Free School Meals + WTC + Free Prescriptions

Darksparkle

Sambella wrote: »

WTC is worth more than free school meals check the calculator below.

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Not necessarily. It would depend how much WTC he'd get and how much it would cost for school meals for four children.

Sambella

On an income of £13 - £14k he would get a fair whack with 4 kids.

Darksparkle

Sambella wrote: »

On an income of £13 - £14k he would get a fair whack with 4 kids.

He's asking about WTC though. He'll get CTC regardless.

WTC isn't based on the number children.

His WTC is likely to be quite low if working more hours last year and the first half of this year and no longer being entitled to the 30hr element.

Sambella

Maybe the calculator will make things clearer for him then he can decide.

Could be worth pointing out for calculation purposes that if the income is falling by over £2,500 from last year he should be able to be assessed on this years income not 2015-6

Darksparkle

Sambella wrote: »

Maybe the calculator will make things clearer for him then he can decide.

Could be worth pointing out for calculation purposes that if the income is falling by over £2,500 from last year he should be able to be assessed on this years income not 2015-6

This year's income plus the £2500 yes.

So for example last year was £20,000 and this year £13,960, tax credits will be based on £16460.

On that there would be no free prescriptions, no free school meals and no WTC.

atlantis187

School dinners are roughly £1.90 a day per child so this works out to about £9.50 a week per child then x4 = to about £38 a week.

On an income of £12850 would I get more WTC a week than £38?

Darksparkle

atlantis187 wrote: »

School dinners are roughly £1.90 a day per child so this works out to about £9.50 a week per child then x4 = to about £38 a week.

On an income of £12850 would I get more WTC a week than £38?

As I've said a couple of times now, we would need to know your income for last year.

Plus you said your earnings would be £12850 if working 23hrs so you wouldn't qualify for WTC.

atlantis187

The earning for last year would be around £19000 working 37hrs a week.

Shall I do 23 hrs and and claim free school dinners for 4 kids
Or
Shall I do 24 hrs and claim WTC instead

What will be the higher amount?

Darksparkle

atlantis187 wrote: »

The earning for last year would be around £19000 working 37hrs a week.

Shall I do 23 hrs and and claim free school dinners for 4 kids
Or
Shall I do 24 hrs and claim WTC instead

What will be the higher amount?

23hrs/£12850 - Tax credits will be based on £15350 due to £2500 disregard. Tax credit award will be £11665. Entitlement to free school meals but not an exemption certificate.

25hrs/£13960 - Tax credits will be based on £16460 due to £2500 disregard. Tax credit award will be £11518. No entitlement to exemption certificate or free school meals.

You'll need to compare overall. Obviously working less hrs in this case you get slightly more tax credits and free school meals but you also have a lower income. You mention all four having school meals but from your previous posts, they don't all seem old enough to be at school?

zagfles

So the difference working the extra 2 hours:
Pay: (13960-12850)*0.68 = +754.80 (after tax & NI)
TC loss: 11518-11665 = -147
FSM loss : -38*38 = -1444 (assuming all at school)

So clearly you're better off by over £800 on 23 hours. And obviously more time off! The other thing to bear in mind is that the school will be very happy if you do 23 hours as they'll get the pupil premium, and will continue to get it for 6 years after you stop being entitled to FSM.