Need advice regarding IS vs Work...

[LastOrders]

.... But would like to first point out I'm not a bum!!

I normally work 16-20hrs a week but my hours have been cut to 6/8 hours a week, which will be 2 evenings. This will mean I lose some of my tax credits and I'm worried about making ends meet.

Childcare is tough due lack of family to help/have DS in evening and DS is pretty unsettled at the moment due to me not being around much for last few weeks.

I don't know anything about income support for lone parents, but I'm wondering whether it'll be better to stop working for now and claim IS or to work 2 evenings a week and pay for a babysitter/hunt for someone to have DS.

Is anyone else in this situation?

I'm not to sure what to do for the best at the moment, but am actively hunting another job that'll fit in (not easy in this climate!!)

What is IS? Whats the crack and how much is it?

TIA

[GypsyMoth]

Income support is £60.50
Go to lone parent advisor,ask them, they can do a calculation for you.

[LastOrders]

A week?

[PurpleOne]

Yes, that's a week.

TBH from my experience, I applied for a cleaning job in a fish n chip shop. 9 hours a week. The LPA told me not to bother as IS would stop and my HB/CT would decrease.

You would also lose your working tax credits I'm afraid, as they kick in at 16hrs a week. I get by on IS, Child tax credits, Child benefit and a paltry amount of maintenance.

Go and make appt with your Lone parent advisor at the Jobcentre and see what you both can come up with.

Good Luck

[Tinkerbel6]

Lastorders it depends on how much you will earn, if it is less than the IS amount then you will get an IS top up, or you can go on IS and able to keep £20 of earnings, earn any more than that and it will reduce your IS.

[LastOrders]

I'd earn about £45 a week once my hours drop.

If I keep working for 2 evenings a week I'll also have to get someone to look after DS for that time.

I know I'll lose my working tax credit, but II'm guessing HB will go up? Will Child Tax Credit stay the same? And will they take away some of my child maintenance? I get £50 a week from exp.

I'm hopefully heading back to college in Sept, but would love to get some voluntary work in between now and then (its required for the course I'm looking to do)

Thanks for replying. I'm going to make an appointment with LPA for next week. I know they like people to be actively seeking work if claiming IS, but do they send you off to interviews all the time for jobs you'd rather not do?

My head hurts from all this bloody work/IS/worry of money crap!!

[Claire2009]

LastOrders, I don't claim (other than CB) but have friends that do.
For one child your looking at around £130p/w in total & you won't pay rent, CT or HB (I think)
If your exp is paying 50p/w I again think they give you 5p/w out of that on top of your benefits.

They are all thinks but I'd advise going to speak with either a Lone Parent Advisor or someone at Working Links if you have that nearby.

Best of Luck!

[LastOrders]

Wll google Working Links, thanks Claire2009

Gotta weigh up the pros and cons and draw out a couple of lists regarding what money I'll get for each scenario!!

I hate the thought of not working, brain rot kicks in!

[PurpleOne]

You'll only get to keep £20 of what exh pays you, if you claim IS. My ex only pays £16 so don't lose anything.
Not sure about the HB Claire, as I claim IS and STILL have to pay £15 a week in rent top up. I did appeal, but no go.
You'll only be allowed to keep £20 of your earnings too. The IS will keep the rest or deduct it out of your IS.

With IS, in my own experience, I've never been forced to attend any interview..but the rules changed last year and when my DD2 reaches 12, I'll have to go onto Jobseekers and actively 'sign on'.

TBH, you may be better off as you are.
Glad you made that appt. Write down all your expenses, income on paper, show to the LPA and have a play with the figures.

[Yurtgirl]

add on to what purple one says - this year if your youngest child is 12 you switch from IS to JSA

Next year as things are it will be when youngest child is 7

There are rumours of changing that to 3 or 1 in the future..........

You do get child tax credits on top though which are about £80 a week

[callmeovercautious]

Try this online calculator

You can put in various figures and it will give you totals to compare.

HTH

[LastOrders]

I think I'm confusing myself here...

Do you have to be working in order to get IS? Purple says you keep £20 of earnings, but I wouldn't have earnings if I gave up work (the problem being all evening shifts and lack of childcare)

Thanks again for all your replies. I think my main issue is that I took a credit card to buy a laptop as I'm back to studies is Sept and will need a pc. This was when I had lots of hours and a decent wage! Hoping I can pay it back

It never rains...

[LastOrders]

Cheers callme!

[Yurtgirl]

lastorders - re the £20, thats £20 from X from his earnings that gets added to your IS (Does that make sense???)

ie IS is £60ish a week. You are allowed to earn/acquire through some other means (ie child maintanence from X) £20 on top per week

Bear in mind you do get child tax credits as well through - I struggled by for 8 months before I knew that!!!!

HTH

[onadietcokebreak]

I.S £60.50 at the mo

Will take in to account £25 earnings (£20 is disregarded) and £30 pw maintenance (again same disregard)

You will get roughly £5.50 per week and prob most of your housing benefit.

Make a claim tomorrow. Don't wait as claims are only backdated in exceptional circumstances. Make it clear you are claiming on the basis of reduced working hours. There is a bit of guidance that means your earnings are not taken into account until you receive your first reduced wage....make sure this is done, if not remind them!

[callmeovercautious]

How did you get on with the calculator?

[kylesmyloveheart]

purple - i think the reason you pay £15 rent is because you sent £20 maintenance otherwise you wouldn't pay any rent. crazy isnt it.

[onadietcokebreak]

If you receive I.S then you are entitled to the full amount allowable on housing benefit.

Howevers Purples rent may be more than the allowable amount. Eg allowable rent £100 pw actual rent £115. Therefore the amount payable by HB is only £100 so you need to find the extra £15.

Maintenance is fully disregarded on HB claims from 27th Oct 08.