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Use our Cost of Living forum to discuss budgeting and energy saving with other users.

Use our Cost of Living forum to discuss budgeting and energy saving with other users.

Cost of living

Oh bugger been "let go" at work.......Tax credits dilemma

21 replies

Bossybritches22 · 30/12/2011 20:12

I have been doing 4 PT jobs post -divorce to keep us afloat whilst studying to upgrade my qualifications. Mixture of self-employed /employed, the latter being a receptionist at a hairdressers 2 days a week. Gave me a regular sum coming in plus I got my hair cut up to once a month which saved me loads. Sadly with the current situation, they can't afford to employ me so today I was given the push with a weeks wages in hand. Fair enough it's not a charity. My dilemma is I will now struggle to regularly do the 16-30 hrs required to get my bit of tax credits, unless I can get something else PDQ. There is bugger all in the way of local jobs at the moment,like everywhere, & I am wondering if I'll be loads worse off if I come off TC's & go onto other benefits(not sure what) until I can finish my studies & hopefully get better paid work.
Obviously I will be contacting the TC helpline to discuss this & tell them of my changes but I have a stinking cold today & lost my voice so thought I'd ask for advice here first!

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Oakmaiden · 30/12/2011 20:15

No advice, but much sympathy. Hope you get something sorted. :(

ivykaty44 · 30/12/2011 20:20

how many hours do you get at your other 3 jobs? What sort of hours do you work - in as much time of day...?

You need to be working 16 hours per week, no more than that to qualify.

So does it need to be 16 hours per week or 64 hours per month? thats what you need to find out if your hours vary over a month.

ivykaty44 · 30/12/2011 20:21

looking on here brings up a lot of jobs options

AvadventKalendar · 30/12/2011 20:23

Can you up your self employment hours, bearing in mind that doing adin at home for business needs counts?

joanofarchitrave · 30/12/2011 20:24

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I thought it needed to be something like 24 hours now?

Bossybritches22 · 30/12/2011 20:37

oakmaiden- thanks.

ivykaty- it is probably nearer the 64 per month, I worked out just now that with the jobs I have lined up at present I can just scrape 17 hrs pw minimum. Thanks for the link- nothing much in our areas sadly but I'll get the local paper. Trouble is with petrol the price it is, & doing minimum wage work it's only viable if I can get hours nearby, as we're in the country so public transport isn't good.

If I can count admin hrs in too avadvent that would be brilliant as it would push me up.

Thanks for the advice all.

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ANTagony · 30/12/2011 20:42

Play around on Entitled to benefits checker to see if you would be entitled to more benefits if you are just under the 16hrs. I believe its income support under 16hrs but I don't think you can be studying a full time course or have assets/ savings over a certain threshold. On income support you can potentially get other benefits like school meals and reduced council tax.

Bossybritches22 · 30/12/2011 20:43

Oh soddit joanofarchitrave is that with all the new changes?

I shall check after the w/e nothing I can do today with no voice.

I shall chase a couple of potential jobs I had enquiries about before Christmas, see if I can convince them they need me

Hey-ho something will turn up,

One door closes....etc etc.

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ANTagony · 30/12/2011 20:51

What hours do you need to work HM Revenue and Customs extract below

"You have children

If you are responsible for children, you need to do paid work of at least 16 hours a week to get Working Tax Credit. You also need to be aged 16 or over."

LovesBloominChristmas · 30/12/2011 20:53

Any chance of increasing your horurs at tge other jobs? An extra hour or two at each might be enough?

ivykaty44 · 30/12/2011 21:05

If you are in the country - can you advertise for some housekeeping/cleaning/cook work or even regular babysitting in the evenings?

Bossybritches22 · 30/12/2011 21:49

I might be able to Loves am looking at that.

ivykaty my self-employed business is doing just that, I do freelance work basically anything anyone wants help with as a one off or short-term regular help, I consider anything legal! Needed to be flexible around my DD's when I was first divorced as we were all learning new routines etc & I wanted to be at home for them as much as possible. I work flat out when they're with their Dad & school hours (if I can) when they're with me. Doing lots of babysitting & daytime childcare during the holidays.

I am printing a flyer off as we speak to remind people of my services & will email all my local friends, word of mouth being the best advert I always think.

Just difficult when everyone is cutting back on extras wherever they can.

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ivykaty44 · 30/12/2011 22:20

Maybe look just outside your normal area - canvass the area in the hope of getting two or three jobs that can be done on the same day to save petrol?

Home help sort of work as well for old people?

PeaceofCakeAndGoodWineToAllMN · 30/12/2011 22:26

Bossy, are you remembering to add on your admin time? You can also do anything, ironing, cake baking, it doesn't matter.

Bossybritches22 · 30/12/2011 22:30

Good idea ivykaty will do that.

Peace I haven't been doing but now I know you can (obvious really when you think of it but hadn't twigged that one) I shall add on a few hours a week regularly, as I do spend a fair bit of time marketing & arranging jobs as well as the book-keeping. Thanks.

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PeaceofCakeAndGoodWineToAllMN · 30/12/2011 22:39

I mix my hours between admin, note taking, transcribing and writing. Admin is working. It takes you time to invoice clients, do the accounts, advertise and collect revenue. It's the same as any other job.

ivykaty44 · 30/12/2011 22:48

ask every single one of your friends to spread the rumours about how good you are at cleaning/housekeeping/home help for elderly and you have a couple of spaces - email them a template email on face book or the like to get them thinking about you ask them to just tell two people each and ask them to tell just two people and then they will help to spread the word. Nothing like a good rumour to get the work rolling in

FrozenChocolate · 30/12/2011 22:53

It's an average of 16 pw ie 800 and something per year. If you have been working over 16 so far, you will have some 'credit' if you see what I mean.

Bossybritches22 · 30/12/2011 22:55

nice one ivy

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RedHelenB · 31/12/2011 09:45

Do ring & check though as you are near the minimum. Worse thing of all would be to pay back working tax credits. Likelihood is that they will check your accounts etc to at some point so you can't just say you're self employed if you see what I mean.

Bossybritches22 · 31/12/2011 10:12

Yes I will RedhelenB paranoid about getting caught out doing something I shouldn't through ignorance. Paying it back would be a nightmare as I'm still paying off the debts from the divorce.

I double checked everything when I first claimed & do so every time anything changes, they seem very casual about checking your eligibility. I can see how tempting it would be to work the system for some, but I'd be the first person to get caught, feeling guilty being my default setting!

I am officially self-employed with HMRC so they know I mix that with some emloyment at times.

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