Housing allowance

debz69_2

Hello everyone, Im new to this site and would really be grateful for your advice.
I currently receive 96 pounds per week housing allowance and 71 pounds per week jobseekers allowance.
A friend has informed me that i may be able to work fifteen hours a week and still be entitled to my housing allowance.
does any one on this site know if this is correct.
Thanks for your help. Debz

BigAunty

There is no fixed period of employment where a person can necessarily retain their full HB as HB is based on income, not hours worked.

Generally, those working part time on a low wage who are single, without disabilities and dependents are rarely any or much better off than claiming JSA, so many don't bother as they don't want to work 15 hours per week and only get five or ten pounds more income than not working.

So, yes, in theory, you may retain your maximum HB if you work 15 hours per week but are you going to be any better off? To identify this, enter your likely employment income on the Turn2us online benefit calculator, and it will calculate your HB, council tax discount and so on, too.

But there is no magic x hours of work that means a person receives 100% of their income, it's a bit more complex than that.

Morlock

BigAunty wrote: »

Generally, those working part time on a low wage...are rarely any or much better off than claiming JSA, so many don't bother as they don't want to work 15 hours per week and only get five or ten pounds more income than not working.

I wonder how many of the 8.3 million part-time workers in the UK fit your definition. It seems your claim that 'many don't bother' really means that a 'very small minority' don't bother.

BigAunty

Morlock wrote: »

I wonder how many of the 8.3 million part-time workers in the UK fit your definition. It seems your claim that 'many don't bother' really means that a 'very small minority' don't bother.

As I identified in my original post, there is little advantage in someone on JSA who is SINGLE, without DISABILITIES and DEPENDENTS, working for a sum that's barely above JSA.

It is a well known grey area, and we see posts on this forum from people in the same position, who find that they reap virtually no extra than the sum of JSA when they take on low paid and part time positions. It is set up this way to discourage people in this social group from expecting state top-ups for working low areas.

If the OP gets a NMW 15 hour per week job grossing £92.85 per week, and then spends £10 or 20 on travel to get to work, and/ or loses five or ten pounds from council tax or housing benefit, then they are lucky if they net a pound more per week than not working.

If she's lucky enough to get a better hourly rate, has no fares to work and isn't hit with HB, the OP would still be lucky to clear £20 or £30 a week more than being on the dole, or what some JSA claimants would consider as 'working for a pound or two an hour...'

Morlock

BigAunty wrote: »

As I identified in my original post, there is little advantage in someone on JSA who is SINGLE, without DISABILITIES and DEPENDENTS, working for a sum that's barely above JSA.

I know you did, I was pointing out that without knowing how many of those 8.3 million part-time workers have dependants or disabilities, you cannot insinuate that most people in that position don't bother.

Viberduo

Morlock wrote: »

I know you did, I was pointing out that without knowing how many of those 8.3 million part-time workers have dependants or disabilities, you cannot insinuate that most people in that position don't bother.

When I worked 20 hours a week I was worse off than on benefits or doing 12 hours a week as my local council said I earned too much to get any LHA(as they worked out before tax and insurance) and if I worked 12-16 hours I would of got full LHA

Crazy enough I remember talking so some people saying I disliked how I was worse off and was told I would be greedy to go back on JSA and take peoples money so being worse off and earning own money was more honest!

BigAunty

Morlock wrote: »

I know you did, I was pointing out that without knowing how many of those 8.3 million part-time workers have dependants or disabilities, you cannot insinuate that most people in that position don't bother.

So where are your stats? Those on JSA working under 16 hours out of a pool that contains pensioners, lone parents, families, students, etc those with disabilities and so forth, the main social groups that work part time because they have other income that facilitates this.