Change to WTC eligibility for couples from 2012

mrsspendalot

I'm not sure how this has escaped me up to now, but I have just become aware that from April 2012 couples with children will need to work 24 hours between them to be eligible for WTC.

I currently work 22.5 hours a week, and my husband is a student. I was asked to reduce my hours down from full time in January, and these are the hours we agreed on at the time. I am due to go on maternity leave and will be returning to work Feb/March 2012.

I am now really worried about the change to hours, as I will fall below the requirement for WTC by a really small amount. At what point might it be sensible to try and negotiate increasing my hours slightly? Should I tackle it now, and get the agreement in place to start when I return from maternity leave, or should I wait until nearer the time? I don't want to sound cheeky asking for my hours to go up when I am going off on leave, but I don't want to be stressing about finances all the way through my leave either.

Oldernotwiser

Might it not be simpler for your husband to pick up a couple of hours' work?

mrsspendalot

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Might it not be simpler for your husband to pick up a couple of hours' work?

No, as he is going to be looking after the baby whilst studying so I can work.

Oldernotwiser

I was thinking of an evening or two in a pub.

mrsspendalot

Possibly, I just thought it would be easier for me to work an extra couple of hours than to have him take on something else on top of his study and childcare.

nannytone_2

you said you wont be returning from maternity leave until Feb 2012. that gives him 11 months to work before he needs to be looking after baby.

zagfles

mrsspendalot wrote: »

Possibly, I just thought it would be easier for me to work an extra couple of hours than to have him take on something else on top of his study and childcare.

Why were your hours reduced, was the work not there or was it cost cutting?

If the latter, what about asking your employer if you can go up to 24 hours but in return have more paid leave, for the same annual wage. I can't see anything in the rules about a limit to paid leave, but best check with TCO just in case...

If you get 4 weeks paid leave now, then if you up your hours to 24 and your annual leave to 7 weeks it would be the same total hours over the year.

mrsspendalot

zagfles wrote: »

Why were your hours reduced, was the work not there or was it cost cutting?

If the latter, what about asking your employer if you can go up to 24 hours but in return have more paid leave, for the same annual wage. I can't see anything in the rules about a limit to paid leave, but best check with TCO just in case...

If you get 4 weeks paid leave now, then if you up your hours to 24 and your annual leave to 7 weeks it would be the same total hours over the year.

My hours were reduced due to cost cutting (further education sector). I get 5 weeks paid leave, plus bank holidays at the moment. I would far rather increase my hours slightly than hubby work a couple of hours to make the threshold, as an increase on my hours and income will contribute to my pension also, so it makes more sense financially for me to increase my hours a little if possible. I guess I can ask for nothing, just not sure when is best to ask!

Kalia

While on maternity leave you are still eligible for WTC, your hours are considered the same as if you were working. With this in mind you would be better working the extra hour and a half as soon as possible.

mrsspendalot

Kalia wrote: »

While on maternity leave you are still eligible for WTC, your hours are considered the same as if you were working. With this in mind you would be better working the extra hour and a half as soon as possible.

Thanks, but I can't increase my hours at the moment as I'm signed off sick with pregnancy complications for the remainder of my pregnancy - I won't be going back to work until after maternity leave, which is why I'm wondering when the best time is to tackle asking for the increase in hours. It's not ideal to ask now whilst I'm off sick, but I'm going to have to sort it out whilst on matenity leave so it can be agreed for my return. My manager mentioned we could discuss any change to hours for after maternity leave in case I wanted to change them afterwards, but I guess she probably meant in the event I wanted to reduce them, not increase them!