We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

completely confused...............again!

recently seperated, 2 children.Unemployed.
Been offered a 15 hour a week job, £90.............lose jsa so only be earning £35 a week more. Will i lose council tax benefit?
Should i refuse job and wait for a 16 hour plus job?
At the moment, i need to make as much money as i can............so from a financial point of view, what am i better doing? Staying unemployed? Taking 15 hour a week job? Waiting for 16 hour job?
Please could someone answer explaining to me why which is best
Thank you

Comments

  • Bogof_Babe
    Bogof_Babe Posts: 10,803 Forumite
    Could you work a second job, even if just for one hour a week?
    :D I haven't bogged off yet, and I ain't no babe :D

  • burtons
    burtons Posts: 724 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I would go and ask the council as if you started working 16 hours it's classed as full time, You can claim working tax credit on 16 hours but then the council will work out the money you get from work and working tax credit and all the money you get for the kids, They will then make you pay full rent and give you a 25% discount on your council tax.
  • ecsb
    ecsb Posts: 158 Forumite
    and would that make a difference? My council tax benefit is worth £100 a month...............so unsure of the best route, always worked til made redundant in Nov, so it is a mine field for me, and yes i probably could
  • burtons
    burtons Posts: 724 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Bogof_Babe wrote: »
    Could you work a second job, even if just for one hour a week?

    Some places won't let you have a second job so you need to check that first as this happened to me before.
  • burtons
    burtons Posts: 724 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    How much was you paying for your rent and council tax when you was working.
  • DX2
    DX2 Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    ecsb wrote: »
    recently seperated, 2 children.Unemployed.
    Been offered a 15 hour a week job, £90.............lose jsa so only be earning £35 a week more. Will i lose council tax benefit?
    Should i refuse job and wait for a 16 hour plus job?
    At the moment, i need to make as much money as i can............so from a financial point of view, what am i better doing? Staying unemployed? Taking 15 hour a week job? Waiting for 16 hour job?
    Please could someone answer explaining to me why which is best
    Thank you
    You won't be earning £35 more per week because you get to keep the first £20 of your wages before it affects your JSA claim.

    Ideally a 16 hour job would be better off as you would be eligible for WTC but then you have to watch your council tax and housing benefit, kinda catch 22.

    Also with 16 hours per week and if you have been on benefits for more than 26 weeks you would be entitled to claim the in work credit for lone parents which equals £40 per week for 52 weeks.

    Can you not ask the JCP to do a better off calculation for you?
    *SIGH*
    :D
  • ecsb
    ecsb Posts: 158 Forumite
    i have mortgage not rent, so do not qualify for housing benefit, just council tax benefit.
    Not been claiming jsa for as long as 26 weeks.
    JCP?
  • DX2
    DX2 Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    ecsb wrote: »
    i have mortgage not rent, so do not qualify for housing benefit, just council tax benefit.
    Not been claiming jsa for as long as 26 weeks.
    JCP?
    Jobcentre Plus.
    *SIGH*
    :D
  • ecsb
    ecsb Posts: 158 Forumite
    still confused.............will visit jcp tomorrow,
    Thanks so far
  • DX2
    DX2 Posts: 8,275 Forumite
    ecsb wrote: »
    still confused.............will visit jcp tomorrow,
    Thanks so far
    Ask the jobcentre plus to do a better off calculation for you. This will then tell you whether you are better off working the 15 hours or not.
    *SIGH*
    :D
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.