on my own on a low wage

jen666

I am 22, living alone and on a low income.
I will shortley be living with 2 housemates, paying rent and bills, I earn around 10k befor tax, a year. However some weeks i only work 20 hours a week, other weeks i work around 30.
I have looked on the government site and have took the questionnaire as to do i qualify for working tax credits, however because I am under 25 I cannot claim.
Is there any form of tax credits for people younger than 25, living alone, with no dependants on a low income?

thanks
jen

dmg24

No, there isn't.

Can you not work more hours, or get a second job?

tghe-retford

I'm in a similar situation, living on my own after being made homeless and on a low income.

Sadly, this Government doesn't make things easy for low paid singles. There is virtually no help for those on low wages and living alone except for the 25% single occupancy discount on Council Tax (unless you're on an extremely low wage and then you could claim benefits, but then you wouldn't be able to afford a roof over your head!). If you are going to be living with two housemates, you won't be able to claim that.

I went to the Citizens Advice Bureau about my situation (this was with the 10% tax abolition looming), and there was nothing they could do other than budget, which I already do.

Unfortunately, the only way to help yourself is to follow the advice on this site to reduce your outgoings, do more overtime, consider a second job or finding a better paid job. Such is the way of a young person earning a living alone, you're expected to fund your own way and take the burden for everyone else.

jen666

Unfortuntley I cannot get a full time contract with the company, and a second job isnt an option as I work shifts, so sometimes I start at 4am and sometimes I start later in the day. So I cannot determine what shifts i will be working. as I only get my shifts a few days before.
This just seems abit unfair that older people (eg. over 25) can get help while people under 25 cannot get any help, even though I have worked since I was 16 and always payed tax and N.I.
wouldnt it make sence that older people would be further in their career therefore most likley to be earning more already, while people like me are only just starting a career and start at the bottom of the chain?

jen

jen666

But thank you for the advice

dmg24

There are plenty of jobs with flexible hours - what about bar work? If you are not going to get any more hours at your current employer, surely you should be looking for a different job?

Good luck x

jen666

It seems that maybe if I went out, Got myself pregnant a few times, then I would get a house paid for, half my bills paid for and still get child benefit. If the government want to stop young single parents, the best thing to do would be to give young single people starting their career, a bit of help, rather than letting us that are working and paying tax, pay for those who delibratley get themselves pregnant just to get all these benefits.

jen666

Yeah I am looking for another job, However I love my job, And want to further my career within the aviation business. It just seems ludicris to me, thats all

jen666

so does that mean that once I am 25 i will be able to claim....I dont really want to claim from the state, however, with the cost of the economy rising, but wages staying the same, it is hard to live. ATM i do live with my partner and find it a struggle, But when im on my own it is going to be more of a struggle.

dmg24

jen666 wrote: »

so does that mean that once I am 25 i will be able to claim....I dont really want to claim from the state, however, with the cost of the economy rising, but wages staying the same, it is hard to live. ATM i do live with my partner and find it a struggle, But when im on my own it is going to be more of a struggle.

You will need to work more than thirty hours on average, so it sounds like you wouldn't even qualify then.

Surely you would be better to look to improve your income, than planning to claim benefits in three years time?

I'm going to ignore your comments about single mums. They're not welcome here.

jen666

I will probley be better off in 3 years time. and hopefully wont have to claim anything.
And I dont have anything against single mums. whatever your situation is a situation, i just ment that when I was at school, before our GCSE'S i know alot of girls who delibratley got pregnant, one was even bragging that the governmet were going to give her money even befor the child was born. I dont mind lone parents, my dad was a lone parent of 5 children. Its just the ones who have done it delibratley, like my old school friends.And i know that doesnt include every single parent, so I apologise for my comment. It was maybe a bit too harsh.