Reducing Hours... Is it worth it?

frustrated-in-bolton

I'm thinking about reducing my hours from 37 to 30 to improve my work life balance as well as making time for my dog. I'm moving out of the family home, so he will be on his own quite a lot now. I know it doesn't sound so important, he's just a dog, but I can't give him up - he's more than just a pet to me, he's my longest ever relationship! :rotfl:

I want to reduce my hours to 30 hours per week which will take my annual income down to around £12500/year. I know I'll be entitled to some tax credits but I don't know how much - Can you help? Also will I be penalised for reducing my hours?

Finally, I already receive some tax credits - If I contact them to tell them I'm reducing my hours, will they be amended for the coming year, or will it still go off what I earned last year?

Thanks,
Lydia

PS - They were a bit funny with me the other week because I only started working full time in July and I was temping so my earnings over the year were fairly low (around £11000) - they asked me if I'd entered into a voluntary reduction in pay so I could get tax credits! :mad: Not Happy - anyone else had this?

seven-day-weekend

Hold on....are you saying you are intending to claim State Benefits (extra Tax Credits) so you can spend time with your DOG??

Metranil_Vavin

Gotta be a wind up....

frustrated-in-bolton

Thanks so much for this useful advice... I'm new to this and so I really appreciate the way you’ve taken the mickey out of me and accused me of cheating the benefits system! It is not a wind up. If I had just put - "I want to reduce my hours to improve my work life balance" would you still have a problem with it?

Tax Credits are there to be claimed. If I reduce my hours and I am entitled to claim them, why shouldn't I, for whatever reason? I have never claimed JSA, I have been in full time employment, or full time education pretty much since birth and I have no intention of ever taking time off to raise a family, nor will I ever claim CTC, Child Benefit or Childcare Vouchers.

I could survive on the reduced hours actually - having re-calculated what I earn and how much my new circumstances will cost; but if am entitled to Tax Credits - I will claim for them.

If I’m not entitled, then I won’t get them will I?

The words “work smarter not harder” come to mind. This is more about pursuing my hobbies, going on some adult learning courses and not working myself into the ground… it is also about my dog, but I guess I was stupid to mention him first eh?

So thanks so much for your support. I’ll know not to post on here again.

johnwayne

Put your details into www.entitledto.com and it will come up with what figures you can expect to get

seven-day-weekend

I'm sorry you think we have taken the mickey out of you. That was not my intention. I was, quite frankly, amazed that someone could even consider reducing their hours and claiming extra tax credits so that they could spend time with their dog.

I personally do not think it is right that if you reduce your hours BY CHOICE that you should claim them.

I went from full-time to part time work by choice for the two years before I retired, to improve my 'work - life balance', but I didn't expect the taxpayer to subsidise my choice.

However I'm sorry you feel hard done to, but you will not find advice on how to cheat the system on this forum.

healy

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

Gotta be a wind up....

The sad thing is that it is not a wind-up, like a lot of recent posts on this forum.

welshmoneylover

I'd love to reduce my hours to spend more time with my dogs :j

Unfortunately, I got to work cos their insurance premiums are so blooming high :rotfl::rotfl:

I love this thread, its made my day. I thought I was the only soppy dog lover on these forums :beer:

summerof0763

hi op,unfortunately you will find that some people think you should only work,not have a life eh!! at the end of the day if employers paid decent wages then you would have no reason to claim benefits,but if you are entitled to benefits then you SHOULD claim them,that is what its about,no point cutting your nose off because certain responders THINK you should not claim as they are the brigade of well paid workers who have no idea

calleyw

Seeing as to get WTC as a single person with out children you have work 30 + hours and earn no more than approx £11.5 K it may have nudged up to just under £12K.

You will not be able to claim it and stay at home and look after your dog.

I even I don't get WTC and I have disabled husband who sole income is benefits. As according to the tax man between us we earn too much :eek:

Yours

Calley

dmg24

summerof0763 wrote: »

hi op,unfortunately you will find that some people think you should only work,not have a life eh!! at the end of the day if employers paid decent wages then you would have no reason to claim benefits,but if you are entitled to benefits then you SHOULD claim them,that is what its about,no point cutting your nose off because certain responders THINK you should not claim as they are the brigade of well paid workers who have no idea

Given your signature:

i came into the world with nothing,and guess what? i still have it!!!:p

Perhaps you should aspire towards those 'well paid workers who have no idea', rather than looking towards a life depending on benefits?