Advice for single mum going from p/t to f/t work? Please!

alisara

Just wondered if anyone out there can help me. I am currently working in a long-term temporary contract on a 20hrs per week basis. I receive tax credits and housing benefit (about half the amount for my rent).

I have just been asked this week if I could stay until March next year but on a full-time basis. As the person I am covering the 20 hours for has come back and they now have an opening for a full-time position. I said I would think about it.

I am also looking for permanent work but it is just so hard to find at the moment and having something until March next year would get me through Christmas and also give me extra time to look for a permanent position.

The company I am with can only offer me full time hours.

I just want to know (I am not lazy) is it worth it for me to go back to work full-time, I know or think I would lose my housing benefit, but would I also lose tax credits?

AnxiousMum

It would depend on a number of factors - what are you wages going to be, how many dependents do you have, what is your LHA rate etc. You need to provide more details so that you can get a correct answer. Congrats on the job offer

DX2

If you were to work over 30 hours per week you would get the extra premium on your tax credits. However I suspect you may well lose your HB.

alisara

More details.

I have no choice in the matter, the only way I can keep working is to go full-time, as I am working through an agency I don't have the same rights as a permanent member of staff. Although, I am looking for permanent work.

I earn £7pn (18 hrs pw so receive £118 take home), receive £20 pw cb, £124 pw ctb/wtc and 118 pm hb (rent per month is £520)

I hope that is a better picture, and does anyone know if I would be better off?

By the way the full time position will be 35 hours so £245pw.

aaroncaz

Do you only get £118 per month HB? I would have thought you would be entitled to much more than that.

Happychappy

And this is what is wrong with this country !!!

It may be better not to work then claim benefits, nothing to do with the poster, but Christ, this just shows how screwed up this economy is, makes me feel so glad to work 60 hour week to let people have the choice to work or not. Sure the benefit brigade will form a collation, but this is not right.

Indie_Kid

aaroncaz wrote: »

Do you only get £118 per month HB? I would have thought you would be entitled to much more than that.

It depends on how much the LHA rate is. Some people find their rent is more than what maximum LHA is.

op - go on https://www.entitledto.co.uk Play around the with amount of hours you work and the amount of money you earn and see what results you get.

Duncombe

alisara wrote: »

Just wondered if anyone out there can help me. I am currently working in a long-term temporary contract on a 20hrs per week basis. I receive tax credits and housing benefit (about half the amount for my rent).

I have just been asked this week if I could stay until March next year but on a full-time basis. As the person I am covering the 20 hours for has come back and they now have an opening for a full-time position. I said I would think about it.

I am also looking for permanent work but it is just so hard to find at the moment and having something until March next year would get me through Christmas and also give me extra time to look for a permanent position.

The company I am with can only offer me full time hours.

I just want to know (I am not lazy) is it worth it for me to go back to work full-time, I know or think I would lose my housing benefit, but would I also lose tax credits?

In the current climate, I would strongly urge you to take the FT position you have been offered. Its a great opportunity and may lead to bigger and better things.

Similarly, you may well find that the current support you receive on benefits decreases (dramatically?) over the next few months/years. Relying on someone else, in this case the government, is never a good position to be yourself in. If you're working and providing for yourself and your family a cut in benefits will not hit you as hard, if at all.

Although their name escapes me, someone else recently posted; "Self Respect is worth something too". Quite an apt comment in this situation

alisara

Thank you Duncombe, that is an excellent reply - I do really hate taking the benefits and would rather be independent .....but the way this country is at the moment I am in a benefit trap!

Sorry ev1 who replied - I typed in wrong figure for hb - I receive £59pw so £236pm (rent is £520pm)!

Duncombe

alisara wrote: »

Thank you Duncombe, that is an excellent reply - I do really hate taking the benefits and would rather be independent .....but the way this country is at the moment I am in a benefit trap!

Sorry ev1 who replied - I typed in wrong figure for hb - I receive £59pw so £236pm (rent is £520pm)!

That comment I can understand. However, the current government seems to be 'releasing' people from said trap, by decreasing the support given to them! I can't say I disagree with this method, after all, benefits should not be a lifestyle choice as so many seem to have been able to make them.

However, this doesn't seem to apply to you and I wish you all the best in future employment. You have a secure job offer of FT employment until March 2011 atleast - many on this forum would give an arm and a leg for that opportunity.

alisara

Thank you Duncombe, yes I am very lucky and yes I am in a benefit trap BUT I am spending a hell of a lot of time applying to companies and even for permanent positions that I am overqualified for. I never would have thought when I left school that the jobmarket in the UK would ever be so bad, and that I would have been working part-time in the first place.

I just wanted to know if it is worth it for me at the moment