Am I missing something? confused.

chella

I am single and work 30 hours, I claim tax credits but no housing benefit.

Work is wanting/needing to cut my hours to 24 per week, so I wouldn't be entitled to tax credits but would be entitled to help with rent I believe.

Is it better for me to try and get 6 hrs extra work to get to 30 hours to claim tax credits or does it make no difference as working 24 hours entitles me to help with rent .

what I am asking is if one cancels the other out.

I earn 7.30 per hour before stoppages.

(I have a chance to go self employed at 30 hours, which I am considering, but although I hate my current job, we get good holiday allowances/pension/sick pay)

Dunroamin

Why not carry on with the 24 hour job and do the self employment on top - that way you could be independent of benefits completely.

Caz3121

chella wrote: »

I am single and work 30 hours, I claim tax credits but no housing benefit.

Work is wanting/needing to cut my hours to 24 per week, so I wouldn't be entitled to tax credits but would be entitled to help with rent I believe.

Is it better for me to try and get 6 hrs extra work to get to 30 hours to claim tax credits or does it make no difference as working 24 hours entitles me to help with rent .

what I am asking is if one cancels the other out.

I earn 7.30 per hour before stoppages.

(I have a chance to go self employed at 30 hours, which I am considering, but although I hate my current job, we get good holiday allowances/pension/sick pay)

you would be better going through one of the benefits calculators with the different scenarios (like turn2us) as a single person under 35, if you are in private rented your rent calculation will be based on the shared accommodation rate (irrespective of what size property you live in) so you may get very little, or no, help with rent. It will depend on the LHA for your area

chella

Thanks, Isn't tax credit a benefit, I would still need to claim that, or do you mean housing benefit?

The change happens in a month so I have time to get my self employed hours up,. I am hoping to go SE full time so building up slowly whilst still employed but having hours cut may be a blessing in disguise.

Dunroamin

Alternatively, why not try to get your employed hours up rather than working part time?

chella

no chance of upping hours, there is no money in the budget. If I can find another job similar for full time I will leave.

tokenfield

chella wrote: »

no chance of upping hours, there is no money in the budget. If I can find another job similar for full time I will leave.

Pub work, restaurant work all in the evening should get you the extra 6 hours a week. Taxi driving maybe, or cold calling in the evening? What about ironing in the evening?

pmlindyloo

You could try putting the 2 different scenarios into the benefit calculator here:

http://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/entitlementcalculator.aspx?ref= which may give you some idea.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Work 30 hours and we disregard an additional £17.10 per week from your wages when calculating your Housing Benefit.