Hours have reduced at work - entitled to any help?

[Ilovemyshoppingtrolley]

Brief history.

Almost divorced, was working 31 hrs a week, just been reduced to 27.5 (not my choice but 27.5 hrs is what I am actually contracted to do), no child dependants now. I receive WTC until the end of this month but due to going below the 30 hr threshold this will stop.

Long term health not great (thats why hrs have been reduced) but not disabled - all documented and above board. (honestly it's not because I can't be bothered).
I have a mortgage (thankfully not massive but at least 16 years left - cheaper than renting).

I am on minimum wage, have worked there a very long time 20 plus years and worried about change of career due to health etc.... Plus I actually do still enjoy my job.

Should I ring council tax to go to single occupancy (DC going to university so won't be at home during term time) or will they be still registered at my address? I really don't want to do anything fraudulently!!!!
Does anyone know if I can get any other help?

I know my food bills and gas and electricity will go done thankfully!!!!

If your son is at uni full time, you should be eligible for the single person discount

Even if they are home for holidays? Yes it is a full time course.

Anyone else?

Have you been on the 'entitledto' website? You put your details in and it tells you what you could be entitled to. I have found it pretty accurate in the past and it takes a few mins.

Students don't pay council tax so yes you'll be classified as single occupancy.

I'm confused though OP - you said that it wasn't your choice to reduce hours but that it was due to your health. Did your employer force you to do fewer hours because of your health?

@MrsL2016 I shall investigate that site - thanks

@DerelictWreck I am only contracted to do 27.5 a week, the rest was made up on a yearly contract (was told at the beginning 2 years ago exactly that and my extra hours could be taken away at the end of each year!) I had hoped that they would keep me on those hours but I do understand why they have been taken off me.

Yes you get the single person discount if nonone else in the house is working ie students.

Looks like I will be entitled to the single discount for Council tax then which will certainly help with things! I will get on to them tomorrow.

I need to get all my paperwork together for the entitle website - job for me to do tonight!

I believe you can claim PIP & work

Will you receive some money from the divorce ?

I have an appointment with the OH next week so will ask them if they can advise anything.

I won't be getting any money from the divorce as such but will be getting a chunk of his pension when he retires.

Well, I am so confused - Rang WTC told them of the reduction of hours and was advised that not only would my entitlement continue but would increase!! So this morning I checked my online banking and low and behold it has doubled! I need to wait a few more days before I get the paperwork.
The thing that worries me is that when I do my calculations on their online calculator it tells me I am not entitled to anything. But the man I spoke to said that as I am on my own I just need to make sure I am working 16 hours - I so hope he is right!!!!

I have had to take my DC off the electoral role on my house and will then be entitled to the 25%single persons council tax discount, I am also in the midst of applying for help with low income to see if I can get any help there too.

I have an appointment booked with an agency to help me fill out PIP booklet but that is not until next month. I'm not sure I will qualify but I do have health to my problems and both of the consultants I see have said they will back my claim.

OH assessment went completely in my favour, I am covered by the disability act 2010 and not to worry about my job as long as I don't take the piss I am safe. I will also add the notes from this meeting PIP paperwork.

Things are now starting to look up a little - if the WTC is correct (I will be checking in a couple of weeks) and the 25% discount of council tax things are looking better for me. Still a bit of a struggle but nowhere near as I feared and with good budgeting I will be okay!

Fingers crossed

Thanks so much for everyone's input - i do appreciate it.

Is it just you (as your child is no longer a dependant living at home), you don't have any other children? In that case you won't be entitled to working tax credits. It's right that if you are single with children you can work 16 hours and receive them (and get more) but if you are a single person alone you cannot receive working tax credits unless you work 30 hours or more. So the calculator I believe is right based on you working 27.5 hours, I'm afraid the advisor was wrong as a child dependant for tax credit purposes is somebody aged 20 and under in full time education (university doesn't count as it is advanced further education). There is further information here: www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit-when-child-reaches-16

Really! I will ring them again tomorrow - I even said to him was he sure and he said yes as you are working 16 hours!

Thankfully I won't have to pay masses back but it really doesn't fill you with confidence if they can't get it right. Odd though because I haven't been claiming Child tax credits for a year and it's only been WTC.

Thank you

You were working 30 hours last year though, so you would have still been entitled then even without a child dependant (calculated based on income which obviously you know). I believe the cut off was 18k but it could have changed since I saw that figure (I'm on universal credit now). In that case, last years should be fine. To be working between 16 and 30 hours and receive it you must be single AND have child dependants. Any single person claiming only for themselves and working 16 hours can't get it.

Someone mat come and tell you this is all wrong but I've just read back through all the government pages on WTC and it seems to still be correct.

TBH that is what I originally thought that I would not be entitled to anything so was really surprised when he said I was. Oh well I had a couple of days of less stress, back to the drawing board!

Sorry :( I'd ring and speak to someone else just to confirm it, you're unlikely to get the same person, simply explain you're a single person working 27.5 hours, I wouldn't mention your dc at all as that seems to be why they got confused.

I don't think I mentioned my children, will be ringing then shortly.

So after spending most of the morning either on the telephone or attempting web chat finally got through and spoke with someone who knew what they were doing.
She apologised for the wrong information that was given to me last week (reason given was that it may have been one of their new advisors). He had updated my drop in money but not my hours hence why I got the extra money.

Have been advised to put the money that was payed to me to the side just in case they ask for it back! Thankfully were are talking about £20 and not £200! Cross but relieved its sorted but now worrying all over again and that £80 a month would have made a massive difference.

Thanks for answering yesterday MummytoCSJH I really am grateful.

Sorry to hope that, I'd hoped I'd misunderstood something for your sake! I hope you're okay!

Sorry to hear 🤦‍♀️

I'm just glad I found out now rather than in 6 months. I do think it's an unfair system. I didn't ask for my hours to be cut and health not to be great. Ho hum!

As it's such a small number of hours you are under, can you try and find a second job to make them up? Obviously assuming your health allows. It's 30 mins per day- so it could be something like dropping a child to school each morning, or a reception shift on a quiet evening once per week.
And do your work realise how impactful those 2.5 hours are to you, as they bring you under the threshold? It's pretty crummy to employ you for just under the time you need like that!!!

Dusty - work do realise, I went in and explained. But the boss is very particular and have pulled people up on over claiming overtime even by 5 minutes.

I do understand absences can cause problems but when I am genuinely poorly (I have medical evidence to back it up) and have been there for many a year it's hard not to take it personally. I guess at the end of the day they are not a charity!!

Even more confused!

Received another payment from WTC! So I will be back on the phone today - dread to think how much the phone bill will be!

Received an email from council tax people and they have almost halved my bill! Now worried that this is wrong too so will have to call them to check.

Nothing is ever simple. I can't see where Council tax people have come to this figure. I applied for 2 things - 25% discount and low income. There is no mention of low income discount. I know that I am a maths genius but even I know that 25% does not equate to the figure they have give me! No wonder people refuse to ask for help.