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Original poster

Tax credits. Working out the hours you work.

7 replies

ImSoUnoriginal · 28/12/2017 22:42

Can anyone help. I have to work a minimum of 16 hours a week to receive working tax credits. My set hours are less but I can always do extra to make it up. Does it have to be 16 per week or can I average it out over the month? So if I work 14 a week, could I work one more 8 hour day, or would I need to do an extra 2 hours each week?
It would obviously be far more convenient to be able to do the one extra day , rather than having to do several half days.
Any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
Hamiltoes · 28/12/2017 22:59

Yes I'm pretty sure it's an average of at least 16 hours a week, so you could probably do 14 one week and 18 the next.

Although if you could do an extra two hours one week and an extra day the next I'm not sure why you wouldn't just do that (so you're averaging say 20hr per week)? Your post sounds like your trying to work out the bare minimum you need to do....

Babyroobs · 28/12/2017 23:21

You can average it out but it must average 16+ hours for all the time otherwise they can make you pay it back.

Original poster
ImSoUnoriginal · 29/12/2017 08:08

Hamiltoes, yes I'm sure it does sound like that but I was trying to put the bare facts in rather than my complicated back history. The fact is that I have worked weekends for some time now. This was fine while I was with my ex partner and meant he could have our child then. We have since split up and I'm not sure when he will be able to have him as extra days(although he's been ok with covering extra days so far). He makes life more complicated by not wanting my mother to look after him or for me to put him in a nursery. I also study evenings because I'm trying to better myself. I've never claimed anything before, in 38 years, hence being a bit unsure of how it all works. I spoke to someone from tax credits several months ago and was under the impression I could just do one extra day a month but other people at work had questioned this, so I wanted to clarify it so I didn't have to pay anything back.
Thanks for taking the time to reply folks, I appreciate it.

OP posts:
abbsisspartacus · 29/12/2017 08:24

What childcare you use when he is unable to help is not up to him as long as its safe environment its up to you

Original poster
ImSoUnoriginal · 29/12/2017 12:41

Abbs, you are right, it is not up to him and I will get more sorted soon. I do want to be working more and will be towards the end of the year, I hope.
I just wanted advice about this problem to start with and I appreciate the advice. It helps. I can now sort out my work hours for the next few months. I do aim to get my son into a nursery after he turns 2, for at least a day, as I think it will be good for him. Then I hope to build experience in what I'm studying, with a view to employment in that line of work. I have a plan and I will get there. I just need a bit of help in the meantime. Thanks.

OP posts:
abbsisspartacus · 30/12/2017 09:16

If i were you i would sort out regular contact days with him and not discuss your work with him at all xx

Steakandchips3 · 01/01/2018 19:17

It's an average of 16 hours so you could do the extra day to achieve these hours

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