Please talk to me about income support and working less than 16hrs a week

[Snorbs]

I'm a lone parent on income support after being made redundant a few months ago. Both my children are school age.

A job opportunity has come up at a local school that would be about 10-12hrs a week, term time only, and probably not much more than minimum wage. So about £250 gross per month.

I'd like to apply for it as a) I don't like not working, b) I wouldn't have to worry about child care out of school hours, and c) it would get me out of the house.

But I don't know how much of an effect it would have on my much-needed Income Support, Child Tax Credits and Housing Benefit. Can anyone give me a clue? I appreciate that my benefits would (rightfully) go down if I'm earning but if the total benefits go down more than the net wages would bring in then there'd be no point. Has anyone been in this position?

Thanks!

If you're working less than 16 hours it shouldn't really affect you too much. My advice would be apply for the job, then make an appointment for a "better off calculation" at your job centre - they'll tell you if you'd end up with more or less money if you take the job. Generally it wouldn't make sense for your benefits to go down by more than your wages, or there would be no incentive for people to get back into work.

You are allowed to keep £20 a week of any earnings, the rest is deducted pound for pound from you IS.

If you can make the hours upto 16 hours you would get WTC which is far better. It can be s/e work like Avon etc.

From 2010 IS will stop once a child reaches 7 so it maybe better to take a job that you like now rather than have to settle for any job when your IS stops.

Thanks for the info. I didn't want to be in the position of applying for the job but then having to turn it down because it would affect the benefits too much. It sounds like I could at least be £80 a month better off which isn't great but it's better than nothing. More importantly, it would get me out of the house...

I'll have a think and see if I can come up with a way to do more than 16hrs a week though.

Thanks again!