help with getting one extra hour at work

[beebers]

Hi all

I have recently been made a single mother by my partner have three young children.

for the first time in my life i have had to go down the benefits route.

I have been told I can claim tax credits, I am entitled to child tax credis but as I only work 15hours am not eligible for working tax credits.

my boss very kindly approached HR and asked them if I could do one extra hour as to enable me to get up to 16 hours to gt the tax credits but they have refused I have even offerd to come in for free and work as whateve I get will be mor than I will earn if you get my drift. They are still refusng. Do any of you have any ideas of how I can persuade them to help me. I am not asking them to change my contractI am jus asking them to say if tax credits phoned that yes I do work 16 hours.

sorry keys on keyboard not working properly. thank you

[hairytriangle]

I think you are being quite unreasonable - if the company doesn't need you for sixteen hours, and can't give you sixteen hours, they thats kind of tough!

[SweetnessAndShite]

Have you counted lunch breaks etc as I think they ma count towards your 16 hrs?

[violethill]

I agree with hairy - you're being quite unreasonable to expect them to 'find' an extra hour just to suit you.

And if money is really tight, then surely you're better off looking for a full time job rather than trying to manipulate the system by working 16 hours (which is hardly anything really, just two days a week!)

I'm sorry for what's happened in your personal life, but tbh, it's this sort of attitude - wanting to put in the minimum effort for maximum gain, which pisses a lot of people off. Maybe you were fortunate to be able to afford to work only 15 hours previously -but your circumstances have changed and you can't now.

[AxisofEvil]

You can't make them change your hours so if they won't then they won't. However in terms of building the best case then you may wish to look at what additional responsibilities etc you could take on by doing an extra hour that would add value rather than just be a cost drain.

If they won't then you'll need to look for another job I'm afraid.

One last point is that your OP implies that you're not fussed about the hour as long a they are WILLING TO SAY that you do it. I would be very unhappy if I felt an employee was asking me to lie to a government agency for them and I'd view them negatively as a result so be really careful how you handle that.

[ShinyAndNew]

I don't think she is being unreasonable. If she has to leave her job they will have to find someone to fill 15 hours, which will be a pain in the arse for them to do so. The reason companies employ people for 15 hours, no more no less is because they don't have to pay as mcuh tax on 'part time' workers. You are classed as full time once you do 16 hours.

This is the reason why many single parents find it difficult to find work. With the tax credits system the way it is the op would be better off working either 16 or 25 hours hours. It's very complicated and confusing, but that's the way I found it to work 17-24 hours per week leaves you no better off than working 16 hours and anything above 25 hours and you might as well not work, with the amount of benefits you lose.

[seeyoukay]

I'm usually the harsh one on here and I agree with the OP.

Most work places would make that change.

How about putting in a flex working request as you have kids and asking to do 2 x 8 hr days?

[beebers]

I don't have a lunch break as I work in the evenings.

I am sorry I got this response, my personal situation is very difficult. I have gone from having a fairly settled life to being forced out of my home with three children under 8. I am not a sponger and I certainly don't want to do the minimum to get the maximum. I am looking for another job in the day to enable me to support my family. If I work in the day I also have to fork out for childcare as I work in the evening, my expartner has the children. I am trying to do what I can in the meantime, to keep my head above water and keep my family from the breadline.

Thank you for your responses anyway.

[violethill]

I am sorry your personal situation is difficult.

However, childcare expenses should be split between the childrens' father and you - it isn't an expense which you have to shoulder alone. After all, if you were still together and you both worked during day time hours you'd have those same expenses. Also, if your earnings fall below a certain amount you can get up to 80% of your childcare paid for by the Govt, so it sounds as though it would be a better bet, and certainly better long term.

[insertexpletive]

I think you are in a very difficult situation; you have had some harsh responses on here.

I would advise going to see the Lone Parent Advisor in your Job Centre. They will be able to give you advice re part time work.

I may be wrong, but I think that voluntary work also counts towards Tax Credits (sorry if I have this wrong, the Advisor would be able to confirm)
Perhaps you could look at charity shops etc who would only ask you to do 4 hours a week, or during school time you could do something like a reading mentor?

Good luck.

[HappyMummyOfOne]

Voluntary work doesnt count towards tax credits, it only paid work that does.

If your children are school age then you could find something else part time in the day to make your hours up otherwise you may have to look at changing jobs to full time and using childcare like many others.

Its not your employers fault that they cant give you the extra hours you suddenly want in order to claim state benefits and asking them to lie was a horrible thing to do not to mention fraud.

[beebers]

I am not asking them to lie, I am asking to work an additional hour for free so when the tax credits call in they can confirm that yes I am working sixteen hours.

I don't actually enjoy being in this position at all, I have worked since I was sixteen this is the first time, I have ever had to claim for anything.

[insertexpletive]

Beebers My sister found a Lone Parent Advisor really helpful - she has always been determined to work despite being on her own for a number of years.

It seems like your manager would be supportive of you increasing your hours - perhaps he could have a discussion with his manager? I am not sure of the kind of industry that you work in, but HR do not usually call the shots when it comes to this kind of thing - if our boss wants to increase your hours, HR should be assisting in this, rather than a flat 'no'.
Does not make sense to me.

[SayItOnce]

I was in the same position last year. The job I applied for was advertised as being 10-20 hours, at the interview it transpired they needed someone for 15 hours, over three days.
I told them straight, I needed 16. My now boss liked me so much she gave me the extra hour!

I;m not sure how you can convince them, though. Have you told them straight you'll have to leave if they can't offer you the extra hour?>

[teaandcakeplease]

Hello Beebers, my lone parent adviser has been great. I agree with expletive.

Knowing you on our support thread like I do, I know you weren't asking them to lie and were asking them to let you work the extra hour for free. You did mention it in your original post.

I agree with a lot of the rest of expletives post too.

I'm now doing an open university course to re-qualify so I can work in a pre school so the hours will work around my children, now my H has left me. Perhaps a career change or just a different job will have to be the answer

I really hope you can bring them around to helping you though x

[teaandcakeplease]

As voluntary work doesn't count though, if your employer is being very above board they may consider it lying to say you work 16 paid hrs when you're only paid for 15 by the way and the final hour is voluntary. Who knows?

Let me know how you get on next week though x

[atworknotworking]

Can you suggest they lower your hourly rate to take into account the extra hour? so in effect they have you at work 16hrs for the same cost as 15.