change of rules for working family tax credit - min 24 hours a week to claim

[Ponders]

\link{http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/feb/11/families-lose-tax-credits-labour\apparently this hasn't been well publicised?}

"Currently people on a low income can get working tax credits if they have at least one child and they are working at least 16 hours a week. But from April the rules for couples will change, and one partner will have to work 24 hours a week, or both partners will have to work a total of 24 hours between them, for them to continue to qualify.

"There are 212,000 families where parents work between 16 and 24 hours a week. They earn less than around £17,000 a year. According to Labour, if they do not increase their hours, they will lose £3,870 a year in tax credits. "

this has been discussed her ad infinitum

it doesn't apply to lone parents or carers before mass panic starts again

but well worth mentioning op, many here still might not know of this

I thought it probably had been mentioned here before, ssd but didn't know where was best place to look

it's such a significant change though & it's certainly the first time I've heard about it - unlike the Child Benefit thing. Do you know if people currently in receipt will be notified about it by letter?

god knows, we get tc's and have heard of nothing

have read on here there are to be a few changes brought in in april this year, but no letters so far

will you be affected by it? if your hours are already enough maybe they wouldn't communicate?

anybody who will lose must be given enough notice to try to up their hours before the change kicks in

I love the way it is presumed that we can all magic 10hrs a week more out of nowhere?

Particularly in rural areas where jobs are scarce full stop let alone PT jobs.

Can someone just confirm for me that because I am single and work 16 hours a week am I going to loose money?

I will phone HMRC on Monday but am panicing!!

Can someone just confirm for me that because I am single and work 16 hours a week am I going to loose money?

No you aren't, not because of this change anyway which only applies to couples.

sorry, I hadn't noticed the distinction when I first read it or I'd have put "couples" in the subject line

Thanks! Panic over. Dp has just left so I am counting every penny in and out. This would have meant big problems for me!

pon, I work 20 hrs but don't think I'm affected as dh is 38 hrs, think its if no one in a couple works over 24 hrs then its an issue?

I got a letter this morning saying as we earn over £26K we aren't eligible any more - but that's not cos of this rule

I knew it was coming but it was still a shock

is the limit for tc £26k then, what do you get over this then?

KM, can I ASK HOW MUCH TC'S YOU GOT BEFORE? SORRY CAPS LOCK

£42ish a month I think

We got a letter about that too this morning. It is £26K limit for 1 child and £32.2K for 2 or more.

I work 21 hours,not much chance of my hours being upped, but, I do get overtime in school holidays, im going to say I work 24 and hope it evens out at the end of the year.

thanks KM

26k limit for one child is way too low