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Working While on Benefits

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One question about working on benefits, does the money cover the petrol and car costs, or bus fares? THey are not cheap!

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You can work however many hours you want, but once you get past a certain number of hours (16) they then ask you how much you're earning, then make a deduction...

 

you can (in theory) continue signing on, but earn more than you would get on JSA (but maybe not enough for a full time wage) - which would mean you would still be entitled to partial (or maybe full) Housing / Council tax benefit, and free NHS/prescriptions etc...

 

You may also be entitled to working tax credit, which can vary depending on age / wage...

 

best option, talk to the JobCentre, say you're wondering about the limitations, and they can do all the calculations for you..

 

---------- Post added 28-08-2013 at 19:05 ----------

 

 

That's a lie, £13,124.80/pa is the national minimum wage (from 1st Oct 2013)

Which is £1094 / month

 

And that's before tax and NI

 

(£6.31 p/hour, 8 hrs/day, 5 days/week, paid 4 weekly, (13 pays per year))

 

When you start deducting Housing and Council tax benefits, travel costs, prescription costs etc the £1094 per month - your JSA and HB / CT becomes negligible. Hence why with the current system for a job to be financially viable it needs to pay at least £15k+

 

Now lets suppose we had a Citizens Income which is an unconditional, non-withdrawable income for every individual as a right of citizenship. Even those jobs with zero hour contracts become extremely financially viable.

Edited by Dentzler

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Well, people will slate anyone that tells it just how it is.

 

I repeat, they either fix the system so it makes signing off irresistible or folk will continue on benefits.

 

It really is a no brainer.

 

The universal benefit system is supposed to be that fix.

 

Typical government IT project though, so far it looks like a massive failure in implementation.

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Hey, the hours you can still work and sign on is up to 16 hours.

I think it is less than 16 hours. 15hrs 59mins, your fine. 16 hours and your benefit stops.

Though once the Jobcentre told me 15 hours "because they round it down"... they lie a lot.

 

So am wondering, if you work flexible hours that can go between 2-30, is it worth taking the chance to sign off?

 

I am reasonably sure the law says average 16 hours, so if you work 2 this week and 29 next, then you should still get benefit (depending upon your earnings).

This is something that the Jobcentre will lie through their teeth about though. Even the supervisors will swear blind this is not the case.

Edited by Hairyloon

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