Taking part time job(follow up to previous post)

holmesgroove

Following up from previous post: Here

So, I made a few calls to Carers Allowance and Income support.

As I said, I was offered 12.5 hours per week, with a few weeks at 25.5 as holiday cover in December.

I found out yesterday it's monthly pay at minimum wage. £78 per week on a regular week. Over £100 on 2 weeks.

I can no longer receive income support as of the day I start work, even though I will not have income for over 5 weeks(December 7th)

I am still a carer for 35 hours per week, so can receive £58 per week as long as I don't cross the £100 per week threshold.

My thought is that I ask my employer to put me down for no more than 15.5 hours per week(should I need to on the holiday cover weekends) and make sure that in a monthly wage I don't cross the £433.33 threshold.

Do you guys think this is sensible......or not?

It's the only way I can see me returning to work and have a livable income while in receipt of £58 per week for Carers Allowance.

My next hurdle is paying my bills while on this income, getting to and from work.

Oh yeah, I was rendered homeless, so had to move back with my elderly mother(who I care for). Her council tax went from £46 per month to £120 per month because I am here.

CLEARLY, it pays to work.

rogerblack

Monthly wage is not relevant, it's earnings in any given week, CA is a weekly benefit, based on your earnings in the last week.

It's not 100 pounds.
It's 100 pounds, after tax, NI, half personal pension contributions, and any expenses incurred wholely and unavoidably at work.

(for example, you can deduct expenses for laundering uniforms).

If you have a pension you can pay into, you can pay twice the overage over 100 pounds into that, and remain entitled for that week.

The comment about weekly/monthly is that I'm not sure how the fact that some months have differing number of weeks will work, so don't assume that that's the right figure.

CA_Man

the CA earnings limit is £100.00 per week. If a customer is monthly paid it is the monthly figure that is looked at. Expenses allowed are NI, Tax, half conts to a private or occupational pension, childcare/care of the DP (up to half net wage but not allowed if a family member i.e. mother). These are covered in law. All other expenses are not. Travel is not allowed. Other expenses are at the discretion of the decision maker and my NOT be allowed - the rules are stringent on this. You would need to explain to then re extra Xmas hours - your CA is only affected from the Monday after you get paid so you should tell them before this date to avoid an overpayment. If the earnings fluctuate they may average the earnings or pay you irregularly. The net pay is what they look at and the monthly limit is £433.33 pcm. Check it isn't 4 weekly paid as that limit is £400.00

holmesgroove

Thanks for the replies. As I said, I contacted the relevant departments and that's the info I listed.

I had to turn down the job,as I my income would be affected so much, I Couldn't afford to get to the job, let alone pay any bills, etc.

Thanks again.

.....and remember, it pays to work!!