Do I 'work' 14 hours or 16 hours a week for tax credit application?

[shirlls]

I have been claiming child tax credits while on mat leave. I go back to work next week, part time at 2 days a week. My parents are looking after LO one day a week and we are putting him in a nursery the other day, so we are paying childcare for 1 day a week. OH doesn't earn a particularly high wage and I am only part time now therefore money is really tight and as you will all no doubt have experience of yourselves, childcare costs even just for one day are extortionate.

I phoned the tax credit helpline this morning to see if we are eligible for any extra for childcare and I was told both OH and I have to be working a minimum of 16 hours each a week to apply. In my 2 days I will be working 9 to 5 but I don't get paid for my one hour lunch break - does anyone know if this would mean I 'work' 14 or 16 hours a week?

The guy I spoke to on the tax credits line gave me an estimate of what we'd get if it was 16 hours I worked. My friend says she thinks it goes by money and not the hours I would be physically at work, however I can't help but hope that I can claim 16 hours a week as that's how long I will be in work a week, and shouldn't the fact that I am on 2 hours LESS pay matter?

 

[Pearls18]

You work 14 hours a week hun, I work 24.5 over 4 days which means I work 10-5 with an hour for lunch, technically I'm at work 28 hours but as I have an hour lunch break its only classed as 24. I would have a word with your employer to see if they can increase you by 2 hours as it usually pays well with TC. If you get a copy of your work contract it'll stipulate how many hours you work, maybe you have a nice employer that pays for your lunch break lol which would mean you worked 16 hour weeks.

 

[suzib76]

I wouldn't even consider telling them 14 tbh

If its the difference between claiming tax credits or not, then I would be saying I worked 16 hrs

 

[Pearls18]

I wouldn't even consider telling them 14 tbh

If its the difference between claiming tax credits or not, then I would be saying I worked 16 hrs

And this would be fraud which would come up if she was selected for review, I really wouldn't lie about it. It's an automatic £3000 fine on top of paying what you were given. I would call tax credits and see how they see it, if they are happy to class it is 16 hours then you're fine, but if your contract stipulates 14 hours I honestly wouldn't risk it, it may be just 2 hours but it's the difference between being eligible and not and thus committing fraud or not.

 

[suzib76]

I wasn't meaning to deliberately deceive them, of course if its a 14 hour contract then that's what you tell them. I assumed it wasn't a set contract or there wouldn't have been any doubt? In which case I would tell them 16 hours

 

[lozzy21]

How many hours does your OH work?

ETA scrap that, they have changed the criteria.

 

[ellismum]

It's hours without lunch included to it would 14 hours. Only way around it is to increase your hours.

 

[kanga]

I wouldn't even consider telling them 14 tbh

If its the difference between claiming tax credits or not, then I would be saying I worked 16 hrs

Unreal.

 

[suzib76]

I wouldn't even consider telling them 14 tbh

If its the difference between claiming tax credits or not, then I would be saying I worked 16 hrs

Unreal.

excuse me?

would you like to elaborate, thus contributing to the thread, or are you just here to post the one word?

 

[ellismum]

I wouldn't even consider telling them 14 tbh

If its the difference between claiming tax credits or not, then I would be saying I worked 16 hrs

Unreal.

excuse me?

would you like to elaborate, thus contributing to the thread, or are you just here to post the one word?

You insinuated performing fraud.

 

[suzib76]

I wouldn't even consider telling them 14 tbh

If its the difference between claiming tax credits or not, then I would be saying I worked 16 hrs

Unreal.

excuse me?

would you like to elaborate, thus contributing to the thread, or are you just here to post the one word?

You insinuated performing fraud.

i understand. I was asking the person who posted it

 

[teal]

As others said, if you're not paid for your lunch hour then it means you're working 14 hours.