Benefit advice please?

teabag29

My husband and I are currently on a joint claim for income support, me becasue im a carer for my disabled daughter (who I also home educate) and other children and him because he's off sick due to a work injury. We currently get housing and council tax benefit, income support and the children get free school meals.

My husband is itching to get back to work and is due to go for an interview tomorrow for a part time job, he has a good chance of getting it. The problem is its only 20 hours per week so where does that leave us regarding benefits as he doesnt meet the criteria for working tax as he's not working 24 hours and 20 hours will be too much to claim income support so does that mean we will have to pay full rent/c.tax and childrens school meals which will make us worse off?

The job will pay £.6.25 an hour so after tax he will get approx just under £100 but without working tax credits will we still be entitled to free prescrions/school meals etc, if not it seems we are better off how we are . Anyone know how it works when you dont work enough hours to get working tax credits? (the employers have made clear that its a 20 hr a week job and they cannot up it to 24 hrs)

xylophone

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/tcmanual/tcm0114120.htm
Does this help at all?

pmlindyloo

Are you receiving Carer's Allowance and/or your daughter receiving DLA (middle rate or high rate of care)?

If you are then as the link above explains your OH will only have to do 16 hours a week to qualify for working tax credits.

Even if you are not entitled to working tax credits then you may still be eligible for Housing Benefit and Council Tax reductions as this is based on low income as well as being automatically given when on Income Support etc.

If your circumstances change then don't forget to advise the relevant benefit departments. (HB, CT and Tax credits)

If you come off Income Support then your HB and CT reduction will stop so you must inform them of your change in circumstances asap.

Best of luck with the job.

PS If you are not eligible for working tax credits but just child tax credits then you are still eligible for free school meals if your income is less than £16190 per year.

teabag29

Yes I get carers allowance. Thankyou thats great, what a relief But even better just got a call from WH Smith about a part time job I applied for and got an interview tomorrow, only 4 hours a week but gets me out of the house. Things are looking up