My head is spinning!! [hmm]

[EmmaJW1976]

Hi everyone
Where do I start....
I have two DS, one is 8 and one is 3, and also a DSS.
I have done the same job for the last 15 years and is quite well paid although I have reduced my hours a lot since I had my kids. When my ex-husb moved out I struggled and juggled everything to keep my house and mortgage (looking back I don't know how I did it!!). When I met my wonderful DH 5 years ago he moved in with me, we got married and had a child. He also has a DSS who spends lots of time with us and who he pays a good amount of CSA for - no prob with that though.
Now..my DS starts pre-school Sept. I cannot juggle my job around the hours so I have been forced to quit. I am actually quite excited about this, I have really enjoyed the summer hols with them and have had my DSS over to stay loads to save him going to holiday schemes (which he hates).
The tax credits are confusing me now. I rang them to say I had left work. First they said they had overpaid me so I had to pay back and then they said I'm actually entitled to more now so they'll go up - erm...okay, presume they know what they're on about!!
My eldest DS gets middle rate DLA. Now I have been told that because I, myself, earn less than £87 a week I can also get Carer's allowance for him. Is this right does anyone know? Don't they take DH salary into account? I will apply for it anyway.
But..now I have been offered a very small job from home (maybe £300-£400 a month) but looking at the tax credits calculator, I will loose £100 from them and also will lose the Carer's Allowance, so it's not worth me doing the job!! Anyone else found this??
Also...as this new job I have been offered will be self-employed but I won't be earning enough to pay tax on, do I still have to registrar as self-employed? and how on earth do I do that? I reckon I will only earn about £3600 a year (at the VERY most) and my tax code is 525L or something like that!
Sorry this post is so long..I just feel so confused about the whole thing!
I would like to earn a little bit of money, we do need it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
x

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As far as I know (although possibly not gospel) carer's allowance is like incapacity benefit or DLA it isn't means tested as such, just based on what you do for your ds..
Can I just ask what your new job is? If it is any kind of 'Work from Home and earn ££££'s' scheme then avoid it.
You need to add up how much childcare you will be shelling out for in school hols, inset days etc etc as well as the other implications of working before you make a decision. Also, bear in mind that it is sometimes cheaper to be at home and make dinners from scratch etc. I have given up work and we don't find we are much worse off, I do a little bit from home too.

I was told when I phoned about Tax credits last week that 'two people could have identical circumstances and income and be awarded different amounts of benefit' how this makes sense I don't know. Good luck working it all out.

Sorry Mellowma, wrist slapped!

Haven't posted here before so hadn't a clue how it would all come out once posted!

Wisteria - It is the same job I have done for years (medicolegal) on a private basis. I would like to do more of it but it's hard to find from home.

I don't pay any money for holiday schemes or anything because I only worked two days and I am luck in that my mum had them for me in the holidays.

Wisteria, do you have to sort out your own tax from the bit you do from home?

Thanks x

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I am a book keeper/accountant so yes, do my own tax returns etc. It's very easy though these days, all the info you need is there for anyone to be able to complete simple tax returns without help.

carers allowance is means tested, its based on the idea that you cannot work due to caring for the disabled person. dla is not means tested though so you can get that whatever you earn. I dont know a lot about tax credits though.

yeah, that WOULD be easier.

Guess I'm just scared of being a fraud!!

Yet I have a friend who lives with her DP, but hasn't told the tax credits that he lives there so she gets that and single person council tax BUT they both work full time, he earns £500 a week cash in hand and doesn't pay any tax or NI.

Who can get Carer's Allowance?

You can claim Carer's Allowance if you are aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a person getting Attendance Allowance, or Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate for personal care), or Constant Attendance Allowance (at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension).
Who cannot get Carer's Allowance?

You can't claim Carer's Allowance if you are in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study or earn more than £87 a week after certain deductions have been made (such as Income Tax).

• More about who can get Carer's Allowance

How much do you get?

The weekly rate is £48.65. This is reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State Pension, that you receive. If you receive certain other benefits at £48.65 or more a week, Carer's Allowance cannot be paid to you as well.

You may be able to get an additional amount for your husband, wife or civil partner or someone living with you who looks after your dependent children.

Don't think it is tested on what your dh does as well though, that is what I meant by not means tested as such.

I find the people on the tax credit/ directgov helpline worth a call, although I know others who say otherwise.

Why don't you do what you're doing and just keep calling them when/ if you get work. Honesty is the best policy IME, even though there are those that take the piss out of the system and seem to benefit from it, unfair I know but it doesn't make it right.

Thanks everyone, for your advice.

So looking forward to being a SAHM

I've not looked back, although MN can become a bit addictive and pisses my dp off loads!