New member - please help

suziep

Hi everyone, i'm new to the site but could really do with some help please. I work 16 hours a week and up until last week was entitled to CTC and WTC along with my monthly wage. My son who is at university turned 20 last week. My CTC and WTC have now been stopped. I rand a benefit enquiries helpline and was told i am not entitled to benefits as i work 16 hours and am not disabled or a carer, and i need to work 30 hours to be entitled to WTC. Is this correct or is there any help which i would be entitled to? The way things stand i will be working to pay my rent which i dont get housing benefit towards!
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Caz3121

It is correct, your CB and CTS should have stopped at the start of September as your son was going to University (unless you have younger children)
You do need to work 30 hours plus for working tax credits. You may be able to claim some help with your rent depending on your rent, LHA(if private rent) and your income.
You can get your son to contribute more towards his keep (assuming he is at home) or look for a full time job or another part time job to increase your income

nannytone_2

how long has your son been at university?

yes it is correct, that as a person with no disabilities and no children, you are required to work 30 hours a week minimum to be entitled to tax credits.
you may be entitled to housing/council tax benefit though.

MrsManda

If you put your details into one of the benefits calculators below it'll give you a rough idea of what benefits you may be entitled to claim.

Is there any reason why you cannot look for full time work?

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp?_piref278_36249_278_36248_36248.__ora_navig=

suziep

Hi, he's only been at university since September as he wasn't too happy with his results last year.

suziep

I am currently looking for full time work, i have requested more hours where i work at the moment, now thinking i'l probably have to get 2nd job.

Caz3121

suziep wrote: »

I am currently looking for full time work, i have requested more hours where i work at the moment, now thinking i'l probably have to get 2nd job.

beware you may have an overpayment of tax credits from beginning September till when it stopped

Oldernotwiser

suziep wrote: »

Hi, he's only been at university since September as he wasn't too happy with his results last year.

Did he stay on at school/college (FT) for the academic year 2010/2012?

DannyboyMidlands

This isn't meant to sound nasty, I'm genuinely confused, why not just work more hours? I wouldn't expect to be bailed out by the taxpayer if I could only be bothered to do 16 hours per week.

kingfisherblue

DannyboyMidlands wrote: »

This isn't meant to sound nasty, I'm genuinely confused, why not just work more hours? I wouldn't expect to be bailed out by the taxpayer if I could only be bothered to do 16 hours per week.

OP has already said that she is looking for full time work and has asked about additional hours in current job.

Lady_gaga

is there any reason up until now you've only been working 16 hours?!? pees me off that people only think to work more once the benefits for children (20 is far from a child) stops!! work the bare minimum to get tax credits then plead poverty when you're not entitled any more...