Better off not working...

Andy241

Hi All,

To cut straight to the chase my girlfriend who currently lives in a council owned property has recently found a job, however the rate is minimum wage and shifts are short and little of them - in the past month she has earned over £300.

This is her first proper job and she is expected to nearly spend her whole wage on just her rent... meaning she would be left with about £20 / £30 to her name to last her the next month..

She would be better off not working - surely there is something in place to avoid this?

Not to mention, she started her job towards the end of June and had missed out on the pay day meaning she had not a penny to last her up until today when she got paid - what does the Job Centre / Council expect someone to do for an entire month without money?

She has been trying hard to get off her bum and finally get the motivation to get a job, to support herself - but what's the point when she would be better off claiming benefits?

The obvious answer is get a better job, but that's easier said than done!

I look forward to hearing some input on this, because it isn't right..

tomtontom

Andy241 wrote: »

She has been trying hard to get off her bum and finally get the motivation to get a job, to support herself - but what's the point when she would be better off claiming benefits?

The obvious answer is get a better job, but that's easier said than done!

I look forward to hearing some input on this, because it isn't right..

You're right, that attitude certainly isn't right

Has she applied for housing benefit?

How old is she? Any children or disabilities?

pmlindyloo

Andy241 wrote: »

Hi All,

To cut straight to the chase my girlfriend who currently lives in a council owned property has recently found a job, however the rate is minimum wage and shifts are short and little of them - in the past month she has earned over £300.

This is her first proper job and she is expected to nearly spend her whole wage on just her rent... meaning she would be left with about £20 / £30 to her name to last her the next month..

She would be better off not working - surely there is something in place to avoid this?

Not to mention, she started her job towards the end of June and had missed out on the pay day meaning she had not a penny to last her up until today when she got paid - what does the Job Centre / Council expect someone to do for an entire month without money?

She has been trying hard to get off her bum and finally get the motivation to get a job, to support herself - but what's the point when she would be better off claiming benefits?

The obvious answer is get a better job, but that's easier said than done!

I look forward to hearing some input on this, because it isn't right..

She probably can still claim some benefits.

How many hours a week is she doing (does her contract stipulate how many hours or is it a zero hours contract?)

If she is doing under 16 hrs a week then she can claim JSA although her earnings would be deducted from her JSA except for a £5 a week disregard.

She may also be eligible for housing benefit and council tax support.

Put her details into the benefits calculator on https://www.entitledto.co.uk to find out.

Nada666

She should still receive close to one hundred percent housing and council tax benefits.

If you are only working (I know, not from choice,) a few hours a week I am not sure how much more you would expect?

There are obstacles to negotiate the first couple of months - but what matters is the net income month-on-month. If you are earning only £300 per month but still receiving several hundred pounds on top for accommodation then I am not sure what the issue is. If she has to be commuting costs then that is an issue.

Wait until she is asked to do full-time shifts and asked to cover for those with children and is working Saturdays and Sundays and is working full-time and then discovers her council and housing subsidies are zeroed and she is then not significantly better off - that is when she should be complaining.

Caz3121

same answers re housing benefit as this time last year https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5018381

tracey97

This is one of the problems of zero hour contracts. My last employer , a large pub chain used to advise staff at interview that it was zero hours but verbally state that they would get more than 30 hours a week. Based on that, a number of people left their current job only to discover that they got nothing like 30 hours and even if there was 30 hours on the rota for them they would often be sent home mid shift.
This makes it very difficult to claim things like housing benefit