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Original poster

I've increased my hours but dh loses JSA etc?!

41 replies

SolidGold · 02/01/2014 18:41

So p*ed off today.

I've been working 4 hours per week up to now, finally got my hours increased to 3.5 days. Dh has been out of work for 6 months and as we had no insurance (self employed) or savings he has been claiming JSA and council tax benefit and mortgage help.

He rang up to let them know my hours have iincreased and they told him he can no longer claim anything!

So we will be a few hundred pounds worse off because I'm working more!

He says he's looking for work as best he can. I really hope so. He has applied for a job that would be ideal, but we have yet to hear whether he'll get an interview. I daren't even hope, as so far he's only had two interviews and then didn't get the jobs.

I don't know how we'll manage if he is out of work longer HmmHmmHmm

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ChancetoDance · 02/01/2014 18:51

Won't you get WTC though to support your "return" to work?

CogitoErgoSometimes · 02/01/2014 19:00

Agree.. 3.5 days (28 hours?) makes you eligible as a couple for WTC. Run your new details through the benefits checker at www.turn2us.org.uk and see if things look a little brighter.

Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 19:09

It'll be 26.5 hours.

I will check WTC but surely that's just a few quid? We get £64 a week CTC which I hope we won't lose ??

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StormyBrid · 02/01/2014 19:15

You should still get ctc - DP works a forty hour week and we still get it, so on 26.5 hours you should be fine.

Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 19:24

Well, I checked through that link and it worked out £20 CTC and £35 council tax rebate per week. So no WTC and less CTC!! At least it seems council tax help stays. What a farce the benefits system is! Really encouraging people to work!!! Tbh I'm considering handing in my notice tomorrow as we can barely survive on the benefits we were receiving, really can't manage with less.

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Babyroobs · 02/01/2014 19:33

If he was on contributions based JSA, i think it is only claimable for 6 months anyway. If you work more than 24 hours you should be able to get wtc.

HappyMummyOfOne · 02/01/2014 19:39

It sounds like he was on contributions based JSA which would have run out afte six months and then omly revert to income based if no other household income.

If you hand your notice in, you will be subject to sanctions and face weeks without money.

Twenty six hours work amounts to more tham JSA so you will be better off. You should also get WTC on your salary depending on your earnings as you need to do 24 hours between you to qualify. You wont get any childcare help though whilst one is not working obviously.

Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 19:40

No he was on income based JSA.

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Earlybird · 02/01/2014 19:43

Not trying to wind you up, but in your shoes, i'd be directing some of my upset/outrage toward dh.

What, exactly, is he doing to find work?
Do you really think he is looking as hard as he should?

While his ideal job/work might not be readily available, isn't there something he could do to earn money in the meantime to take the pressure off you and the family finances?

Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 19:44

I don't need childcare whilst dh is at home!!

After tax I think I will only have about £850 PCM. If we don't get any help we will be worse off than on benefits, fact!

I know being on benefits is rubbish, but they should not be punishing me for working! Hmm

I don't know about WTC, the benefits calculator said we would only be able to claim £30 per week council tax help and £20 child tax credit.

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Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 19:47

Earlybird, believe me, I did! We're bit talking at present.

He works in IT, 3rd line support. Says all jobs are through agencies, says he has done everything he can to find work, I'm not sure he has, he's very lazy and I am furious because he also does nothing to help me when I am working.

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Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 19:49

And no, he says it would be a waste of time to take another job, as then we would not able to pay all the bills, but he wouldn't have time to search for a more suitable job.

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Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 19:50

Sorry, that should have read "we're NOT talking at present".

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ChancetoDance · 02/01/2014 19:56

If he's registered with on-line agencies it is doubly important to apply for lots of jobs even if they don't seem quite suitable. Loads of people register with agencies "out of interest" but who really have no intention of changing their job. Once you start applying the agencies know you are serious and start approaching you rather than just leaving you to trawl through on-line ads for jobs which are probably already filled.

Also head-hunters get to hear that you're in the market for a new job.

Earlybird · 02/01/2014 19:57

I give you a great deal of credit for finding a good job, and increasing your hours.

I'd be furious with a lazy dh who didn't help at home, or contribute to the family finances. Surely, if he really wanted to, he could find some sort of short term/temporary work (even part time and/or unskilled) in order to earn while he interviews and waits for the perfect working scenario to present itself. Did it occur to him that potential employers might be more impressed with someone who has done something productive to stay occupied/keep busy while they look for permanent work - rather than sitting around collecting JSA for months on end?

All of this conspires to put an impossible strain on you. I'm sorry you are in this situation - not helpful, but you have my sympathy.

TheNightIsDark · 02/01/2014 20:02

There's lots of third line jobs in our area. DP was getting pissed off as he's second line and couldn't get anything. Luckily he's found work now.

Hope things pick up soon.

HappyMummyOfOne · 02/01/2014 20:03

£850 is more than JSA though even after tax. Couples rate is about £112 and anything you earnt over £10 for your four hours would have been deducted from that.

Given he has been on JSA for over six months they will push him now into taking any job as well as provide placements etc for him. IT may be his preferred area but he can always move later. I presume the self employed work dried up?

Your mortgage assistance is capped to two years anyway so at least one of you has found work within that time frame rather than facing having to sell.

You may pick up more hours from your employer in the future or find a second job that fits around the first job. You'll have recent experience so more choice.

BobPatSamandIgglePiggle · 02/01/2014 20:04

He needs to sort his arse out. If there are night jobs in his field then he needs to look at next best fit. Nor helping at home even though he's not working? No chance! He's taking the piss.

Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 20:07

Yes happy, we had £92 per week but on to of that child tax credit, council tax help, mortgage interest help, free school meals and travel and free prescriptions. If I earn that amount and we get the £54 per week for CTC and council tax help it will work out about the same it seems. Except I'll have petrol and parking expenses Hmm

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Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 20:12

No more hours to be had from my employer, at least until someone leaves and I can't take on extra work, as part of my contract is to provide holiday and sickness cover when necessary. So basically to always be available.

We are in the north and to be fair when I have looked too there are very few 3rd line support jobs around most of the time. The agencies are handling all of them and dh says they don't contact him and when he rings he can't get to speak to them, they are always "on the phone"!

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Bloodyteenagers · 02/01/2014 20:16

He needs to sort his arse out.
He should be ashamed of himself not wanting to help his family.
Serious words would be had. He would be given an ultimatum. 4 weeks to find a job, or he can fuck off and free load off someone else. The crap about not having time to look for another job would not wash in this house.

Also don't rely on the online calculators. Inform the HB about the change in circumstances and make sure you get a receipt for this. They will reassess your claim. Contact tax credits people and put in for wtc because lasts years income and this years is I assume different.

Earlybird · 02/01/2014 20:17

Again, not trying to wind you up, but i find it hard to believe that two interviews in 6 months (with the possibility of a third) would qualify as 'doing everything he can to find work'.

Your immediate problem is that, due to your resourcefulness, you're now out the money to make ends meet. Your long term problem is that you've got a lazy dh.

Sorry if that sounds harsh. He needs to get out there looking with some purpose and urgency, rather than going through the motions. And please, whatever you do, don't quit your job. The last thing you need is to be stuck at home all day everyday looking at him lying in front of the telly.

MisForMumNotMaid · 02/01/2014 20:29

if you can bare to try another calculator try the HMRC tax credits calculator

Sometimes things get skewed by where we are in the financial year. If your hours are only just up you may fall within the thresholds to not need to notify tax credits of the change and maintain status quo till financial year end or alternatively because of where we are in the year you may find yourselves able to claim more.

I think it still works on last financial years total earnings so if this year is not that great next year your payments should be better.

POTC · 02/01/2014 20:33

I have finally found a job after 3 years. But I'm a lone parent with a long-term medical issue and restricted access to childcare.
I start on Monday and once cost of fuel is taken into account I would be financially better off not taking it but staying on jsa. Thing is, I want to work so am taking the job but I do agree it's a bloody ridiculous system

Original poster
SolidGold · 02/01/2014 21:08

POTC, I want to work too Smile. I've been trying to work from home whilst dd still needed a childminder, but was only earning up to £400 per month max. February 2013 whilst dh was still working I applied for a 4 hour Saturday job so that I would at least have done guaranteed income, with a view to increasing my hours in the future. Then dh's contact wasn't renewed at the end of June .. And here we are. I am enjoying working with other people after being at home alone all the time

I've totally outed myself if anyone I know in RL is on here Hmm

Anyway ... Dh has always been lazy, I didn't mind when he was working fulltime, but since being unemployed I have been getting more and more wound up. He has learnt to cook chilli, bolognese and curry and has done that if I was working a full day on holiday cover. If I ask he puts the washing machine on. But he doesn't think of hoovering, cleaning, dusting, walking the dog, cleaning the dog mess in the garden ... Is that normal?!

I don't rock the boat, I never know when I'm asking for something unreasonable, and he sulks if criticised so I just keep quiet most of the time. This is my second marriage and I cannot contemplate a divorce whilst my youngest dd is still at home, after watching my eldest 2 suffer through the divorce of my first marriage.

Please don't judge me, I know it sounds pathetic, but I've been suffering with depression and it's just easier if life rolls along smoothly. Wink

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