Husband and wife both working will we still get WTC if wife gives up

Charityworker

Hi there. My husband works a minimum of 29 hours a week and I currently work 16 hours a week and we have 1 daughter in work and 1 daughter in full time education.

My job is making me so depressed. I'm literally crying all the way to work and crying at my desk. If you look at some of my past threads you will see the problems I'm having at work and they've got worse since those threads! I'm covered in eczema due to stress.

My husband and everyone I know keep telling me to give up and expand on the self employed work I do. But my question is will we still get WTC? Or will we be sanctioned or something if I give up a regular job? Or will it go up a bit? I can't find a definate answer anywhere. Thanks.

Indie_Kid

You'd only get WTC if you work at least 24 hours between you, with at least one working 16 hours a week.

Exceptions for couples with at least one child

You can claim if you work less than 24 hours a week between you and one of the following applies:

• you work at least 16 hours a week and you’re disabled or aged 60 or above
• you work at least 16 hours a week and your partner is entitled to Carer’s Allowance or is in hospital or prison

Charityworker

So we would still get it as husband works 29 hours a week yes?

tallybee

Yes I think so as he is doing enough hours

BigAunty

Charityworker wrote: »

So we would still get it as husband works 29 hours a week yes?

Unlike Job Seekers Allowance where a person can be sanctioned for quitting their job without good reason, there is no equivalent punishment nor explanation required for tax credits when a person voluntary reduces their hours. If the revised hours and income qualifies you for tax credits, then you will get it. You don't have to justify the change to the HMRC.

Is some kind of sanction what you are worried about?

Charityworker

Thanks for your replies. Yes I didn't know if sanctions applied to all benefits. Now I know thanks.

BigAunty

Charityworker wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Yes I didn't know if sanctions applied to all benefits. Now I know thanks.

No, sanctions apply just to JSA.

Use the Turn2us online benefit calculator to model the scenario of you giving up work to see your revised benefit entitlements.

Remember that self-employed hours are also counted towards the tax credit hours threshold and the HMRC website gives pointers on what business activities are classed as working time. So when you are ready to move to self employment, look into how to set up your business and record your business time in case the HMRC investigate (they are on a mission to track down people pretending to be self employed and inflating the hours they spend on business activity. some people have basically set up pretend business and half ar*ed hobby businesses just to sidestep the conditionality associated with Job Seekers Allowance).