Will My Benefits Be Affected If I Am Working 24 Hours A Week?
By
HuutiMoney
If you are thinking about whether or not your benefits will be affected by working 24 hours a week, you will find the answer to this question in the blog post. We will discuss in detail about the benefits that may or may not be affected by the number of hours a claimant works as well as review the pros and cons of claiming benefits versus working 24 hours a week.
Will My Benefits Be Affected If I Am Working 24 Hours A Week?
Yes, some of your benefits will be affected if you are working 24 hours a week; while certain benefits will remain unaffected.
If you get Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance, you can only work 16 hours or less per week to remain eligible for these benefits. This means that if you increase your working hours to 24 per week, you will not be able to claim Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
On the other hand, in the case of Working Tax Credits, one of the essential requirements is that the claimant should be working a minimum of 16 hours per week. In this case, your working hours will not affect your benefits payments.
When it comes to Employment and Support Allowance, you can only claim the benefit if you are unemployed. This means that ESA is only offered if you are not working at all and having a job for 24 hours a week will make you ineligible for the benefit. Since ESA also takes your partner’s working hours into account, it is worthy to note here that partners of ESA claimants can work up to 24 hours per week.
Meanwhile, if you are a Universal Credit claimant, your payments will not be affected by the number of hours you work. However, they can have an impact on the terms that you’ve agreed upon in your Claimant Commitment that states the number of hours you are willing to work or look for work while claiming benefits payments.
Which Benefits Can I Claim If I Am Working 24 Hours A Week?
If you work 24 hours per week in the UK, you may be eligible to claim certain welfare benefits depending on your individual circumstances. Here are some of the most common benefits you may be able to claim:
- Working Tax Credit: You may be eligible for Working Tax Credit if you work 16 or more hours per week and you are on a low income. The amount you receive depends on your income and circumstances.
- Child Tax Credit: If you have children, you may be able to claim Child Tax Credit, which is designed to help with the cost of raising children. The amount you receive depends on your income and circumstances.
- Income Support: This is a non-taxable, means-tested benefit which takes your income and savings into account before your claim is approved. Qualifying individuals in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales receive financial support through this benefit if they are low on income or unemployed and do not qualify for JSA or ESA.
- Housing Benefit: If you are on a low income and you are renting your home, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit to help with the cost of your rent.
- Council Tax Reduction: If you are on a low income, you may be able to claim Council Tax Reduction to help with the cost of your council tax.
- Universal Credit: You may be able to claim Universal Credit, which is a benefit that combines several different benefits, including Working Tax Credit and Housing Benefit.
- It’s important to note that eligibility for benefits can depend on a variety of factors, such as your age, income, and family circumstances. To find out what benefits you may be eligible for, you can use the online benefits calculator provided by the UK government or contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
You can use an online benefits calculator to have a better idea of the benefits you can claim, based on your working hours, income and personal circumstances.
Should You Work 24 Hours A Week Or Claim Benefits?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best option depends on individual circumstances. In some cases, working 24 hours a week may be more financially beneficial than claiming benefits, while in other cases claiming benefits may be the better option. However, the ethical thing to do is to work as many hours as possible and rely on earnings rather than benefits.
The UK welfare system is designed to support individuals who are on a low income or are unable to work. While benefits can provide financial assistance, they are generally intended to be a temporary solution while individuals work to improve their situation.
For individuals who are capable of working, earning an income through work can provide a number of benefits, such as increased financial independence, career development opportunities, and a sense of fulfillment.
However, working 24 hours a week may not always be financially beneficial if the individual’s income is too low to cover their basic living expenses, such as housing, food, and transportation costs. In this case, claiming benefits may be necessary to supplement their income and help them make ends meet.
Conclusion:
The above discussion gives us a detailed view of how benefits are affected if a claimant starts working for 24 hours a week; as well as a snapshot of the benefits that will be affected in this case versus those that remain unaffected.