help with working less than 16 hours

saraann21

i have been offered a job that will eventually be 16 hours a week,which is what i want but at the moment they can only give me 8 to 10 hours per week.don't know what to do as i want to take the job,but don't want to end up worse off.do i take the job and tell tax credits its 16 hours,which it will be soon or do i just not bother?does anyone know what happens if you haven't earnt enough when you hand in your figures to tax credits at the time of renewal?i would love to work and the company is on the up but i am worried that i will have to wait for the 16 hours,but i don't want to stay on income support.help!any advice appreciated,thanks

HappyMJ

Even at 16 hours a week you won't be much better off anyway. If you want it take it but whatever you earn will be taken from your benefits almost pound for pound. After travel and child care costs are taken into account you will most probably be worse off but you will have job experience for the future for when you take a full time job you can refer your potential employers to this job rather than nothing at all.

dundeediva

Whatever you do don't tell ctc that you're working 16 hrs yet. Wait until you are then tell them. If you do, no matter how innocent it may seem, it's fraud. Maybe (i'm not sure so don't quote me on this) you can still get income support while your hours are less than 16? Worth checking with IS

saraann21

i checked with income support and you can earn £20 a week but they take wahtever you earn after that.they told me at jobcentre its not worth working less than 16 hours because of that.i think i should be better off as i won't need childcare,won't have travel costs either.as i will eventually get the 16hrs i don't want to loose out on the job.really want to take it just not sure when the 16 hours will appear!thanks for your replies,much appreciated.if i take a job that i'm told is 16 hours but they don't give me the 16,would that be fraud?i'm not sure!

HappyMJ

saraann21 wrote: »

i checked with income support and you can earn £20 a week but they take wahtever you earn after that.they told me at jobcentre its not worth working less than 16 hours because of that.i think i should be better off as i won't need childcare,won't have travel costs either.as i will eventually get the 16hrs i don't want to loose out on the job.really want to take it just not sure when the 16 hours will appear!thanks for your replies,much appreciated.if i take a job that i'm told is 16 hours but they don't give me the 16,would that be fraud?i'm not sure!

If they employ you on a 16 hours a week contract then they must give you 16 hours a week or pay you for them. However, most employers of low hours employees would probably consider a zero hours contract where you are employed as and when required where you can refuse to work in any week in which your scheduled hours are under 16....as there is no point as you are no better off.

dundeediva

saraann21 wrote: »

i checked with income support and you can earn £20 a week but they take wahtever you earn after that.they told me at jobcentre its not worth working less than 16 hours because of that.i think i should be better off as i won't need childcare,won't have travel costs either.as i will eventually get the 16hrs i don't want to loose out on the job.really want to take it just not sure when the 16 hours will appear!thanks for your replies,much appreciated.if i take a job that i'm told is 16 hours but they don't give me the 16,would that be fraud?i'm not sure!

It's only fraud if you tell ctc what your hours are 16 pw when you arent actually working 16. It doesnt matter how many you are contracted (eg. someone could be contracted 10 but works 25 pw with regular overtime, its 25 that they count). Just tell them what hrs you are doing when you do them and you'll be fine.

By the way well done on the job, hope you enjoy it

rosie-lee

I took an 11 hr/wk job just over 2 years ago. I have now built that upto permanent 18hrs. It may be difficult financially short term but stick with it OP, it WILL be worth it in the long run.

Congratulations on the job, I hope you enjoy it. As others have said, just tell them what you have actually worked, then hopefully your tax credits will be about right.

saraann21

i applied becuase it was 16hrs.only after crb check came through did they say it won't be 16 hours yet!i wouldn't have applied if it was less than 16,thanks tho,i know exactly what you mean

Misstress

If i were you I would work out the money side of things and see if you could manage on the money you'd get if working those 8/10 hours.

You don't give much background but if you are a single parent on jobseekers or income support you will get to keep the first £20 of your wage and then £1 for £1 will be taken.

I started a job on an as and when needed basis a few months ago and it was difficult with benefits but I had hardly anything on my CV and had not worked for a number of years due to being a single parent, I decided to go for and take the job because it would be something to put on my CV and would be experience back in the world of work and an much needed reference. Luckily for me they saw that i was a hard worker and a quick learner so after 2 weeks offered me 20 hours a week so I could move from jobseekers to WTC.

Definately the best decision I made.

Good luck


Edit, could you find another job for 6 hours a week somewhere else to make the hours up?

cheepskate_2

I cant believe the reply's some people on here are giving...... Have you lost all self respect......Its a good thing these new benefit changes are coming in, hopefully make it not worthwhile to sit on benefits.

elsien

There does seem to be an influx of people on this board since the Christmas break diving into threads and either benefits bashing or talking complete gibberish.
Got to be getting past your bedtimes folks.