WTC and the hours rules

agme28

Hi

I need to get my head around this once and for all.

I only need to work 16 hours to qualify for WTC. Does this mean I have to earn NMW x 16 x 52 in a year or be asked to pay them all back or do I just have to work 16 hours as a rule (after all, there will be times when I don't work at all such as holidays, kids off sick etc)

Is it a case of any change lasting longer than 4 weeks needs to be addressed but a week or so at a time is ok? I don't understand how they figure it all out!

Thanks
Abi

princessdon

If it was annual income then people could work 3 hours a week. It is 16 hours or more, you get paid holidays from work (and he majority of parents use them when children are ill).

agme28

I've been offered a job with casual hours ie no holiday pay, so how does it work then? They are offering me set days each week so it exceeds 16 hours but won't include holiday pay.

What do you mean by the 3 hour thing? I am confused!
Thanks

paddedjohn

agme28 wrote: »

I've been offered a job with casual hours ie no holiday pay, so how does it work then? They are offering me set days each week so it exceeds 16 hours but won't include holiday pay.

What do you mean by the 3 hour thing? I am confused!
Thanks

Casual hours still accrue holidays.;)

zagfles

See http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tctmanual/TCTM02450.htm

You'll probably need a stiff drink.

princessdon

agme28 wrote: »

I've been offered a job with casual hours ie no holiday pay, so how does it work then? They are offering me set days each week so it exceeds 16 hours but won't include holiday pay.

What do you mean by the 3 hour thing? I am confused!
Thanks

What I meant by the 3 hour thing was this

For example an "ad hoc" lecturer via agency will get £30 ph. So in 3 hours they can make £90. If all they had to do to get Tax Credits was reach 16 x NMW then they'd have the luxury of not working apart from an hour or two and claiming benefits. That is why they have the hours and the wage in consideration.

agme28

OK so do you have to average 16 hrs a week over a year or just overall? If you have 2 weeks out of work, do you then have to work 32 hours for 2 weeks to make up for it or do you still qualify so long as any changes last 4 weeks or less?

DomRavioli

Do you have a disability? If you do not have a disability, then you would have to work 30 hours or more a week, be aged over 25, and fall within income limits.

agme28

DomRavioli wrote: »

Do you have a disability? If you do not have a disability, then you would have to work 30 hours or more a week, be aged over 25, and fall within income limits.

I'm a lone parent, I only have to work 16 hours as it stands at the moment.

enabledebra

The link in Zagfles post explains the rules. A common sense approach is applied you have to 'normally' work 16 hours a week or more but exceptions to this can be ignored if they don't form a pattern or go on too long.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tctmanual/TCTM02457.htm
Example:

An employee has worked over the last 10 weeks 31,31,30,31,nil,nil,nil,30,30,31 hours after contacting the employee the reason for the nil hours a week sick and two weeks on holiday can be disregarded, so common sense means they would be classed as being in remunerative work as they normally work 30 hours or more per week.
Therefore even if the claimant has a period of not working, a determination must be made based on their normal weekly hours or whether it is normal for them to have periods of not working.

agme28

enabledebra wrote: »

The link in Zagfles post explains the rules. A common sense approach is applied you have to 'normally' work 16 hours a week or more but exceptions to this can be ignored if they don't form a pattern or go on too long.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tctmanual/TCTM02457.htm
Example:

An employee has worked over the last 10 weeks 31,31,30,31,nil,nil,nil,30,30,31 hours after contacting the employee the reason for the nil hours a week sick and two weeks on holiday can be disregarded, so common sense means they would be classed as being in remunerative work as they normally work 30 hours or more per week.
Therefore even if the claimant has a period of not working, a determination must be made based on their normal weekly hours or whether it is normal for them to have periods of not working.

Thanks, this makes more sense now and thankyou to Zagfles for posting that link, I have bookmarked it.