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Jobseekers/housing and ad hoc work?

Hi, I was wondering how doing part time ad hoc work affects jobseekers and housing benefit?

I'll try and keep this simple...
Basically my partner has been working full time up until yesterday when he lost his job. I'm a stay at home mum, we live together and have 2 young children. Up until now we've received child and working tax credits, child benefit, but no other benefits. He will now be putting in a joint claim for jobseekers allowance and housing/ council tax benefit for us.

I have been offered some part time ad hoc work paying minimum wage which would be under 16 hours a week (but potentially there would be scope to work more). It is a job that I really enjoy doing and it would be mostly working at home.

So what I need to know is, will this affect our benefits claim? Or maybe we would be even worse off?! Any advice would be great, especially if anyone has been in a similar situation. Thanks in advance :)

Comments

  • rogerblack
    rogerblack Posts: 9,446 Forumite
    He will (presumably) be claiming contributions based JSA.
    This is not affected by partners earnings for the first 6 months.
    (the extra amount you get because you're a couple may be).
    Once 6 months are up, there is a small disregard (a fiver a week?) then any money comes off pound for pound.
  • BigAunty
    BigAunty Posts: 8,310 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You can model the scenario in the Turn2us online benefit calculator.

    Note that WTC for a couple with kids requires them to work 24 hours to qualify for it (it used to be 16 hours) with one of them doing at least 16 of it.
  • tiphany30
    tiphany30 Posts: 25 Forumite
    Well I've done all the sums, and according to the Turn2us calculator I should be slightly better off working, which is great. What an excellent site. Wish I'd known about it in the past when I needed help to work the figures!

    Thanks to you both for your replies :)
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