Working less than 16 hours per week - includes education?

rachymoo

Hi all

I asked a question earlier about benefits etc as I am considering going back to education and leaving my current job to get another job that is 16 hours per week or less (in order that we get a bit more money - at the moment we get £80 per month CB and £80 per month tax credits, I currently work 29 hours per week)

Somehas has told me though that if I started a college/uni course (which is what I was planning to do), that would be included in the 16 hours? (so if my course was 16 hours per week, I would be classed as working 16 hours per week) Does anyone know if this is true?

Thanks
Rachael

DX2

rachymoo wrote: »

Hi all

I asked a question earlier about benefits etc as I am considering going back to education and leaving my current job to get another job that is 16 hours per week or less (in order that we get a bit more money - at the moment we get £80 per month CB and £80 per month tax credits, I currently work 29 hours per week)

Somehas has told me though that if I started a college/uni course (which is what I was planning to do), that would be included in the 16 hours? (so if my course was 16 hours per week, I would be classed as working 16 hours per week) Does anyone know if this is true?

Thanks
Rachael

IIRC your husband works the required 16+ hours per week for a couple with a child. I can't see how you are possibly going to get more benefits by giving up your job You know don't believe everything either that "friends" tell you or what they print in the papers. You are actually much better off being employed.

healy

No you would not be classed as working 16 hours if you are in fact doing a course.

rachymoo

DX2 wrote: »

IIRC your husband works the required 16+ hours per week for a couple with a child. I can't see how you are possibly going to get more benefits by giving up your job You know don't believe everything either that "friends" tell you or what they print in the papers. You are actually much better off being employed.

Well if you read my post ("I am considering going back to education and leaving my current job to get another job that is 16 hours per week or less"), you will see that I am planning on staying employed - I just want to study and change career, so I'm trying to see if I can afford to do that at the moment. It seems not so I guess I'll just have to wait a few years until my little girl is older.

I've always had a job ever since leaving school at 16, I wouldn't just give up my job and not work because I "can't be bothered" like so many other people these days (and no, I'm not saying this applies to everyone that doesn't work - but sadly it's the case for many people I know).

Sorry but just had to clarify what I meant, because you've made it sound like I want to give up my job and go on benefits and not work at all. Anyway thanks for the advice.

Oldernotwiser

If the course that you were planning to do was a full time degree, you would, obviously, qualify for the maintenance funding for this level of study.

bestpud

It really depends on the level of education you are talking about and also how much your OH earns tbh.

Chances are, if you drop your hours, you will receive a little more tax credit but it's difficult to say without figures.

You would need to work 16 hours or more to receive childcare payments via tax credits but that is possible alongside many FE courses.

DX2

rachymoo wrote: »

Sorry but just had to clarify what I meant, because you've made it sound like I want to give up my job and go on benefits and not work at all. Anyway thanks for the advice.

Thanks for clarifying your position I must have mis read your previous posts then.

rachymoo wrote: »

We currently get about £80 per month child benefit and about £80 per month Taxc credits. What I want to know is, if I did change my situation the the above scenario, would we get more money/benefits? people keep telling me that we'd be better off than we are now gbut I'm not sure to be honest!

rachymoo

DX2 wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying your position I must have mis read your previous posts then.

I do apologise, I should have worded my post a little better I suppose - in fact when I wrote 'would we get more benefits' i did worry a bit about how that would come across. But I did post on here for advice, not to have my posts picked apart. Thanks anyway though.

rachymoo

Thanks for all the other advice too, to everyone who replied. I think it's looking like i can't afford to go back to education/study at the moment then! I think i will have to carry on working the hours I'm currently doing (and stay in the job I'm in) and then maybe look at it again when my daughter is school age and I'm not paying out for childcare etc. Many thanks again.

Oldernotwiser

rachymoo wrote: »

Well if you read my post ("I am considering going back to education and leaving my current job to get another job that is 16 hours per week or less"), you will see that I am planning on staying employed - I just want to study and change career, so I'm trying to see if I can afford to do that at the moment. It seems not so I guess I'll just have to wait a few years until my little girl is older.

I've always had a job ever since leaving school at 16, I wouldn't just give up my job and not work because I "can't be bothered" like so many other people these days (and no, I'm not saying this applies to everyone that doesn't work - but sadly it's the case for many people I know).

Sorry but just had to clarify what I meant, because you've made it sound like I want to give up my job and go on benefits and not work at all. Anyway thanks for the advice.

rachymoo wrote: »

Thanks for all the other advice too, to everyone who replied. I think it's looking like i can't afford to go back to education/study at the moment then! I think i will have to carry on working the hours I'm currently doing (and stay in the job I'm in) and then maybe look at it again when my daughter is school age and I'm not paying out for childcare etc. Many thanks again.

At the risk of suggesting the obvious, have you looked at courses with the OU or others by distance learning?

rachymoo

I had thought of this but wanted to first look into the possibility of actually going TO college (I prefer it when I can actually physically be there, iykwim). However as it seems that's not an option, this will be the next thing for me to look into - beggars can't be choosers after all! Thank you