I know I should do a search, but has anyone got the low down on if its best to get a job or not !!pmsl, like the under 15 hrs thing, or over thing. Is there any point. Answers please muchly appreciated.

[PirateoftheScarybeing]

My ben is prob gonna change, so that will mean um, less money for us (me and dd5). Plus the csa will be getting involved no doubt and robbing me blind.

Seriously need to get things sorted, as money is getting really tight.

you're all at work aren't you

its over 16 hours...erm theres a calculator at entitledto.co.uk or .com you can fiddle with....work out how many hours you are better doing.
My mate ,on min wage, works 16 hours...she was gonna up her hours to 30...but would be £11 better off a week, for another 14 hours
So check carefully...

Agree- I would have ben better off in one job with another 15 minutes work making it up to 16 as I would have qualified for a lot more WTC help

you can always add 2 jobs together to total 16 hours, you would get WTC, CTC, maybe HB and CT, you could be eligible for the £40 in work bonus that is paid for 52 weeks plus a grant of £250 for work clothes/shoes.

so its 16 hours, thats the right numberto work , not any less?
i will be going to see a loneparent advisor but just wanted know some basics.

17hrs +

You will get working tax credits and child tax credits combined.

They don't count maintenance.

You can still be eligilbe for free prescriptions and dental care.

You might get a discount on council tax. Make sure you get the one adult discount anyway.

You might get housing benefit.

You might get free school dinners and uniform grant.

When you earn more you get a bit less tax credits but they don't deduct as much as you earn so it will always be worth more to you if you earn more.

Can be worth working over 30hrs as you will get a bonus.

You will get money towards childcare, if not all at least a big chunk.

16hrs and under...

You will get income support.

They count maintenance as part of your income. They will insist it goes through CSA and any money you get is basicly taken off your income support

You will get rebate on council tax and housing benefit.

You will get free prescriptions and dental.

You will get free school meals and uniform grant normally depending on local authority.

For both you will still get child benefit and this doesn't get counted.

Child care has to be registered to get money to pay for this, so granny doesn't count.

The deciding factor for me was the maintenance as we have come to a private agreement and don't have to declare this amount to get the tax credits.

I work irregular hours but for tax credits they take an average for the previous year if you have been already working, they give you a threashold you can earn up to before it will ghange the amount you get which I think is £2500 more than the previous year.

That is just a rough guide I havn't started working for the Citizens Advice yet .

I'm buying DS one of
these

and these

for christmas

oops wrong thread

ignore me everyone