Mature student and income related benefits.

Jami74

Hi, I'd really appreciate advice if anyone has any please.

I'm about to go to college for a one year full time course with the aim of going on to university afterwards. I'll be commuting at a cost of £80 per week although I accept there is no money available for travel costs.

I have a husband and two children (no disabilities, paid childcare or anything). I will be dropping my working hours from 19 to 7hrs a week (although will do overtime when on offer like over Christmas) I will earn £49 per week. My husband will be dropping his hours from 30 to 18 per week to cover the childcare, although he usually gets laid off for October and December. He'll earn about £90 per week. Obviously if he can get a different job or more hours he will but he has been trying to get something better for a long time.

We currently get child tax credits (not eligible for wtc as we earned £17k last year) and a small amount of housing benefit. Might there be anything from the jobcentre we could apply for? I'm not sure if there are any other means tested benefits. Next year will be much easier because if I get into university I'll be able to get a student loan plus we'll get tax credits on account of not earning much this year.

Thanks in advance.

nannymiaow

I believe you can tell tax credits about your decrease in income and get WTC now and much highet CTC as well. Always worth a phone call.

sunnyone

nannymiaow wrote: »

I believe you can tell tax credits about your decrease in income and get WTC now and much highet CTC as well. Always worth a phone call.

WTC will stop though after next April (I believe thats when it changes) as one partner has to work for 24 hours per week to qualify.