Would i lose out if i go back to work?

wazza

Hi, i have three young kids and am a lone parent. The youngest attend school in the afternoon. Hopefully by end of year he will be attending full time.

What i want to know what type of hourly rate should i be looking for in a part time job so that i dont lose out. Hoping to get a job 9 till 3

At present i am getting income support, 3 x child benefit, family tax credit, school meals x 2, clothing allowance, council tax - around £900 and mortgage around £300 per month. Dont think i have left anything out.

I know there is a formula to work it out. Could anyone direct me to it.

Thanks

Fran

Hi,

It is impossible to say exactly what to look for unfortunately. The best thing to do is look for a job that is over 16 hours per week which would then entitle you to Working Tax Credit, then take your info once you know how much income you will have coming in to a Citizens Advice Bureau or similar and they can do a "Better off calculation" to compare your present situation with the old. You might still be entitled to some Council Tax Benefit but you would lose free school meals and help towards mortgage. Once you know potential income you can check to see how much tax credits you'd get.

Kimberley

I hope you don't mind me asking you but how did you get Family tax credits as well as Income support? I ask this because i also have 3 kids and i'm on income support, but i don't get family tax credits..Should i appy then?

Fran

If s/he is on Income Support, they will be getting Child Tax Credits for the children (the old child element of Income Support). They won't be getting Working Tax Credits as you need to work over 16 hours to get it (if you have children).

wazza

sorry kim03 family tax credit should have read child tax credit. I take it they are the same. If you are on income support and the child benefit is in your name then you are eligible for the maximum amount of child tax credit. I am no expert so can someone verify this

Fran

wazza wrote:

If you are on income support and the child benefit is in your name then you are eligible for the maximum amount of child tax credit. I am no expert so can someone verify this

You get an allowance for each child and yes it would be the maximum if you're on Income Support.

Kimberley

Blimey I never knew that, so i've been missing out all this time

wazza

kim03 - i think it is backdated 3 months. Go for it

Kimberley

I've just completed the online form and sent it off...:)

Curry_Queen

kim03 wrote:

Blimey I never knew that, so i've been missing out all this time

Are you getting paid the child element in your IS? If so you won't qualify for CTC at the moment, but they are supposed to be changing it some time this year so you get the CTC in place of the child element of IS.

HTH

fatbelly

wazza wrote:

At present i am getting income support, 3 x child benefit, family tax credit, school meals x 2, clothing allowance, council tax - around £900 and mortgage around £300 per month. Dont think i have left anything out.

It's an interesting question because, if your mortgage costs of £300 p.m. are being fully met by income support then with a minimum wage job at 16 hours per week you would lose more than you gain in the transition from income support (which pays mortgage costs - eventually) to WTC. At £8-£10 per hour, however, you make a net gain.

Previous advice is good - see what jobs you can get offered and how many hours, and get the CAB to do a calculation. There is a website that may help you to do the calculation yourself: https://www.entitledto.co.uk but I didn't find it particularly easy to use when I tried