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i really want to go back to work. wont be able to do MY job so money wont be as good. can someone explain what i will be entitled to?

9 replies

mamazon · 13/11/2007 22:01

Ds is currently going through assesment for a SN school and DD starts nursary in january.
it will be a a perfect time to go back to work as both children will be sorted and i would only need minial support.

i wouldn't be able to go back to my own job ( social work) as the hours would be way too long and there is too much work to bring home.

Instead i will go for a less responsibility and therefore less pay role ( SW support officer) i will earn probably £8-15 per hour depending on what sort of work i can get.

My rent is £180 PER WEEK!
im in a housing association property where i was placed by LA.

my children are 7 and 3.

what sort of finacial assistance am i likely to be entitled to?
should i limit myself to 16 hours initialy?

TYIA for your help

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SenoraPostrophe · 13/11/2007 22:09

type some figures in and find out

you should find that you don't need to restrict your hours - in theory wftc tapers off so you still earn more as you work more.

but also are there not other jobs you could do with more pay but without the tsress/hours of social work? some sort of specialist outreach type work?

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mamazon · 13/11/2007 22:59

hmm im being really dumb here as im not sure how any of this makes sense.

atthe moment im on IS so i have no income at all.

i have put in a 40 hour week with a yearly salary of 16k (about the average for a SWSO)

it has come out saying i will recieve the same amount of WFTC as i recieve now.

how on earth can that be right? am i doing something wrong?

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SenoraPostrophe · 14/11/2007 09:47

I presume it's right: it's designed to make it worth people's while to work, plus if you work you get the chikldcare payments.

I looked into it all when we still lived in spain with great jealousy.

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SenoraPostrophe · 14/11/2007 09:48

check here though if you're not sure

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mamazon · 14/11/2007 10:18

thanks for your help SP.

im still confused but it does seem that i would qualify for some help from CTC so maybe i would also be able to get help with rent also as thats the part that im really worried about.

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Tinkerbel5 · 14/11/2007 18:22

you should be entitled to housing benefit and maybe council tax benefit, often people dont go back to work full time as the money then get is roughly the same as only working part time and getting top up in benefits.

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foley · 14/11/2007 21:41

I earned just under 16000 per year and got around £70 per week working tax credits. i wasnt entitled to housing benefit.

you only get the childcare element if youre child is in a private nursey/childminder (cant get it for family member looking afer them)

if youre on IS you will only be gettin CTC which is around £43 pw.

hope this helps

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Skribble · 15/11/2007 00:11

Rough guide, what I have worked out so far, no guarantee its all correct though .

17hrs +

You will get working tax credits and child tax credits combined.

They don't count maintenance.

You can still be eligilbe for free prescriptions and dental care.

You might get a discount on council tax. Make sure you get the one adult discount anyway.

You might get housing benefit.

You might get free school dinners and uniform grant.

When you earn more you get a bit less tax credits but they don't deduct as much as you earn so it will always be worth more to you if you earn more.

Can be worth working over 30hrs as you will get a bonus.

You will get money towards childcare, if not all at least a big chunk.

16hrs and under... or no work

You will get income support.

They count maintenance as part of your income. They will insist it goes through CSA and any money you get is basicly taken off your income support

You will get rebate on council tax and housing benefit.

You will get free prescriptions and dental.

You will get free school meals and uniform grant normally depending on local authority.

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Bectheneck · 15/11/2007 02:44

You could try speaking to a Lone Parent Adviser at your local Jobcentre. They apparently can do calculations for you to see how much better off you'd be in work.

Not sure how helpful or accurate they are though especially in terms of factoring in the expense of taking up work (travel costs, clothing etc). Might be worth considering though.

There are other in work benefits that you might be entitled to like getting your rent and CT paid for 4 weeks after you start work, £250 job grant for going back to work etc. They can advise you of all this at the Jobcentre. HTH

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