Working Tax - Not Getting My Hours At Work

mdkyoshi

How does the disregard work in my scenario? (if at all)

I realise they will stop the benefit, my worry lies with whether they will ask me to repay it all?

Icequeen99

mdkyoshi wrote: »

Your really not helping here.



Thanks, yeah i've tried finding other jobs, but not got further than interviews at the moment. As for the contract, i'm fairly certain they don't care. They over-hire for the positions, then spread the hours paper thin...

But the other poster is being helpful. He is telling you that based on the hours you have posted you are not entitled to WTC.

There are no averaging rules in tax credits. The legislation talks about 'normal' working hours. Bar the odd week falling below the 24 hours, if compliance were to investigate your case they would expect other weeks to be at least 24 hours. In your case they are not, therefore you have been given the correct advice which is that you need to report the change. You will also have to be prepared to deal with any overpayment.

HMRC are looking at claims of people around that 24 hour threshold. If you leave it to be picked up on an investigation not only will you have to deal with overpayments but potential penalties as well.

Best that you put it right before you build up a large overpayment.

If you are under the 24 hr threshold then your partner could claim IS or JSA.

IQ

mdkyoshi

As my hours fluctuate so much im not sure she would be able to claim IS. Which leaves me in the position that i'm in where my wage is, for the time being, now less than Jobseekers...

Icequeen99

mdkyoshi wrote: »

How does the disregard work in my scenario? (if at all)

I realise they will stop the benefit, my worry lies with whether they will ask me to repay it all?

The disregard is around earnings not hours, so doesn't help you at all.

At this point they will only ask you repay it if you tell them your hours fell below 24 at an earlier date.

If you just end it from say now, then it could still be taken away from you if your claim is selected for a compliance investigation. That would go as far back as the hours looked like they dipped below 24.

IQ

bloolagoon

Why can she not work? There are plenty of mothers with young children who work particularly when their partner only works 24 hours a week.

mdkyoshi

bloolagoon wrote: »

Why can she not work? There are plenty of mothers with young children who work particularly when their partner only works 24 hours a week.

Shes pregnant

I should clarify, we have enough money put aside to stay afloat, and the new baby is planned and financially safe, its just a little overwhelming when your not familiar with the ins and outs of things...

bloolagoon

mdkyoshi wrote: »

Shes pregnant

I should clarify, we have enough money put aside to stay afloat, and the new baby is planned and financially safe, its just a little overwhelming when your not familiar with the ins and outs of things...

That float will pay for your over payments, so this can go unless substantial. you need a new or second job as quick as possible or your children will be raised on benefits and you don't sound like someone who wants that. Good luck but you do need to tell them re your hours from what has been said.

mdkyoshi

Ive told them my hours have changed, and im currently in the 4 week run on period...

They can't demand it all back at once if its not there, we're already paying off a housing benefit overpayment due to a clerical error of over £2000

(HB put my income as £4 per week instead of £144 for over a year, then funnily enough forgot to notify me until just after the period they allow backdating and appeals, gotta love those clerical errors)

UsetheFORCE

How to work out your usual weekly working hours

You'll need to put the number of hours you usually work in a week on you tax credits claim form. You only count hours for which you are paid - don't include unpaid lunch hours.
If you're an employee

Give the total number of hours you usually work and are paid for in a week for all jobs that you do. If you normally work overtime, include this.
If your hours vary from week to week, put down what you and your employer(s) think of as your normal number of paid hours.


http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/claiming/income-hours/work-out-hours.htm

UsetheFORCE

So it depends on what your employer considers your normal working hours are if your hours fluctuate, however looking at your average hours, I would worry that this would be considered a more permanent drop in hours.

I personally think you are going to have to ring HMRC and see what they say...