Tax credits - is this true

[happychappy]

A friend mentioned this, if its true I need to pass it along to a few people. From April 2012 in order to qualified for working families tax credits you have to work 24 hours a week not 16? Anyone?????

I'm on the fence with that one. I live in a 2 bed semi with ds and it's titchy. I'd love a bigger place but I don't expect the tax payer to pay for it. Some people decide to have lots of children. Is it right that the tax payer pays to house them all? I do think that rents are far too high though, there needs to be a cap on what landlords charge rather then a cap on how much is paid.

Would the working hours conditions only apply to the working tax credit element of UB orwould it affect all of it?

So if you dont work you get nothing at all? But if you earn over £17,389 you will get benefits then? Is that what your saying. Sorry tried to google it, but even though i can half make out what it is Im still a bit confused. Can someone please explain it in simple terms.

DS has autism and currently gets DLA, DH gets CA while I go to work (well i was made redundant and have just finished a temp job so even though I dont ATM I am looking to get into work). Does this mean we will lose everything if I dont earn enough money?

Currently we dont get WTC, but i am planning to work full time if possible.

Im with you peace we need to be looking at the ridiculous rent rates, not the level of HB people are going to be getting. There is so much money to give out after all.

sorry, there is ONLY so much money to give out.

If someone doesn't work at all then they don't qualify for Working Tax Credit, never have done. However they qualify for other benefits relating to their status. The future plans around the Universal Credit are designed to simplify things into one payment rather the current inefficient mish-mash that is so open to exploitation.

A universal credit will also hopefully clarify for all who is eligible for what & when it kicks in. It's all so confusing, & even the various helplines advice can vary depending on the experience of the advisor!

I live in fear of HMRC turning round & asking for money back. Years ago my Dad got into terrible trouble with them despite keeping meticulous records due to a crap accountant. He had to find over £15k (which was a huge amount even then) in back taxes & THEN prove he was right, took him nearly 3 years & made him ill.

It may be off-topic but what you say has resonance. Whoever it was that decided HMRC... a hard-headed tax-collection agency in a decades old tradition of taking money off people and sending them to prison if they refused ... should suddenly go all warm and fuzzy handing money out to people, wanted their head examining.

so if the only job available at the time is a minimum wage full time job then it still isnt good enough? Because it wont be 17 grand a year.

What happens to free school meals/ Healthy start tokens etc.

I get dla for ds and I'm a single parent, what then?

And I should imagine it will be even harder to get nursery places/after school places as everyone will be forced to find childcare so they can go back to work.

I'm dreading this. I'm in so much debt and my full council rent is nearly 110 pounds per week and thats not including water and council tax. Im in wales too so not London rents

i do work but not many hours per week as ds stops me from doing this.

When dd3 reaches five will I still be forced to find work if ds is disabled??

Ok so if you are in an area that doesn't HAVE 24hrs work pw what do they expect you to do?

I struggle to get that now.

They expect you to find a second job to make up the hours.

While I totally agree with this in general (not for certain small groups that should be considered seperately), I'm wondering how it's all going to work if so people suddenly have to up their hours at work. I bet many people must be in that situation.

If you make over the 17k threshold do you still need to be both over the 24 h point?
We don't claim ATM but meet current criteria for TC.
I work 19 hours and dh works approx 30. Approx altogether 22k. We are also setting up a business. All jobs constantly at risk.
We have 3dc and youngest is 1.

MrsH but HOW can you make up the hours if the jobs aren't there?

I live in a rural community and I'm struggling to find the 16-30 hrs pw they require at the moment, usually I can maintain 20 on a good week 30 but jobs don't grow on trees round here.

Even the old chestnut "stacking shelves at Tescos" doesn't apply. Part-time jobs are being snapped up by FT-ers who can't get one post but juggle 3 PT posts, when a new supermarket opened round here recently there were 10,000 applicants for 1500 or so jobs.

Bossy, I know what your saying. That's why I said I wonder how it's gonna work if everyone who works 16 hours suddenly has to work 24. I also wonder how many people are actually aware of the imminent changes. Will everyone who qualifies for Tax Credits now get a letter to warn them or will money just be withdrawn from one day to the next?

I'm gonna be in trouble myself as I will be on maternity leave while the changes come into effect this April, so clearly can't up my hours. Nevermind the fact that my boss didn't take my pregnancy very well and will not give me more hours when I return in 2013 either. My Dh is doing a PhD, so while he does technically work full-time, he doesn't count. I'm trying not to panic.

At the same time, from an objective point of view, I see why these changes have to be made.

I am still confused tbh. I am single parent working irregular hours (at the moment doing self employed work of at least 42 hours a week but that will end soon). That is v good paying work. Then I will do various bits and pieces of 16 hours a week that don't earn so much. Will get mych busier again from end of April until July with 42 hour a week stuff from mid June for a month and with over 30 hour a week stuff in May for a while. Then quieter for a while etc.

Overall I earn more than about full time NMW but looks like UC is rather more than NMW. How many hours will I be meant to work - DC are 6 and 8? And is this from this April or next April? I should probably read the Frothers thread I suppose.

They are trying to put people into holes which are all the same size. It doesn't work.

My hole is definitely a different size from other people's :)

Was great fun filling out the HB form just after H left - most people have fewer jobs than I do and don't do both employed and two types of self employed work. But I got there (and find it moderately amusing when I go into the benefits office to present my latest pay slips that I am refered to as "that complicated one ).

I suppose the thing us that I like the way I work at the moment - seems like I may be encouraged to work in a different sort of way. Which is a shame as I am actually pretty good at what I do. It just isn't a 9 til 5 every week of the year job.

I'm a disabled single parent and I'm self employed. I work more then 30 hours but I earn far less then 17k as I'm not always paid for the work that I produce (the joys of writing). I'm a very square peg. I freelance as a note taker also. I can't work any more then I do, it would kill me.

Oh yes MrsH I agree from an objective view it has to be overhauled but it is worrying not knowing if you'll fit that required hole!

QED @ "the complicated one"

I mix employed/self -emp too, doesn't half upset the box-tickers & penpushers

Am I getting this wrong? When the universal credits are introduced we won't get any help with our income being roughly 15k? You have earn at least 17k to qualify?

Have been going around the Internet and still puzzled. Seems you'll get something if you don't work at all but will have to look for a job. And supposedly no one will be worse off under UC . found a marvellously patronising leaflet with hard words in maroon. Seems that ut starts from October 2013 with new claimants and will then take place from April 14 until some time in 2017 perhaps.

still haven't found anythung that says what the minimum amount I would be expected to work is so will stay baffled on that one. Definitely not allowed more than £16k savings though.

Suppose I should go to sleep really....

We have time to win the lottery.

Well that is the back up plan :)

I think you have to earn the £17k to avoid being chased about not working enough hours?

I'd by a house, save some and make a whacking donation to ds's school and to various charities.