Tax credits Annual Review: adult children working etc..

bubbleoflife_2

I'm self-employed (private tutor) and my Tax Credits stopped in February when my daughter became 20 years of age. Also my DLA stopped last year because my circumstances changed for the better, which is great and hope it continues (though I still have a 'hidden disability' that's not enough, I think, to qualify for any DLA) .

Daughter has recently started full time work in retail shop and son is also working a few hours on a self-emplyed basis making just enough for his traveling expenses (his company employs quite a number of university and college leavers desperate for work and won't pay traveling expenses --for the past 3 weeks I've had to fork out £40-£60 for son & daughter travelling expenses ).

I have received a Tax credit Annual Review but I'm not sure what to do about it. Is there anything I can do to get back into Tax credits? I don't quite understand if now that my son and daughter are into employment I still qualify for Tax Credits taking into consideration the LOW household income and the combined hours of work.
I've not been able to work more than 20-24 hours per week, which is under 30 hours and now that the Summer holidays are upon us my working hours have decreased further. We're just scraping by! This Summer is proving to be much tougher than the previous one with rent and bills that keep rising and I don't see our situation improving for at least another 2 months. Is my only option left JSA ?

Dunroamin

Now your children are adults and out of education they should be contributing into the household - you shouldn't still be paying out for them.

You may be eligible to claim LHA/HB/CTB as you're on a low income, although 20/24 hours of private tutoring could well take you over the threshold.

bubbleoflife_2

Dunroamin wrote: »

Now your children are adults and out of education they should be contributing into the household - you shouldn't still be paying out for them.

I know and hope that towards the end of this month my daughter will start contributing a bit. But my son will have to look for another job that pays at least a minimum wage.

Dunroamin wrote: »

You may be eligible to claim LHA/HB/CTB as you're on a low income, although 20/24 hours of private tutoring could well take you over the threshold.

What is LHA?
My hours have now gone right down to 10ish.

Dunroamin

LHA = Local Housing Allowance = Housing Benefit in the private sector.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/on_a_low_income/dg_10018928

If your son isn't earning anything, why isn't he signing on? If your daughter is working full time (even at NMW) she should be able to contribute fully.

bubbleoflife_2

Dunroamin wrote: »

... If your daughter is working full time (even at NMW) she should be able to contribute fully.

What's NMW?

Dunroamin wrote: »

...
If your son isn't earning anything, why isn't he signing on?....

1) You seem very surprised. I taught my children to earn a living NOT to rely on state benefits. State benefits should be the very LAST resort.

2) He needs to be employed to find work elsewhere. Employers are very reluctant to take on unskilled staff.

princessdon

bubbleoflife wrote: »

What's NMW?



1) You seem very surprised. I taught my children to earn a living NOT to rely on state benefits. State benefits should be the very LAST resort.

2) He needs to be employed to find work elsewhere. Employers are very reluctant to take on unskilled staff.

Tax credits are benefits - as are the others you are asking about so I fail to see why you can rely on benefits but teach them otherwise. I do fully agree though - and would want the same message for my children.

PippaGirl_2

bubble, child tax credits stop when your child is 20 regardless and there is no way back on to them short of having another child which is a bit drastic.

zagfles

For a start you need to do the annual review as that finalises last year's tax credits, even though you won't get anything this year as you work under 30 hours and no eligible disability or children.

Secondly you're very unlikely to be better off on JSA. Look into LHA/HB/CTB as above.