Benefit for short hours?

oldtractor

my husband is an agency worker driving HGVs. I am a homemaker. From April 6th 2015 until Dec 20th 2015 he worked 30 hours or more a week. Total income for the year expected to be around £17,500. The income varies because the hours and rate of pay varies per day depending on where and for whom he is working.
Since Dec 20th he has had intermittent work . Took 3 weeks off over xmas /new year as holidays thinking things would pick up in the new year.
Most weeks in 2016 have so far involved only 1 or 2 days work so not 30+ hours so presumably not entitled to WTC for this time.
What benefits if any is he entitled to claim?
Work is unlikely to pick up until the new tax year and who knows? maybe not even then.
Is he entitled to claim tax credits for the period April 6th 2015 til Dec 20th 2015 [ or whatever the date is after the holiday taken]?
Total income for the tax year now looking at being less than the hoped for £17,500.

Darksparkle

Tax credit claims can only be backdated for one month.

oldtractor

Thanks. WE do have an open tax credit claim , getting a couple of pound a week at the moment. My concern is if for 3 months or so of the year less than 30 hrs a week are worked how will it affect the claim? and are there any benefits that are entitled do for the days where there is only 1 or 2 days work.

Caz3121

WTC stop if the hours drop below 30 for 4 weeks

specialboy

Why is he struggling to work? There is a shortage of drivers in the industry at the moment and companies are crying out for drivers.

Darksparkle

Caz3121 wrote: »

WTC stop if the hours drop below 30 for 4 weeks

This. He will need to report his reduction in working hours/income.

If on a WTC only claim the claim will stop of his hours have reduced below 30 for 4 weeks or more.

If a WTC and CTC claim, the 30hr element will stop and WTC stops altogether if he doesn't work 24hrs per week. CTC can continue without working.

If you provide a new estimated income for this tax year they will recalculate be claim also.

oldtractor

specialboy wrote: »

Why is he struggling to work? There is a shortage of drivers in the industry at the moment and companies are crying out for drivers.

Yes we know, the agency will ring on a Sunday night and say theres work for 10 of days at ABC firm, does he want the work? Answer is YES. then they ring a couple of hours later and say ABC firm have cancelled. then theres nothing for Monday. they might then ring Mon night and say can he go to XYZ firm tomorrow? answer YES. so 1 days work. Then nothing the day after then maybe something the day after that then nothing for 4 or 5 days.
This is the first time this has happened for longer than a couple of weeks in all the years he has been doing agency work.

oldtractor

specialboy wrote: »

Why is he struggling to work? There is a shortage of drivers in the industry at the moment and companies are crying out for drivers.

Yes we know, the agency will ring on a Sunday night and say theres work for 10 of days at ABC firm, does he want the work? Answer is YES. then they ring a couple of hours later and say ABC firm have cancelled. then theres nothing for Monday. they might then ring Mon night and say can he go to XYZ firm tomorrow? answer YES. so 1 days work. Then nothing the day after then maybe something the day after that then nothing for 4 or 5 days.
This is the first time this has happened for longer than a couple of weeks in all the years he has been doing agency work.

specialboy

Change agencies or go to work direct for a company, there are long term jobs out there for drivers

teddysmum

specialboy wrote: »

Change agencies or go to work direct for a company, there are long term jobs out there for drivers

This appears to be true. The company where my husband works has lost two drivers in the last two weeks and leavers quickly find other jobs.