Can a lone parent on benefits do any work without reducing benefits?

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Some one we know recently turned down our offer of work (25-35 hrs per week) because she would have lost her benefits (we could only offer on a temp contract, so fair enough that she didn't want to jeopardise them for that).

Now we have a new position available, on less hours (11, but we could increase it to up to 17 if necessary), but I have no idea if this would impact her benefits or not.

Can anyone advise please?

16 hours is the golden number with 16 hours she can claim working taxx credit

Yes, but the highest amount of wage you can get while still keeping your benefits, is £20.00 a week.

To turn down a job because you'd lose your benefits is a poor excuse. It sounds more like this person just does not want a job.

If you work 16 hours, you get working tax credits and although you get less HB and CTB (and have to pay some rent and council tax yourself) because you receive WAGES and WTC - you end up ££ better off (usually)..

I'd advise her to go and see her lone parent advisor at the job centre and get them to do a "better off calculation" which will allow her to find out her income for all benefits, wages and tax credits when working under 16 hours, 16 hours, 30 hours and none.

When I was working part-time, I was £70 per week better off and full time, £100 a week better off than being on benefits. £280 and £400 are LOTS of money. It allows me to buy Bridgewater pottery, new dresses and DS gets to go to several classes each week.

Hi i know this is an old thread but maybe someone could help me? Im a loan parent with 2 dcs iv been offered 32hrs at £6.31. But when i work the figures out after paying rent an ctax there will be not much left for the month, so how do other people do it? Im not turning this job down, but i thought me an the kids would nice comfortable for Christmas but it doesnt seem that way now. Anyone else been in the same situation?

Have you put the figures into the government benefits calculator?

beauty -plug the numbers into entitledto . com - it's difficult to answer when noone knows your circumstances. For instance I would have been better off because I had a mortgage but your HB may mean you're not

Thanks, Iv tried some kind of calculator online and the figures it gave me couldnt be right. You cant get working tax credit if you do over 30 hrs can you? I could do overtime if it was available but its nights so il never see the kids :(. What calculator would you recommend? hmrc i think i used.

Thank you both il try that now, just cant beleive iv got a job but will be poorer!

Beauty the NMW has increased so you need to do any calcs using £6.50 per hour rather than £6.31.

Just thought I'd mention it

Tax credits are based on earnings not hours worked (once you reach 16/24 hours) so yes you can of course work more than 30 per week.

Unless you get quite high HB due to high rent then you are most likely to be better off taking the job.

The calculator says i can receive working tax cred :)your right thegirl. Iv got the job description here and it says £6.31 the cheeky tightfisted buggers. Helped me out there guys so thanks again x

Just realised at the top it works it out how much a week I'm better off by £1.90 , disheartening I'm shocked.

The wages info is wrong if it says £6.31, honestly.

They'd be breaking the law to pay you less than £6.50 but it only changed at the start of the month so maybe the ad is older.

It seems disheartening but look at it this way... wages will only go up, benefits are likely to come down. Even £1.90 is a step in the right direction iyswim. You cannot be promoted or get a payrise if you are not working to begin with