Lone parent 20k salary - benefit advice

[Justmemyselfandi999]

Morning all, I'm a lone parent to 2 children, currently work 18hrs per week and receive working and child tax credits, I'm considering applying for a full time post that pays 20k annually. I have no childcare costs, and don't qualify for housing benefit. Anyone in similar circumstances confirm what benefits they get please? Entitled to indicates £85 per week, but I've been caught before with what I actually receive varying greatly from what the calculator suggested. I don't want to take the job and be financially worse off than I am now.

Try putting the figures into the government tax credit calculator and see how they compare. Bearing in mind they work on the previous years salary.

My friend had two kids and she recently mentioned getting about £90 a month tc. But she earns about £27500, so the figures you got sound okay to me. I'm on the same as her and get £50 a month tc for one child. I actually didn't think I'd be entitled to anything this year.

I'm a lone parent, earn £20k - 2 kids and get £108/week CTC

I'm on Tax Credits rather than Universal Credit so that probably makes a difference.

HTH

Thank you half that's really helpful

If you are on uc then I am afraid you'll get nothing.

I earn less than 19k and only get about £60/month out of them.

I earn £26k, but I think around £2k is deducted for pension. I have two kids and childcare costs of £40 per week and get around £90 per week in tax credits, so your figures sound about right. The only thing I would check is that increasing your hours won’t be seen as a change in circumstances that forces you to move to UC. I don’t think it will, but best to be sure.

Silentlysinking are you sure that’s right? If you’ve got two kids and are earning £19k and no childcare you should be getting about £65 per week uc according to the calculator (unless you have other assets/income that affect it)

Thanks Polly, that's very helpful

Polly... Yup because I'm in my own home not rented/council I guess. But I am on less than 19k and I get between 40-60/month depending on when payday falls

Silently, I wonder if the number of hours you work is relevant and the ages of your children. Do you mind me asking both please? For example teenage children and working less than 16hrs might not meet criteria for certain entitlements?

Dd is 6 and I would 39 hours a week. I simply earn too much according to UC. And as I say my annual salary is less than 19k so a job earning 20k will get very little, if anything.

Also bare in mind that any maintenance you receive is classed as income and is also deducted from any UC. My ex and I do 50/50 do no maintenance although he does help with school and activity costs

@Silentlysinking101 maintenance is not taken into account when claiming benefits because it can stop at anytime and you have no control over having it.

I am fortunate to receive universal credits. The children's father has paid 2 months child support in 18 months. It had no affect on my claim. And will continue to do so when/ if he starts paying again.

Also I work 24 hours and earn just under £20k. Although I receive the disability element for my son and am considered a carer for his needs.

I receive universal credit and 85% of my child care costs are paid.

Every situation is different.

Yes, it seems a salary of 19k and one child would only entitle you to around £60 universal credit a month Silently. I guess my having an additional child is why the entitlement increases to £400 a month according to the calculator?

I would be careful relying on it, an extra £340 for 1 extra child doesn't sound right especially if you are earning more than me.

Do you get the housing and childcare elements? For some reason breakfast and after school clubs don't qualify me for the childcare element which is bloody annoying at £40/week

I'd only be earning an extra 1k, and no housing or childcare elements. It's very difficult to know what to do for the best. I want to be less reliant on benefits, but if increasing my hours and salary means overall I'll be financially worse off, I'll obviously not do it.
It's reassuring to hear Polly and Half are getting similar to what the calculator shows I should be entitled to.

They are both on the old tax credit scheme reading their posts, your would be on universal credit. The payments are massively less! Under the old scheme I would have got nearly £500 across child and working tax credits. Under uc I get £60. I did a couple of hours over time which boosted my monthly income by £100 and I got zero uc that month hence me saying you warning 1200/month more than me will probably see you not qualify for it.

Your best bet is to speak to a proper benefits advisor, cab often have them and get them to talk you through it.

That should be 1200/year

As far as I can work out, if still be entitled to stay on tax credits. I currently receive both working and child tax credits, from what I can establish, an increase of hours doesn't count as a trigger to change to universal credit, I think I can stay on tax credits or choose universal credit, whichever I prefer (obviously tax credits). Does anyone have experience or can confirm this?

It depends how the benefits advisor reads it to be fair. Technically it's a change in circumstances so it would be an automatic transfer over to UC on my area.