working tax credit question

[melhoney]

Hi

I just wondered if anyone knew what happens to your tax credit / child benefit if you work for less than 16 hours?
they always mention these 16 hours but never say what happens if you don't work them!
I am becoming part-time from january and will only work 2 days, which means that it won't be 16 hours! (school).
So I am getting worried that I won't get anything anymore!

Can anyone shed some light on this?
Many thanks in advance!

mel xx

 

[nikki1306]

I am sure it drops a bit if you don't do 16 hours xx

 

[Sarah&Braydon]

it drops considerably i think i do 16 hours and in all my sheets it says 16 hours and over or 30 hours or over etc

 

[melhoney]

hmmm but why, though???

Surely, if you don't work that much, you don't earn that much either! so obviously you need more "help" towards the costs, etc...??
I am just thinking that we won't be able to afford living in this country anymore, then!!!

working 2 days only still means £450 of childcare per month!

Thanks for your replies, ladies!

mel xx

 

[Sarah&Braydon]

I think thy do it that way to encourage u to go out n work

would u not help with childcare

 

[Tan]

Don't quote me on this but i'm sure as long as one of you si doing over 30 hours then the other one doesn't really come into it even though they ask.

I asked about the effect on ours if I went back to study fulltime and wasn't working and they said it would be ok as DH works 45 hours p/w

Tan x