Working Tax Credit Help

maxilass4

Hello, My husband works part time (due to disability) we are both 60 and we receive working tax credit (WTC).

I have been looking for work and up until yesterday I had been unsuccessful. Yesterday I was offered a job as a carer on a zero hours contract I was told by the employer that their relief workers we called upon regularly for work. I have accepted this offer.

I rang WTC helpline this morning and asked what I need to do. I was told that I need to be working an average of 16 hours per week each month and if that was the case I needed to contacted WTC with the hours and the estimated yearly income for my job so that they can update their records.

I asked how I could do this as I do not know when I will be called upon to work? and what hours that I will be working?
But the helpline lady said that I had to estimate future earnings. How am I supposed to know what hours I might work if the nature of the relief work is covering holidays/shortages/sickness. I asked if I could contact WTC every month with the hours I had worked but I was told that I could not do this.

Obviously, I want to work so as we do not need to received WTC. I am not sure where I go to from here. I want to work for this company (its a good firm) so that they can see how well I work and then I may be able to apply for an internal vacancy when one comes up. The company will train me in NVQ care as I work for them so it really is a dream come true at my age as I was beginning to think that I would never get a job because i'm 60.

I don't particularly want to ask my new employer as I don't want them to think that I am causing them too much hassle, and as a result they may not want to call me in for work if I ask them what hours they think that I will be working for them each month and what wages I will receive.

Do I decline the offer of work? Can we ask for the WTC to cease? There has to be a simpler way than this

Any advice will be gratefully received.

fluffy70

Hello

are you currently receiving WTC?

If not and you don't want to proceed with the claim then you don't have to! If you DO want to go ahead with it then you will need to be working at least 16 hours EVERY week - and for a zero contract as a carer this might not happen.

Really I would still talk to your employer and ask then what the likelihood of 16hrs plus a week is - - so many people claim WTC nowadays they won't (or shouldn't) see it as a bizarre request

Good Luck with your new job and enjoy the training

maxilass4

Hi,
Yes we currently receive WTC and have been since my husband found his part time job just over two years ago.

Darlyd

OP I am a care worker, and we have relief staff, they hardly have any hours perhaps 4-10 a week unless someone is off long term sick/holiday then their hours will go up a little BUT the other part time carer's end up having their calls .. It's brilliant to have the NVQ2 behind you too. Lovely feeling. I am currently doing NVQ3.

Depends if the company have taken on any more packages, they normally happen between April - June.

Don't feel a pain calling them and asking them how many hours you think you will be working, and explain you need at least 16 hours. But the thing with care work you might be out of the house 25-30 hours to even work 16 hours.

Have you googled care work in your area? I did in mine and there are always care jobs coming up.

maxilass4

Heard from the employer today and specifically asked about what hours I would work as we received WTC. Told that they couldn't say other than I would have lots of hours!
So where am I with this?
I feel that I am caught between wanting to work and employer not knowing what I will be working? Catch 22 I think!
No incentive for anyone to want to get off benefits if its so difficult to tell WTC the hours worked,