Advice about benefits

lonely182

Hello,

I would like an advice to the situation I find myself in at the moment. I was offered a job and I am really looking forward to it's start, but since it's an apprenticeship the pay is very low for the 1st year (just under £100/week) I'm looking to start a carrier this is why I am going for an apprenticeship.

My husband suffered a stroke few years ago and has finally been put on Support Group ESA. (income based).
We have a 21month old daughter and therefore claim child tax credits and benefit.

We want to put her into child care, because my hubby will struggle to take care of her full time all alone.

Since my job i about to start in a week I went to the CAB to make sure that we can get all help needed. But after a huge talk between them, they told me if I am to start this job my husband will loose his ESA, because I will be working 30h+ and we won't be entitled to child care help. They didn't mention working tax credits and housing benefit, but I assume because there is no problem with that.

But I find it hard to believe. I was told that apprenticeships are not counted as a "real" job and there are different laws there. Also I've read that ESA gets stopped for income over £24k. The job I am going for is about £5k and hubby's ESA around £8k.

Thank you in advance!

pmlindyloo

lonely182 wrote: »

Hello,

I would like an advice to the situation I find myself in at the moment. I was offered a job and I am really looking forward to it's start, but since it's an apprenticeship the pay is very low for the 1st year (just under £100/week) I'm looking to start a carrier this is why I am going for an apprenticeship.

My husband suffered a stroke few years ago and has finally been put on Support Group ESA. (income based).
We have a 21month old daughter and therefore claim child tax credits and benefit.

We want to put her into child care, because my hubby will struggle to take care of her full time all alone.

Since my job i about to start in a week I went to the CAB to make sure that we can get all help needed. But after a huge talk between them, they told me if I am to start this job my husband will loose his ESA, because I will be working 30h+ and we won't be entitled to child care help. They didn't mention working tax credits and housing benefit, but I assume because there is no problem with that.

But I find it hard to believe. I was told that apprenticeships are not counted as a "real" job and there are different laws there. Also I've read that ESA gets stopped for income over £24k. The job I am going for is about £5k and hubby's ESA around £8k.

Thank you in advance!

CAB are right in that you will be in remunerative work (24 hrs or more) and therefore your OH will not be eligible for income based ESA.

Is contribution based ESA included in his award? (look on the award letter - usually awarded when the claimant has been working before claiming)

The contribution based part of ESA would not be affected by your working.

You would be eligible for tax credits and I think you would be eligible for child care costs as your OH would be considered 'incapacitated' and therefore only you would need to work 16 + hrs to qualify.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419571/WTC52015.pdf

Hopefully someone else will confirm.

Is your OH receiving PIP or DLA?

If no one else confirms the above then ring tax credits and put in a claim and ask about child care costs. Be sure to notify them that you are doing an apprenticeship and ask them to put it on their system. otherwise the income will 'say' you are not working the required number of hrs.


You can also claim HB and CT support or inform of a change of circumstances if you are already receiving them.