Help.....Anyone.....Please?

littlewing_uk

Hi All
I need some help with working out benefits - i have tried the 2 recommended calculators online but ill explain below:

I currently earn £19500 gross per annum, 41 hours a week. My wife earns £8500 PA part time.
We receive £153 C Tax and standard Child Benefit.
We are private tenants.
We have 4 children aged 1 through to 10, no child care costs.

Ok, so shortly i am looking at changing jobs, going either part time (26 hours a week) min wage approx 10k PA or full time (37 hours a week) min wage 15k PA.
My wife will be reducing her hours to 4 a week, earning 2080 gross per annum.

I am trying to work out what benefits we will qualify for based on the above senarios, whether its worth full time work, or part time is better etc etc.
But i know that benefits are calculated on the previous years earnings.
However if that is the case then we will be in financial trouble as we are looking at about half the yearly income as compared to what we have now.

Can anyone shed any light on it? Should i use the calculators as if we are already on the lower wages and have been last year too?
Can you get benefits based on what will be happening rather than what was happening in the last tax year?

Tabbytabitha

Is there a reason that you're moving to a less well paid job?

littlewing_uk

Hi, yes. I currently work for a family member which although it has its benefits, also has its down sides! Plus although my hours are officially 41 i am actually working approx 55-65 a week. With 4 kids, id rather spend my time with them

pmlindyloo

littlewing_uk wrote: »

Hi All
I need some help with working out benefits - i have tried the 2 recommended calculators online but ill explain below:

I currently earn £19500 gross per annum, 41 hours a week. My wife earns £8500 PA part time.
We receive £153 C Tax and standard Child Benefit.
We are private tenants.
We have 4 children aged 1 through to 10, no child care costs.

Ok, so shortly i am looking at changing jobs, going either part time (26 hours a week) min wage approx 10k PA or full time (37 hours a week) min wage 15k PA.
My wife will be reducing her hours to 4 a week, earning 2080 gross per annum.

I am trying to work out what benefits we will qualify for based on the above senarios, whether its worth full time work, or part time is better etc etc.
But i know that benefits are calculated on the previous years earnings.
However if that is the case then we will be in financial trouble as we are looking at about half the yearly income as compared to what we have now.

Can anyone shed any light on it? Should i use the calculators as if we are already on the lower wages and have been last year too?
Can you get benefits based on what will be happening rather than what was happening in the last tax year?

You should be able to work this out using a benefits calculator>

Try this one:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

On the income for work page you need to complete the 'Is your income this year 201/2017 less than/more than' at the bottom of that page (do it on yours and your OH's page)

This will recalculate the tax credits award.

Hopefully Dark Sparkle/someone also knowledgeable will explain what you need to do about tax credits, notifying them about a change of circumstances and how they will adjust the tax credits when your earnings are different in the next tax year.

littlewing_uk

Thanks. Basically as long as i can be sure of a certain amount in benefits, then i know we will be ok.
We keep our outgoings low anyway, one loan and one car payment, other than that, we dont have credit.
Having been in senior management for so long, i am enthusiastic about a life change, but cant do it at the expense of the family of course.

Cheeky_Monkey

Why is your wife drastically reducing her working hours?

It does appear that, as a couple, you are deliberately reducing your working hours in order to claim more benefits.

pmlindyloo

littlewing_uk wrote: »

Thanks. Basically as long as i can be sure of a certain amount in benefits, then i know we will be ok.
We keep our outgoings low anyway, one loan and one car payment, other than that, we dont have credit.
Having been in senior management for so long, i am enthusiastic about a life change, but cant do it at the expense of the family of course.

Just a heads up.

Once you are transferred to Universal Credit you will be expected (as part of your claimant commitment) to do at least 35 hrs at NMW so your second scenario may be the most sensible option.

littlewing_uk

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

Why is your wife drastically reducing her working hours?

It does appear that, as a couple, you are deliberately reducing your working hours in order to claim more benefits.

Would you like to be working 20 hours a week as well as looking after 4 kids all under the age of 10. And running a house.
What it may look like to you is irrelevant. I have asked for an answer to a question, not for peoples opinion on what we may or may not be doing.
I personally dont see the point in working an extra 11 hours a month if it means actually being worse off! However if it means being better off, i will gladly work it.
As my posts above, i think after working 55+ hours a week for a very long time i am entitled to reducing my hours

littlewing_uk

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Just a heads up.

Once you are transferred to Universal Credit you will be expected (as part of your claimant commitment) to do at least 35 hrs at NMW so your second scenario may be the most sensible option.

Thank you for this post - this is the kind of information i was looking for. If thats the case then i will happily work that amount of hours.
Thank you for taking the time to post, i appreciate it

pmlindyloo

littlewing_uk wrote: »

I came here for help in calculating benefits, not to be judged. You know nothing of our situation other than the above, nor of any health issues etc. Unless you can answer my query, why dont you move on and take your pathetic little red face with you

You mention health issues.

I know you are angry with some of the replies (just ignore them) but if there are health issues in the family then there may be more help available.

littlewing_uk

pmlindyloo wrote: »

You mention health issues.

I know you are angry with some of the replies (just ignore them) but if there are health issues in the family then there may be more help available.

Thank you - one of us has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which has an affect on what you can do. However at this time it is not recognised by Doctors etc as something you can get benefits for etc.

Part time work and reducing hours would help until such a time as that changed. But, working less hours would be a good start and would have health benefits which might negate the need for any subsequent health claim