Need advice about Tax Credits. Please help!

brummiepaul

I have previously claimed Working Tax Credit when I worked full time (37.5 hours per week). At the time my wife was not earning. My employment ended after two months, and I informed the Tax Credit office etc.
My wife and I have both just started part time jobs, after being on Income Based JSA.
Basically I have seen many different conflicting things on the web, and been told by relatives, regarding whether or not I could make a new Tax Credit claim now that we are employed. I have been told we can, but the HMRC online calculators etc say no. Can anyone help?

Married couple. No children or dependants. No disabilities. I work 18 hours a week, my wife 20 hours. Earn roughly £1200 month between us.

Thanks in advance.

Caz3121

One of you needs to be working 30 hours per week to qualify for WTC
If you don't have any children, you can only get Working Tax Credit. There are entitlement tables where you can get examples of how much Working Tax Credit you might be able to get if you're:

• single or in a couple and one of you works 30 hours or more a week

brummiepaul

Caz3121 wrote: »

One of you needs to be working 30 hours per week to qualify for WTC
If you don't have any children, you can only get Working Tax Credit. There are entitlement tables where you can get examples of how much Working Tax Credit you might be able to get if you're:

• single or in a couple and one of you works 30 hours or more a week

Thanks. I also thought that was the case. A relative swore blind that she gets it and does not work 30 hours a week. I think she needs to make sure she is definitely telling the Tax Credit people the facts.

I also have to mention that someone at the jobcentre also told me that if me and my wife worked at least 24 hours between us then we would qualify. Not very good advice!

Caz3121

the 24 hour rule would only apply if you had children

lorelai34

Are you or wife aged 60 or over? The criteria for a 60 year old is that they only need to work at least 16 hrs per week to be eligible for wtc.

Icequeen99

brummiepaul wrote: »

Thanks. I also thought that was the case. A relative swore blind that she gets it and does not work 30 hours a week. I think she needs to make sure she is definitely telling the Tax Credit people the facts.

I also have to mention that someone at the jobcentre also told me that if me and my wife worked at least 24 hours between us then we would qualify. Not very good advice!

You can get it at 16 hours if you meet the criteria for the disability element.

IQ

brummiepaul

Neither my wife or I are anywhere near 60 (although some weeks it feels like we are!).

We also wouldn't qualify for any kind of disability aspect. Unfortunately it looks like we aren't entitled to any WTC. Thanks for the replies.