Benefits For Low-Earners
I am in a low income job can I claim benefits as well?
If you're in a low income job, presumably a full time low income job, then it's possible that you would be entitled to working tax credit if you meet the other conditions for that benefit. You need to contact Her Majesty's Revenue's and Customs to see if you're entitled to that. In addition to that, a lot of low earners aren't aware that they may be entitled to help through Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. It's a common misunderstanding that only if you're not working can you claim those benefits. Again, check with your local council whether you can claim either one of those, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit.
Will I lose my benefits if I start working?
If you're currently on benefits and not working and you're looking to return to work or start work, then it's very likely that your benefits will be affected in some way. Not necessarily in a negative way, because there may be other benefits that you can claim instead. What you really need to do is to seek advice. Many of the independent organizations such as Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to do a better calculation, or a before and after calculation. It's a good idea to actually seek advice before you find a job. Ask some hypothetical questions, such as "What if..." They will then compare what you're currently receiving, bring it forward and look at what you may receive if you did move into work and the comparison between the before and after. Seek advice, is my advice.
What about if I just work part time?
If you started work part time, part time means something very specific in social security, it means something less than 16 hours usually. A lot of people who are working perhaps more than that still think they are working part time, but not for benefit purposes. So depending on your other circumstances, whether you have a partner, whether you have to pay for children, and what other benefits you may be claiming, you really need to seek advice to look at the impact of what that part-time work and how those earnings would be treated for your other benefits.
