Single Parents, Childs age and WTC/UC.

WantToBeSE

Hi.

I am a single parent to 2 children.
Can someone please tell me, under WTC and also UC rules, how old my youngest child has to be before i must work full time in order to apply for WTC (and UC, when that comes in).

I think it's 12, but not sure.

Thanks.

iammumtoone

Do you have to work full time? Would it not just be the 24 hours week everyone now has to work to claim it (excluding single parents who can still work 16)

Sorry can't help on the age but its an interesting question, what are people suppose to do? you can't magic another 8 hours work out of no where and couldn't claim JSA as you work 16 hours!

princessdon

It's currently 16 hours for a lone parent.

Under UC you will be expected to earn NMW X 35 hours or approximate £216 pw at current rates. If under this value you will be expected to up your income to this once your youngest is 12 and will have conditionality to seek adotional income. Therefore someone working 24 hours on £10 ph is ok, those on NMW at 24 hours would have conditionality.

Couples have 35x2 NMW threshold if teenage children. Obviously it's more in depth than this and no one knows how it will work but that's the snap shot answer.

lukieboy96

Once youngest child turns 5.

princessdon

lukieboy96 wrote: »

Once youngest child turns 5.

Once they turn 5 then it's 16 hours for lone parents and 51 x NMW for couples before conditionality. So those who wish to have a stay at home parent with no need to job seek etc their partner would need to earn their NMW. My understanding - but their job seeking is within reason (ie they'd not be forced to take a job where childcare is impossible), but they'd have to seek reasonable work.

WantToBeSE

Thanks for the replies

Will my youngest child have to be 12 years old before i must work full time then?
I know it cant be 5, as my youngest is now 9 and i work PT and get WTC.

pmlindyloo

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks for the replies

Will my youngest child have to be 12 years old before i must work full time then?
I know it cant be 5, as my youngest is now 9 and i work PT and get WTC.

At the moment as a lone parent you only have to work a minimum of 16 hrs to receive working tax credits. There is no age criteria. It is 16 hours as long as you have responsibility for a child (ie receive child benefit for them.)

pmlindyloo

And this is what Gingerbread says about working hours for lone parents:

Work and universal credit

Will I need to look for work if I receive universal credit?
This will depend on your individual circumstances.

• If you have a child who is under the age of five, you won’t have to find a job, but you will have to prepare for work, which means having regular meetings at the jobcentre, and possibly doing some training
• If you are a carer, or you have an illness or disability that means you can’t work, then you don’t have to look for work
• If you have a child under the age of 13 you can limit your availability for work to their normal school hours. If your youngest child is 13 or older, then the number of hours you need to be available for work will depend on your individual circumstances, but should take into account your responsibilities as a carer
• Under universal credit if you are working for fewer hours than your circumstances allow, then you will be encouraged to try to increase your hours.

WantToBeSE

Thanks.
I didn't realise there was no age requirements at the moment.