system? Go to the discussion board

If you want to discuss the benefits system itself and issues around it, the appropriate place isn't here but the Discussion Board and even there, please remember courtesy and not to make it personal about anyone. This site's prime purpose it to help people with their money and I will always act to protect that.

Thanks for your co-operation

Martin

real1314

xnatalie81x wrote: »

My housing benefit claim seems to allow me to keep 35% of what i earn over and above what they think is a basic amount.......(3 children and single adult) so for every £100 i earn i keep £35 and £65 goes towards my rent and reduces the housing benefit accordingly..........

I earn 14-15.70 hr and work 9.5hrs.... to be honest it is worth it but then i have roped my neighbour and mum into providing free childcare..............(me and neighbour take in turns as she works weekends and i work evenings)

Gues what the HB "taper" rate is (the rate at which the reduce your HB for any increase in your income)....


65% - so you're spot on with that estimate.

You can claim for childcare too on HB, so if you were to use a registered childminder, they'd disregard any of your wages that went towards that.

xnatalie81x

really - so any income i use towards registered childcare is disregarded. That is really interesting! I will definitely keep an eye out for daytime hours. I have trouble as i am a swimming teacher so i work evenings and sun mornings so it means finding a childcare provider is extremely difficult.

Unfortunately i understand it that i am not entitled to help towards childcare from tax credits until i reach the 16hr marker............