To think I can claim tax credits if I am a SAHM and DH is a supply teacher

[puddymuddles]

DH is registered with a supply teaching agency and they give him two or three days a week of work on average but some weeks he has no work. he is looking for a permanent job for September but in the meantime am I eligible to claim tax credits?

He definitely earns less than 27K a year and we have 2 DC. We are not claiming any benefit apart from child benefit and are living on small amount of savings and lucky to have paid off our mortgage so outgoings not huge.

Does he have at least 16 hours contracted each week?

The hours for a couple has been raised to 24 hours for working tax credits so if he averages 2 days a week he probably won't qualify but you should qualify for child tax credits

You can probably claim child tax credit, but not working tax credit - with the school holidays he is very, very unlikely to work 24 hours per week.

Just make sure you don't claim more than you're entitled to, it would be damning to have to pay it back...

Ring them and ask.

If one of you can get an evening job alongside the teaching (bar work or even supermarket work) you will probably reach the weekly required hours for working tax credits when coupled with the teaching hours and then you may be able to increase the evening work hours over the summer holidays to compensate.

Hi my hubby is a supply teacher and works three to four days per week we have added all his hours over the year and he works works on average 20 hours per week
We can claim as I also work part time

at the risk of being nosy, can i ask why either of you can't work longer hours? realise he may not be able to get longer supply hours, but could either of you work during the evenings or at the weekend even if its fairly basic work like shop or bar work?

Thanks everyone, I will ring them and ask - dreaming I am thinking of getting a part time teaching job, but realistically one won't turn up till September.

understood. good luck

It certainly was the case (although this was a year or more ago) that those who worked during term time etc would be considered to be working those hours year-round for the purposes of the calculations - I believe it even mentioned it on the form you complete, so it might be worth checking if that is still the case.

I found the guidelines very confusing, best way is probably to request the claim form. They have an online form to check if your eligible on their website.

If you are self employed the hours you spend negotiating/ pitching for work/ doing your books etc are also chargeable. So if your DH were also to take up some self employed tutoring etc you might qualify?