WTC & Carers + new criteria

Joe_Totale_2

OK I know there are several threads regarding the new 24hr part-time limit, however:

I work 16 hrs running a small community print shop employing several volunteers (all have disabilities). We can only afford to pay me 16hrs due to budget constraints (though I do several hours unpaid work from home, invoicing, emails and preparation of customers artwork etc).
The rest of my time (70+ hours) is taken up caring for my Dad (Alzheimer's Dementia). As I get paid over £100 - I do not receive any carers allowance.
Seems I will lose my WTC, but will I have to sign on, even though I'm an unpaid full-time carer?

A solution could be to add the work from home I do - to push my official working hours upto 24 and divide that by my wage, but this might seem suspicious:( Would this cause any other drawbacks for my employer?

Icequeen99

Do you have any children?

IQ

Joe_Totale_2

Icequeen99 wrote: »

Do you have any children?

IQ

Two girls aged 6 and 13, and a boy 16 at college. My wife is Diabetic and suffers from Osteoarthritis.

Icequeen99

There will be some exceptions to the 24 hr rule, one expected will be if your partner is incapacitated. Does your wife get any disability benefits? If she meets the criteria, you may still qualify at 16 hrs.

IQ

Joe_Totale_2

Icequeen99 wrote: »

There will be some exceptions to the 24 hr rule, one expected will be if your partner is incapacitated. Does your wife get any disability benefits? If she meets the criteria, you may still qualify at 16 hrs.

IQ

No, shes never applied, but she's been awarded a public transport mobility pass due to her medical problems.

Icequeen99

If your wife has mobility problems, you might want to look into Disability Living Allowance. As well as giving you extra income to help with any disability related costs, it will mean you won't be subject to the 24hr requirement.

The income doesn't count for tax credit purposes so it shouldn't change your award.

It might also give you access to other benefits, probably best see a benefits advisor for a full check and help applying.

IQ

Joe_Totale_2

Icequeen99 wrote: »

If your wife has mobility problems, you might want to look into Disability Living Allowance. As well as giving you extra income to help with any disability related costs, it will mean you won't be subject to the 24hr requirement.

The income doesn't count for tax credit purposes so it shouldn't change your award.

It might also give you access to other benefits, probably best see a benefits advisor for a full check and help applying.

IQ

Many thanks for all your advise:T

Tobermory

Icequeen99, where have you read that "There will be some exceptions to the 24 hr rule, one expected will be if your partner is incapacitated" ?. Do you have a link ?
Thank you.

Oldernotwiser

Good grief - now we're going to get even more people claiming they have a disability!

MrsManda

Tobermory wrote: »

Icequeen99, where have you read that "There will be some exceptions to the 24 hr rule, one expected will be if your partner is incapacitated" ?. Do you have a link ?
Thank you.

This may be of some use:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/DG_194914

If one of you is ill, an inpatient in hospital or in prison
You'll still qualify for Working Tax Credit if one of you works 16 hours or more, and the other is:

• getting certain benefits due to ill health - for example, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, or Disability Living Allowance
• an inpatient in hospital
• in prison - serving a custodial sentence, or remanded in custody awaiting trial or sentence

Joe_Totale_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Good grief - now we're going to get even more people claiming FOR a disability!

FIXED IT FOR YOU . and maybe realising like us that we could have been claiming for the last 8 years. It must break your heart.