JSA, Working and Tax credits

lozhazie

Hi all,

In a bid to try and get my self into self sufficiency I am trying to find the best way to get off benefits,

I know that there will be trolls who jump on this with their "you are leeching off society just get a job" but I am hoping some one can help with some actual information.

I have recently started a part time job 16 hours at natmin wage. I signed off and my wife has remained on JSA so we can still receive Housing benefits and Council tax benefits. Right, I know in order to receive Working tax credits I need to be working 30 hours or more, I also know that this can be made up by a number of jobs including self employment.

Here are my two questions. in our current circumstances My wife still signs on and we have been hinted that we may still get a small payment from jsa. Is there any way to work out how much we would get from them without using the calculator on the direct gove website as it is useless.

Question 2 is What classes as self employment. Can I use the Complete surveys for cash online as some of the hours?

Thanks all in advanced

lozhazie

she is trying but is struggling to secure jobs after interviews. I suppose this is going to be a case of keep at it.

Caz3121

lozhazie wrote: »

I have recently started a part time job 16 hours at natmin wage. I signed off and my wife has remained on JSA so we can still receive Housing benefits and Council tax benefits.
Housing and Council tax benefits will take into account the household income so you need to give them your income details so they can amend the claim and avoid an overpayment

Here are my two questions. in our current circumstances My wife still signs on and we have been hinted that we may still get a small payment from jsa. Is there any way to work out how much we would get from them without using the calculator on the direct gove website as it is useless.

Is your wife claiming contribution based or income based JSA. If CB she will get the £71 single persons claim, if IB then your income may cancel out most of the payment - they assess a couple as needing £111.45 per week

lozhazie

My wife is not eligible for contribution based JSA, the Direct Gov calc says she would be entitled to 31 per week but I dont know accurate it is. It's hard to work out a budget when you don't know what you have to work with.

pmlindyloo

Caz3121 wrote: »

Is your wife claiming contribution based or income based JSA. If CB she will get the £71 single persons claim, if IB then your income may cancel out most of the payment - they assess a couple as needing £111.45 per week

Agree

Your best bet is to try and get another part time job or your wife to find one (easier said than done, I know.)

Starting the self employement route is not easy and unless you have some skills that you can use then I would stick with trying the more hours route to get the eligiblity for Working Tax credit.

By the way, you don't say your age, but you cannot claim Working tax credit if you are under 25.

Since you only need a further 14 hours is there any way you or wife could do some hours bartending or waitering?

If you could find the extra 14 hours then you could put your details into the benefit calculator on www.turn2us.org.uk (click on Benefits banner at the top and you should see the benefit calculator) to find out your entitlements.

I always find it pretty good.

lozhazie

I was told WTC for a couple without children the hours cannot be spread across the couple and that one person must be working a total of 30 hours or more to be eligible for WTC,

My wife is admin based its all she knows and can do.