Does working occasional extra hours cause a problem with working tax credit?

[Meglet]

Obviously if I could get through on the phone I'd ask them personally. But as their telephone system seems to have hit an all time low I thought I'd better pick everyone elses brains! I can't see the info on the HMRC website either >

I work p/t and there may have a few extra hours available which I might be able to fit in around the kids. Anything from 1-4hrs a week for a few months, whenever I can do it really.

I can't decide whether to ask for the hours in lieu, which would be great when the kids are sick, or take the extra few quid. Does working extra hours cause a headache when claiming tax credits? I would tell them how many extra hours I worked every single week, I always update my TC claim as it happens. I don't want to end up with my payments all over the place or having to pay money back next year.

TIA.

It depends on what the extra hours would do to your income really. If the increase is relatively small, you'd probably find that your award doesn't change that much at all. You could run your new income through the HMRC Tax Credit calculator [[http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/payments-entitlement/entitlement/question-how-much.htm here] and see what difference it makes. Again, if the increase is very small, declare your 2013/14 income in your 2014 claim rather than telling them all the ups and downs this year. Then they'll make one adjustment going forward.

Tax Credit Calculator link

Thank you. I'll have a look at that, yes it would be a small increase. I've never screwed up my tax credits and have a fear of them going tits up.

From what I remember the amounts you got were in brackets so say £50-£75 you got £xxxx help £76-£100 you got £xxx help and £101-£125 you got £xx. If that makes sense. So as longs as your extra hours didn't push you over the next bracket for hours or money earnt you were ok.
It probably has all changed as this was several years ago now.

As far as i remember and this was two years ago, it didn't make any difference to my award over the year, when you renew you just tell them how much you earnt the last year and they may adjust it a bit, if its just for a few months i would take the extra hours. You only have to tell them straight away if your income will change by more than £2500 in the year.