Returning to work soon, tax credit advice please

jack365

After a number of years on JSA i am returning to work. My job will be bank healthcare worker at a care home. I am told i will likely work 30 hours plus per week.

My question is, if i start this job now will i be entitled to working tax credits in April when they are assessed? Or is the 30 hour rule going to work against me as i would have only worked 30 hours from say November to the end of March? The whole tax year 2009-10 i will not have averaged 30plus hours for the whole year,only the last quarter. Will i have to wait until Apriil 2011 for working tax credits to be paid, assuming im still doing 30 plus hours a week.

Thank you for any help or advice.

AnxiousMum

First of all - congratulations on your job!

Do you have children? Not sure if WTC is for those with children only or not - have never qualified for more than the CTC - but I would call them and let them know what date you start work and what hours you will be working, salary etc. Whatever entitlement you get, should kick in as soon as you are eligible. It would be just like a change in circumstances - salary decline, salary increase - for anybody who was already claiming. Let them know at the time of the change of circumstances - you may want to 'overestimate' your earnings a little so that you are in no way going to get an overpayment.

Again, congratulations on your job!

jack365

Thanks for the prompt reply and your encouragement.

I have no children so CTC does not apply. I have told the jobcentre of my change in circumstances. I have made an appoint with my employment advisor but he cant see me for two weeks, i will ask then about tax credits.

In the mean time if anyone else has any info, i would greatly appreciate it.

tameside

Tax Credit Helpline

For general information about tax credits
Opening hours
8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

Also online tool to assess your entitlement at (Sorry MSE won't allow links so you'll have to google it)

John

AnxiousMum

Don't wait for your appointment - call Tax Credits tomorrow - the sooner you get your claim going, the sooner you will get your entitlements. Good luck!

karenx

the bank is very irregular work, are they guaranteeing 30 hours per week? Does it say that in the contract? My mum does the same and one week there will be 2 shifts the next week 5 its very unpredictable

Limana68

HIya
Just to let you know, I reduced my hrs this month to 30 and rang the tax credits helpline, and basically I had to work out what I had earnt from April this yr to when I started my new hrs then give an estimate of my new income up to April 10.
they will then adjust my tax credits accordingley straight away, otherwise I could have to waited till April 2010 before they adjust them for the whole new tax yr.
They are very helpful, so give them a ring!

Li

loulou123

I think TC work on your contracted hours, so your contract will need to say you work more than 30 hours per week. If for example one week you work 12 hours and then the next week you work 48 hours you would not be entitled to TC.

Bank working is funny like this (i work in a care home) and the bank workers are not guarented any set hours on their contract, so i would check this out.

Congratulations on the job tho : )