I got a job! But what now?....

emsywoo123

Hello

I have just got a part time job, as DD is at school full time now, so hurrah:j
However, I want to make sure that I do everything properly with regards to my benefits. I am on full single parent benefits at the mo. So I assume the following:

HB/CT = call council
IS = call IS helpline
Tax credits = (call tax credit line)
Child Manintenace = call CSA
Child benefit = do nothing?

and does anyone know any further about this £40 a week I have heard of for IS recipients going back to work?

Many thanks for any help.:T

wobblebottom

Instead of telephoning the IS helpline- just make an appointment to see the New Deal for Lone Parents advisor-at your local job centre plus

They will run through everything with you, explain about the In work credit payments and do you a "better off" calculation- need to have been on IS for 26 weeks or more, without a break to ensure you get a 4 week run on payment of Housing Benefit-.and save your payslips to send in after 8 weeks to DWP as proof of earnings.

Dont forget you will lose Free Dinners Entitlement

Get all the relevant forms done as quickly as you can, make sure you have bank statements or declaration of earnings for your employer to fill in, and everything you need for housing benefit as if like ours they are notorious for asking for them if you dont take them...and can prolong your claim adjustment more.

And you will need your PAYE number from your employers to inform tax credits of change in circumstances.and if

Good luck with the new Job, enjoy your new found freedom.

all the best

emsywoo123

wobblebottom wrote: »

Instead of telephoning the IS helpline- just make an appointment to see the New Deal for Lone Parents advisor-at your local job centre plusCan I do this next week, I do not start til a week on Monday. can this be done before I start?

They will run through everything with you, explain about the In work credit payments and do you a "better off" calculation- need to have been on IS for 26 weeks or moreit will be 25.5 weeks as I had a break, is this going to cause a problem?, without a break to ensure you get a 4 week run on payment of Housing Benefit-.and save your payslips to send in after 8 weeks to DWP as proof of earnings.

Dont forget you will lose Free Dinners Entitlement we didn't use this anyway

Get all the relevant forms done as quickly as you can, make sure you have bank statements or declaration of earnings for your employer to fill in, and everything you need for housing benefit as if like ours they are notorious for asking for them if you dont take them...and can prolong your claim adjustment more.

And you will need your PAYE number from your employers to inform tax credits of change in circumstances.can I just call my new employers and ask for this?
Good luck with the new Job, enjoy your new found freedom.

all the best

thank you!

emsywoo123

Just checked...my start date is 25 weeks and 6 days from my IS start date..........

wobblebottom

Hi Emsy- Just get your appointment sorted ASAP, and all forms sorted in readiness, and a call to your employers wont hurt, If you can put your start date back that one day it would be better because knowing the DWP they prob wont allow the claim for In work credit, and you will lose out on an awful lot of money.. but best to clarify with New deal advisor.

HTH

rachnbri

Emmsy - congratulations on the job.

You really need to make an appt to see your lone parent adviser - they can do a lot of this for you and take some of the stress away from you!

To receive the jobgrant of £250 and the 4 week run on of HB and CTC you have to have been receiving IS for 26 weeks continuously. Is there any way you can delay your start date a little or maybe ask about doing a work trial?

To receive the in work credit (the extra £40 a week) you have to have been receiving IS for 52 weeks.

rachnbri

Also ask your adviser about the child maintenance bonus - you might be entitled to that.

Also if you need anything to start work - work clothes, bus pass etc the adviser may be able to get these for you.

Elle00

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Just checked...my start date is 25 weeks and 6 days from my IS start date..........

Congrats Emsy!

I've had this before with the 26wks thing and there is a loophole. You won't be receiving any pay until after the 26wks is up so you should be okay.

I didn't get the 2wk run on of IS when this happened to me (I'd returned at 25wks, got paid three weeks later) but I did get the £250 back to work bonus and the HB run on. I was told it was a loophole by IS directly though the Job Centre did scream "benefit fraud!!" at me initially.

The £40 a week thing is a rough guide to how much better off you'll be out at work part time compared to if you were on IS receiving full benefits. I note someone here says it's only for those who've claimed for 52wks but I've never claimed for that long and I was nearly £40 a week better off when I worked part-time previously. I was better off working part-time than full-time in fact!

Do you receive child maintenance at all? Because that will be a major boost to your income as HB disregard the first £15 a week or so. I believe they now also disregard child benefit which would leave you with that little bit extra in the pot each week.

If you want a back to work calculation then by all means ring the JCP but I don't recommend them! Others do, it's a matter of opinion.

You don't NEED your PAYE to phone TCs with but it would help. You can get it from your new employer's payroll department. Otherwise, try calling TCs and seeing if they can find your employer on the system. You can't call them until you've actually been to work for the first day by the way (don't know if you know that?). It's one of their rules - you can't say you've started a new job until you've physically started it.

Regarding your list, I think you've got it sorted:

HB/CT = call council (ask for a change of circumstances form)
IS = call IS helpline (yep, they'll give you instructions)
Tax credits = (call tax credit line) (yep, be ready with your salary and hours details as well as the PAYE number if you're able to get it - call the day you start)
Child Manintenace = call CSA (you can do though IS should tell them for you)
Child benefit = do nothing? (yep, CB is the same for everyone)

Best of luck and well done too!!

rachnbri

Elle83 wrote: »

The £40 a week thing is a rough guide to how much better off you'll be out at work part time compared to if you were on IS receiving full benefits. I note someone here says it's only for those who've claimed for 52wks but I've never claimed for that long and I was nearly £40 a week better off when I worked part-time previously. I was better off working part-time than full-time in fact!

The £40 a week thing is called "in work credit". It is a payment of £40 per week for the first year back at work on top of any WTC etc. It's fairly new in some parts of the country and has been running as a pilot for the last couple of years in other parts. In order to be eligible you have to have been in receipt of IS for 52 weeks+ before you start work.

rachnbri

Elle83 wrote: »

I've had this before with the 26wks thing and there is a loophole. You won't be receiving any pay until after the 26wks is up so you should be okay.

I didn't get the 2wk run on of IS when this happened to me (I'd returned at 25wks, got paid three weeks later) but I did get the £250 back to work bonus and the HB run on. I was told it was a loophole by IS directly though the Job Centre did scream "benefit fraud!!" at me initially.

Whoever told you this really shouldn't have as they were wrong. Your IS should stop the day before you start work - regardless of when your first payday is. Eligibility for the jobgrant and HB run on is dependant on having been in receipt of IS for 26 weeks.

emsywoo123

Not sure what would be best to do now....risk annoying new employers by asking for a 2 days delay, or be more certain of getting the run on........