URGENT!, Please advise on starting back to work this week!

NellyNoo_2

Small bit of backround info so you all know where we are at.

My partner and I have children. One is disabled and we recieve DLA for her. My partner was made redundant a while ago, we were put onto income support as I was recieving carers allowance. This was over 6 months ago.

I had an interview at the end of last week, and good news is I got the job. I am starting on Tuesday, so not much notice to get things sorted. My partner will be the stay at home carer, obviously we will stop my claim for carers and our income support claim. We have used the benefit calculator and the figures we should get all work out fine.

Here is a list of questions, hope someone can help!!!

1) Tax Credits, will it be a new claim or a change of circumstances? Will payments stop, or continue without a gap?

2) How long is the Job Grant likely to take?

3) As I have very basic details ( salary basically lol), do not know yet first pay day, exact hours a week (betwwen 36-40), or much else, should we phone everyone on Monday, or wait till tueday when contract is signed and I all details?

4) what do we do about proof of income for HB/CTB as obviously I wont have pay slips?

5) I dont have a P45 as last job I had was yonks ago, will I get one from carers allowance, or do I need to fill in something else?

Any info will be greatfully recieved, worried about money untill I get paid (paid monthly).

Please help!!!! very happy but very worried about making ends meet over the next few weeks.

Sorry for there being so many questions! Not used to going on/coming off benefits!

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, dont know the answers to all your questions but my circumstances have changed a couple of times. I would ring the Tax Credits asap and explain. They will want an estimate of your earnings between now and next 5th April and in my experience they change the amount you receive fairly quickly. I have never had a gap in payments. I work in payroll and sometimes get asked for help by employees claiming tax credits etc so dont be afraid to ask your new employer if there is anyone who can give you the info you need.

With the P45 it doesnt matter, you need to get your employer to complete a P46 form, which they will likely do on your first day.

Good luck with it, sounds like things are on the way up for you all. Hope it works out well.

RazWaz

NellyNoo wrote: »

Small bit of backround info so you all know where we are at.

My partner and I have children. One is disabled and we recieve DLA for her. My partner was made redundant a while ago, we were put onto income support as I was recieving carers allowance. This was over 6 months ago.

I had an interview at the end of last week, and good news is I got the job. I am starting on Tuesday, so not much notice to get things sorted. My partner will be the stay at home carer, obviously we will stop my claim for carers and our income support claim. We have used the benefit calculator and the figures we should get all work out fine.

Here is a list of questions, hope someone can help!!!

1) Tax Credits, will it be a new claim or a change of circumstances? Will payments stop, or continue without a gap?
Not sure, but call them up as soon as you know the details, working tax credits are based on last years income so your wage now wont really make a difference.

2) How long is the Job Grant likely to take?
It's supposed to be within a couple of days but you might have to chase them up about it, took me 8 weeks before I got mine.

3) As I have very basic details ( salary basically lol), do not know yet first pay day, exact hours a week (betwwen 36-40), or much else, should we phone everyone on Monday, or wait till tueday when contract is signed and I all details?
Talk to everyone monday as you'll have the time. I ended up having to take time off in my first week to do everything which didn't leave a great impression.

4) what do we do about proof of income for HB/CTB as obviously I wont have pay slips?
You will be given a form you need to get your new employer to fill in which will show how much you are expected to earn in the first 5 weeks which should cover you until you can provide payslips.

5) I dont have a P45 as last job I had was yonks ago, will I get one from carers allowance, or do I need to fill in something else?
There is a form you fill in if you don't have a P45, I didn't have one starting my current job. Check you are on the right tax code after a couple of weeks though as you might get left on an emergency code.

My answers in bold.

NellyNoo_2

Thank you both, I am very greatfull for your help.

About the tax credits, I know they used to be able to put in a change of income with immediate effect if circumstances needed it. do they not do that anymore?

RazWaz

If your income has dropped you can get them to revise it, but the initial award will be based on last years income.

NellyNoo_2

Thank you Stupid system, will probably mean they will overpay us. When I find out how much I will try and work out how much too much we are getting and keep it aside for when they want it back.

Thank you

DX2

Nelly your wife could now claim the carers allowance, just swap the allowance over from you to her.

AimeesMum_2

1) Tax Credits, will it be a new claim or a change of circumstances? Will payments stop, or continue without a gap?
Not sure, it should be a change of circumstances in that you will now recieve working tax credits as you obviously weren't working before. I take it this years income will be higher so according to last years taxable income you might end up with a decent weekly amount although next year that will come down. You need to make sure that you have your employers PAYE number.

2) How long is the Job Grant likely to take?
I got mine the day after I started my job. I phoned them, gave them the details of my employment, they closed my claim and sent a giro immediately.

3) As I have very basic details ( salary basically lol), do not know yet first pay day, exact hours a week (betwwen 36-40), or much else, should we phone everyone on Monday, or wait till tueday when contract is signed and I all details?
I wouldn't bother phoning until you have all the details. As I say, you will need to PAYE number for it to be accepted and it can take a while in some organisations to get to speak to payroll to get this. Make a list of everything that you need to know and then call on Tuesday night. TC didn't ask me anything other than : was it over 30 hours per week, PAYE number and the details of the employer.

4) what do we do about proof of income for HB/CTB as obviously I wont have pay slips?
I am unsure of this as I have never had to claim these.

5) I dont have a P45 as last job I had was yonks ago, will I get one from carers allowance, or do I need to fill in something else?
You will probably be on an emergency tax code until this is sorted. Mine took over 3 months. I think the forms is called a P46?

I think most of my responses are pretty accurate but any posters feel free to let me know if I am wrong. Congratulations on the new job xxx

NellyNoo_2

Thank you. I feel just about sorted now so just waiting for tommorow. Just need to remember to get all the info.

DX2, yeah we are going to put the carers in my partners name, I know it comes off other things, but its the protection of NI that really helps. But its my hubby:), I know I didn't say, so probably safe to assume its the man working a lot of the time.

DX2

Help with housing costs

If you were getting help with your housing costs while you were out of work, you may carry on getting this. This is if you have claimed income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support for at least 26 weeks continuously before starting work. You may then continue to get the following benefits for up to four weeks:

• Extended Payment of Housing Benefit
• Extended Payment of Council Tax Benefit
• Mortgage Interest Run On

Claiming benefits when you go back to work

If you or your partner have been getting Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support and you get a job, you now only need to report this to Jobcentre Plus. This is the new 'In and Out of Work' service to speed up changes to customers' reported circumstances.
Jobcentre Plus will then let your local council and tax credit office know. Your local council will work out what Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit you may get. The tax credit office will work out what Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit you may get.
If your circumstances change when you are working, such as working overtime, you must let your local council and tax credit office know, as your benefits could also change.
This service is available in most parts of Great Britain, and will be available in all areas by early 2010.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10013908

debtfreenewbie

HI,I can help you as we have recently done the same. I would say firstly get a book and write everything down. You can estimate your earnings and call the tax credits ONCE you have started work,they will need you work address and postcode. Your payments should continue at the correct date but they will adjust it for you.,Next contact your local council offices and do a change of circumstance form,again estimate your earnings, I am assuming that you already get help.
If you get carers allowance for your daughter you can get this changed into hubbys name. We did ours online so they then cancelled mine and started hubbys claim.That went really well.
The hb and ctc benefit will be proccessed whiule you wait for pay slips,they should tell you what they need. Y ou should inform your lanlord also as they will wonder whats happening.
Money will be tight for you.we were down to our last 5 pounds at one point.Not good.

We have now worked out we will actually be ok and to be honest everyone is happier and Im glad we did it.
You may need to get another book to teach hubby the fine art of the wasing machine and packed lunches.
Good luck with it all.