WTC 24 hour requirement

Twentyfourseven

Hello

can someone tell me when you will need to swap from 16 to 24 hours to claim WTC?

If for example, you were doing 20 hours last year and are still only doing 20 hours would you still be getting maximum WTC for 2011/12 (if you qualified for it) as it is based on last year's income (and last year obviously only requiring 16 hours worked to qualify)? Or do you need to be doing 24 hours a week as of now to qualify in 2011/12?

This is not about my situation, I am just asking the question.

Thank you.

mrsspendalot

Twentyfourseven wrote: »

Hello

can someone tell me when you will need to swap from 16 to 24 hours to claim WTC?

If for example, you were doing 20 hours last year and are still only doing 20 hours would you still be getting maximum WTC for 2011/12 (if you qualified for it) as it is based on last year's income (and last year obviously only requiring 16 hours worked to qualify)? Or do you need to be doing 24 hours a week as of now to qualify in 2011/12?

This is not about my situation, I am just asking the question.

Thank you.

I'm expecting that from April 2012 (2012/13 tax year) I will no longer receive WTC (I had my hours cut to 22.5 from 37) unless I can find extra hours somewhere.

This year (2011/12 tax year) is fine as at the moment the rules are 16 hours.

I imagine that when they do renewals and current awards for this year, the provisional payments part at the back will show what they expect you to get next year - and I am expecting it to say no WTC.

taxi36

I have just been reading a lot of information on various websites regarding this change to the amount of hours you need to work to be entitled to wtc. As far as I can make out this change is due to come into force in April 2012.

On all of the sites I have checked it mentions that couples need to work 24hours with one of them working at least 16 of those hours.

Does any-one know if this applies ONLY to couples? Will single parents still only have to work 16 hours as they do at present?

I am asking this question for my Daughter as we would expect that she will be returning to work after her maternity leave around April time next year and want to know how many hours she will need.

Thanks for any advice given

Apologies to the Op .

mrsspendalot

taxi36 wrote: »

I have just been reading a lot of information on various websites regarding this change to the amount of hours you need to work to be entitled to wtc. As far as I can make out this change is due to come into force in April 2012.

On all of the sites I have checked it mentions that couples need to work 24hours with one of them working at least 16 of those hours.

Does any-one know if this applies ONLY to couples? Will single parents still only have to work 16 hours as they do at present?

I am asking this question for my Daughter as we would expect that she will be returning to work after her maternity leave around April time next year and want to know how many hours she will need.

Thanks for any advice given

Apologies to the Op .

It's only for couples. Single parents will still only have to work 16 hours to qualify.

taxi36

mrsspendalot wrote: »

It's only for couples. Single parents will still only have to work 16 hours to qualify.

Thanks for that Mrsspendalot , I just couldnt find confirmation of this . I guess the fact that it mentions couples IS confirmation though.

Ta again.

Darlyd

I am confused.

A colleague of mine works 25 hours a week to have both child and working tax credits whilst his wife looks after the kids. He told me you need to do a minimum of 16 and maximum of 25. ?

taxi36

darlyd wrote: »

I am confused.

A colleague of mine works 25 hours a week to have both child and working tax credits whilst his wife looks after the kids. He told me you need to do a minimum of 16 and maximum of 25. ?

The minimum 16 hours is what you have to work atm but come April 2012 that is going to increase to mean that a couple with children will need to work 24 hours with one of the couple working at least 16 of those hours.

There isnt a maximum amount of hours you can work (within reason or you would earn too much to be entitled to tax credits) but some people DO work the situation to their own advantage. People such as this would figure out how FEW hours they could work to gain the MOST in benefits.

Maybe this is the angle you're colleague is taking?

mrsspendalot

darlyd wrote: »

I am confused.

A colleague of mine works 25 hours a week to have both child and working tax credits whilst his wife looks after the kids. He told me you need to do a minimum of 16 and maximum of 25. ?

At the moment you need to work 16 hours minimum to be entitled to WTC. You get an extra premium if you work over 30 hours. This applies to single parents or couples

From April 2012 couples will have to work 24 hours a week between them - with one working at least 16 hours in order to get WTC. Single parents will only have to work 16, as they do now.

Your colleague will not be affected by the change, as he already works 25 hours a week, so his entitlement will not be affected.