Income Support And Working Only 9Hrs A Week

[aims1202]

I was wondering if anyone knows what happens if you are on income support and you want to work one day a week (9hrs) earning about £62. I know you can earn something but how much of this would i keep? Thanks

[cjscouse]

As far i am aware you will lose about £42.00 of your benefit

[Kassee]

It used to be £15. Not sure what it is today. I was on income support years ago, I worked 16 hours a week and my wages were deducted from my income support (apart from the £15). In fact if I remember correctly at one time I was only getting 10p per week income support.

[Kassee]

sorry - I worked 15 hours a week - not 16.

[tamborine]

How would IS know ? You wouldn't be paying tax & NI at that rate of pay.

[EDDIE51]

The employer still has to declare the earmings on the end of year tax return even if no tax or NI is due . PersonallyI would just do it and not worry about . If you can manage to get work 16 hours a week you can get working tax credit instead of income support which should be quite a lot more.

[factor-fiction]

DWP may not find out but working/earning without declaring is a risky strategy- and you'll still get a p45/P60 from the job or some sort of NI record/credit so maybe the income will come to light

[EDDIE51]

Just read the income support web page and as far as I can see you will lose the entire £62 , ( I may be wrong ) but it says income support tops up your income to the income support level , so as I see that you will have the £62 deducted.

[Kassee]

If you word and dont declare it to IS you are asking for trouble. You were (at one time) keep a small amount of your earning, making you slightly financially better off for working. If you have a mortgage, it is far safer to be on income support, as the interest on the mortgage is paid, so keeping a roof over your head (and your children's). With working tax credit - you don't have that safety net. Personally I think working is always better than not working, even if you dont gain much financially. But you have to declare it.

[Kassee]

sorry "work" not "word

[Kassee]

If you have an employer - you must declare your earnings. The only other way is cash in hand for cleaning, hairdressing, etc, but its a risky business.