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!!!!

I know that I am NOT* a maths genius!

OP keeping on top of all this is like an extra part time job itself!!!! I'm still very unimpressed at your employer...

@Ilovemyshoppingtrolley

Have they backdated the 25% discount and it's just your monthly payment going forward that has changed? (By the reduction for coming months and to compensate for last x months?)

But surely if they have done that it would be wrong? My DC that is at home with me who is just about to leave for Uni was an apprentice not a student!

So WTC have told me that I have to wait for an updated claim letter (the 1st one they sent is wrong due to the adviser not reducing my hours even though I had told him!!)

Whilst I am waiting for the new updated claim the payments will continue but I will have to pay them back and someone will be in touch with me to sort out a repayment plan! This really confuses me as a couple of years ago my wages office made a huge cock up on my wages and as a result of this the WTC stopped my payments immediately and refused to accept that it was an error and I had to wait 3 weeks before they started the payments up again. I had to wait until the end of the tax year to get the 3 weeks of money back. At least it has been noted that I have been in contact with them and I am not doing anything fraudulently.

With regards to the Council Tax, the man checked and said it is correct, still don't understand but expressed my concerns that I thought the reduction was too much and he said no, its correct. So I have checked and it's right so I am doing a little dance as £60 a month is a lot of money to me - bonus!

I get WTC for working 16 hours with no dependant children as I get the disability element. You should check if you can get it OP - if you have an active PIP claim you should be entitled (with some other requirements as well, see the link). It will probably take quite a while to assess your PIP claim, but if you do qualify then you should be able to get the disabled element backdated.

PIP also allows me to get a disability premium in my council tax reduction so I get most of my council tax paid. So make sure you notify the council if you get awarded PIP, as it should increase your council tax reduction.

Thanks Pearlo, I have an appointment booked with an agency that deals specifically with forms to fill in. But it's not till the middle of October. They are going to help me. Have spoken with my 2 Consultants and they have both agreed to support my claim. Not sure if they write a letter before or have to wait for it to be asked!? I do know that if I can manage to claim PIP then I will get WTC, fingers crossed but I am not holding my breath!

I have just had the council tax reduction for single occupancy and yesterday the lady from the council e mailed me as I have asked for help to pay council tax, she said that she has started work on it but needs my September pay slip - which I won't get until the 25th!

At least it is a work in progress!

Re the council tax, the extra reduction may be because they consider you to be on a low income - my mum paid a very low rate for a while when she was on pension credits (they said it was due to low income, not the fact that she was on benefits). She doesn't get them any more as she got an inheritance that took her over the savings threshold.

I hope this works out ok for you - it does seem really unfair that they've cut your hours and you're loosing the wtc, though I suppose there has to be a cut off somewhere...

Have you rung DWP to order the PIP form? Then if you get it payments will be backdated to the date you called them. I think there is a set date you will need to return the form which will be on the form or the letter. If you think you will miss the date ring them and explain you are waiting for an appointment to get help filling it in and they should extend the date for you.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/how-to-claim/

I'm ringing for the PIP form sometime next week. The agency that I am using advised me to ring the week beginning 16th September. Fingers crossed they seem on the ball.

Well, I certainly didn't expect an email from the council at 10:30pm last night but it's really good news so I will forgive them . They have decided to award me the low income discount as well as the single occupancy. I am now paying £100 less a month! . I am so surprised but so relieved at the same time. No idea that I could claim the low income discount and wondering if I could have claimed this before as have been on a low income on my own for over 5 years! Never mind, it's now I need it.

Oh my goodness! I hope I never have to speak to that person from DWP again. She is obviously bored silly and I appreciate she is reading from a script but.........
I was advised that the phone call would take approx 15 minutes - 30 minutes later I was still on the phone to her. I'm not sure she is in the correct job! It was almost a sing along in a flat tone. I did wonder at one point if she was on a commission to how many people she can get through in 1 hour! She obviously failed with me!