Help with zero hours contract

tibawo

I'm hoping someone on here might be able to help me as I am not up to date with all the benefits etc.

I have a zero hours contract and was regularly getting work until early July. I earned enough to pay bills rent etc. Other than CTC and WTC I was not getting any other benefits. I now have no work and have been told this will likely be the case until end sept. I received my final pay last week.

I had only been doing the job for two months so had no chance to build up savings etc to support me through this period and feed children.

On the calculator it says I can claim but how does this work as I do technically have a job? When I google it takes me to examples of people without a job and being given zero hours contract which is not the same as my situation.

pmlindyloo

Zero hours contracts are a pain in the ***!

You can put in a claim for JSA. To be entitled you have to be working less than 16 hours a week. As soon as you work over this your claim will be closed but when you drop down your hours again you can do a rapid reclaim.

Income based JSA will give you automatic entitlement to HB and CT reduction.

Your problem will be that when your hours increase you will have to notify HB and CT about your change in circumstances.

To be honest, being on a zero hours contract is a nightmare when having to claim benefits.

Personally I would looking for a a job with contracted hours if possible.

Don't forget to notify tax credits of your change of circumstances if you are no longer eligible because your hours have changed.

pmlindyloo

Am going to revise this by saying get in contact with tax credits first. if they say that you can continue to claim working tax credits as they are willing to average your hours out over a certain period, then you will not be able to claim JSA.

This is because working tax credits would be saying that you are 'working' 16+ hrs a week and to claim JSA you must not be working 16 hrs a week.

Hope that makes sense!

Probably what you receive in working tax credits will be as much as what you would receive in JSA?

If they agree to continue paying working tax credits then you can still apply for HB and CT reduction.

So, call tax credits first.

Link about working tax credits and zero hours contracts.

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/be_aware/be_aware_in-work_benefits/zero-hours_contract.aspx

tibawo

Thanks for the info.... I was actually hoping to have saved enough to avoid making claims due to stories I read!

I have realised this is impossible at mo but was unsure if I could go and sign on

I am looking for permanent work but little about so this seemed the best way to gain experience etc.

pmlindyloo

tibawo wrote: »

Thanks for the info.... I was actually hoping to have saved enough to avoid making claims due to stories I read!

I have realised this is impossible at mo but was unsure if I could go and sign on

I am looking for permanent work but little about so this seemed the best way to gain experience etc.

Added another post while you were posting

tibawo

I don't get that much in WTC.

Just felt I'd landed on my feet with this job and if been with them longer would have been no issue!

nannytone_2

'they' say that employees love xero hour contracts, because it offers flexibility.
but the one thing it doesnt offer is financial stability.
also offers NO security.
the only people that really benefit from zero hour contracys atr the employers!
ok ... rant over
o'm not affected but i really sympathise with people that are being caused a ridiculous amount of stress and hoop jumping because of the rise of these contracts

pmlindyloo

tibawo wrote: »

I don't get that much in WTC.

Just felt I'd landed on my feet with this job and if been with them longer would have been no issue!

How much do you get in working tax credits?