Benefits & 16 hours at work question....

[Brandyanddietcoke]

Hi,

Since coming on mumsnet, I've read a few things about mums being better off if they work 16 hours or something like this... with tax credits or what not... I have been self employed for a long time but things have been slow so have had to go onto benefits. I am now looking at normal employment but from what I hear/read, if you work a certain number of hours you can be better off...

Can anyone clear any of this up for me? Im new to benefits/tax credits and also PAYE work... Thanks in advance.

I have heard of this but not sure if you can claim & work 16hrs,i would bump you thread tomorrow.

ok thanks scooby, will bump in the morning. x

Ok i have just read on CAB site that you can claim & work uto 16hrs a week but your income support money will just ake up your wages so that you have the amount the law says you need to live on each week which is £57.45.

urgh, which sounds pants! Im trying to get myself out of bread line!!! I had a moments inspiration earlier when i remembered readin on Mums net that you can actually be better off if you work either under or over (crap memory) 16 hours... but perhaps thats for those who have been on benefits a while...

I either need my self emp work to pick up or to find a well paid job (which i dont need to retrain for!) Gosh with all the emphasis on mums getting back to work just lately but then it seems like we are just fighting a losing battle because unless we have a 'career' or a good education, the salaries open to us leave a lot to be desired!!!

With over 16 h a week you can claim WTC & CTC which ups your income quite a bit BUT as long as they do it right -They are well known for getting it wrong!

www.entitledto.com or co.uk...fiddle with the figures till you work out how many hours you would be better off working.
For example, my friend works 16 hours. She looked into going to 30 hours. She would have had £11 extra a week for working an extra 14 hours
So she didnt.