Better working or on benefits?

kellysmith1976

I know you probably get this asked a lot, but ive been on the phone on hold for over an hour, and im just not getting any answers!!

My Husband is on ESA, income related, he was getting incapacity benefits, but thats recently changed!
We also get full housing benefit and council tax benefit...

I have been offered a job, which is 37hrs week and it £6.03 an hour..

I have no idea what im going to do, as there is no way i can afford to pay my full rent etc.. ( im on hold to tax credits as i type!)

so i dont want to stay on benefits, but would it be financially better for me and family?

Kelly

leamingtonspaceman

Stay on benefits. Your husband will lose most if not all of his ESA if you take the job.

Murgatroyd21

What exactly is your "family" situation? Kids? If so how many and are any over 16 and not in education?

Meant to say, you should also consider there are changes coming in the future, and there are other benefits to being in work than just the money. Time away from home, ability to meet and create social bonds that might be unavailable now, develop a job that may have future promotional prospects?

kellysmith1976

I have a 17yr old son, who is not at school... I have a 13 yr old daughter in school...
I have just got through to job centre, and yes my husband will lose his ESA if i work.. I can only earn £20 a week!!.....
I have also spoke to DWP and they have said i will be entitled to WTC of £81. 13 a week...
So i need to ring council now to see if they will pay housing benefit still!..

Murgatroyd21

If you started next Monday, you'd get about £151 tax credits per week. Don't forget, HB etc count ctc as well, not just wtc.

MrsManda

You can model your situation in one of the benefits calculators.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

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

As Murgatroyd21 said it's not just money but social interaction, future prospects etc which you should think about when making your decision.

Also, if the job isn't exempt from the National Minimum Wage you should be getting £6.08 an hour not £6.03.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/TheNationalMinimumWage/DG_10027201

Anubis_2

leamingtonspaceman wrote: »

Stay on benefits. Your husband will lose most if not all of his ESA if you take the job.

What a ridiculous answer! She will likely be better off as she will get tax credits etc and should get help towards housing still, in addition to the £20 gained.

sarahg1969

If you can work and you have an offer of a job, of course you should take it. Even if you're not spectacularly better off in the short term, you need to look at the long term. You can't not work forever, if you are capable of working. You must be planning on working at some point in the future? Why not go for it now, while the chance is there?

And what about future prospects? Any chance of promotions, etc? You'll get out of the house, you'll feel good that you're doing something.

Go on, go for it.

pmlindyloo

Anubis wrote: »

What a ridiculous answer! She will likely be better off as she will get tax credits etc and should get help towards housing still, in addition to the £20 gained.

Surely the OP is going to gain more than £20 as regards OH losing ESA versus gaining £223.11 per week? (from her job)

I think the OP was confused about this. I believe that when on ESA you can do £20 per week without losing the ESA and this is where she got the figure from.

Have I got this right?

Also, if the OP's Husband was on income based ESA was this a joint claim? Am confused! Should the OP have been claiming JSA herself if she is fit to work?

Figures don't seem to be adding up or is it just me? Someone put me right please

Anubis_2

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Surely the OP is going to gain more than £20 as regards OH losing ESA versus gaining £223.11 per week? (from her job)

I think the OP was confused about this. I believe that when on ESA you can do £20 per week without losing the ESA and this is where she got the figure from.

Have I got this right?

Also, if the OP's Husband was on income based ESA was this a joint claim? Am confused! Should the OP have been claiming JSA herself if she is fit to work?

Figures don't seem to be adding up or is it just me? Someone put me right please

Yes, she should get help in other ways, that is why I said "in addition to the £20" ( which is discounted.)

pmlindyloo

Anubis wrote: »

Yes, she should get help in other ways, that is why I said "in addition to the £20" ( which is discounted.)

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Where does this £20 come from?

OP will be earning £223 a week if she takes the job. Therefore OH will lose all of his income based ESA. So she will be better off by £223 minus his ESA. Yes?