Hanging by a thread.

Rubyroobs

Kazzg66 said:

From what I can see, I would be better off reducing my hours to 16 a week, I  find this difficult to understand, I would also be better off being unemployed..so much for government 'better off in work' narrative. 
Thank you for your replies. 

How would you be better off reducing your hours? You cannot make a new claim for working tax credits but would likely be better off claiming Uc for help with your rent and if claiming Uc you would need to be looking for work earning 35 x nmw unless you have any health conditions which mean you can't do this ? It's really not feasible to be working just 20 hours.

calcotti

Kazzg66 said:

From what I can see, I would be better off reducing my hours to 16 a week, I  find this difficult to understand, 

I can't understand that either. It suggests there is something incorrect in the calculations - either in what you have input or in your interpretation of the results.

Rubyroobs

On Universal credit you would have no non dependent deduction on your rent element until your kids reach 21 also. 

Kazzg66

There's no such thing as working tax credits now for new claims. I've done numerous calculators,  I would be worse off on UC. If I work more hours I would need to pay more rent and more council tax.

calcotti

Can't get my head around this.
For UC your entitlement would be £411.51 plus £550 housing element (unless the Local Housing Allowance for your post code is below this or you are renting socially and have spare bedrooms) giving maximum UC amount of £961.51. Earnings deduction on £743 is £468.09 making UC payable of £493.42/month which will reduce to £406.75 in October. Plus Council Tax Reduction.
At the moment you get £350 HB plus CTR.
There has to be a big difference in the way your council calculates CTR for UC claimants for you to be worse off on UC.

poppy12345

Kazzg66 said:

There's no such thing as working tax credits now for new claims. I've done numerous calculators,  I would be worse off on UC. If I work more hours I would need to pay more rent and more council tax.

If you claimed UC then your housing benefit would stop after 2 weeks and then your rent would be paid as part of your UC maximum entitlement. Are you 100% sure you're putting all the correct details into the calculator?

calcotti

Kazzg66 said: If I work more hours I would need to pay more rent and more council tax.

Yes you would but you would retain some of the earnings.

poppy12345

poppy12345 said:

When your daughter starts college is this non advanced education?

You haven't answered this question.

Rubyroobs

Is your rent Housing association or council or private rent. If you were to claim UC and your full rent was covered by the rent element ( it may not be if private rented ), you would get £406.75 Uc per month when the covid uplift ends.

calcotti

Rubyroobs said:

Is your rent Housing association or council or private rent. If you were to claim UC and your full rent was covered by the rent element ( it may not be if private rented ), you would get £406.75 Uc per month when the covid uplift ends.

Glad we got the same answer! The unknown bit is CTR because different councils have different rules.