Working less than 16 hours a week-confused about Benefits.

WantToBeSE

I am going for a job interview tomorrow, for a job that is NMW and only 12 hours a week.
I am on JSA at the moment, and i am wondering how this will be effected?
Obviously, i would earn £74.28 a week, which is more than i get with JSA, but i have heard that there is a '£5 disregard' for single parents (i am a SP).
What i am imagining is that i would still get HB and CTB (as i will be on a low income), would that be correct do you think?
Also, my concern is that as i am not working more than 16 hours, and therefore not able to claim WTC, i also wouldnt be able to get any help with childcare...is that right?

Also, some weeks (but not regularly), i would be given extra hours, taking me over 16 hours.
What does this mean in regards to benefits?

I am desperately trying to get another job to get it to at least 16 hours, but at the moment this isnt happening. I am sure it will, but maybe not straight away.

Does anyone have experience of not working enough to get WTC, as a single parent?

dundeediva

You're right about the wtc, you need to be doing 16 hours pw on average to get WTC. This is the same for help with childcare. Doing a few extra hours some weeks wont be enough unless it averages at min 16pw.

i dont know about the JSA, hopefully someone else can fill you in

WantToBeSE

Thanks Dundeediva, i expected someone to say that.
It's such a pain, as it means i would be working (admittedly only 12 hours), but worse off, as i'd have to pay the childcare.
The only way out is getting another job of at least 4 hours.

Do you know what it means when they say it has to average out at 16 hours a week-how do they average it out?

HappyMJ

You get a £20 disregard as a single parent.

Don't worry too much about the working tax credits.

If you did actually get working tax credits then for every pound you get in tax credits your housing benefit and council tax benefit would be reduced by 85 pence in the pound. So you would only be 15 pence better off. It doesn't make a huge difference. Not claiming working tax credits entitles you to free school meals and several other benefits so it can be more advantageous not claiming them.

WantToBeSE

Thanks for replying MJ.
It's a £20 disregard if you are a lone parent on Income Support, not JSA, i phoned the jobcentre and asked them this afternoon.

unfortunately, its the childcare side of TCs that i would need.
I am determined to make this work somehow, i NEED to make it work somehow...i guess i need that extra job and make it up to at least 16 hours, and then take the extra hours as and wheni get them.