Just a bit of advice really...

[robbond55]

Sorry to trouble everyone as I understand that there are more pressing problems here to deal with but I am enquiring about Income Support as I want to reduce the hours I work due to health.
My wife works 18 hrs a week and we have a 3 year old in childcare.
I would like to reduce my hours at work due to overwhelming fatigue due to MS. I just cannot work past around 3 pm and and literally falling asleep at my desk.
I understand you can claim IB if you work 16 hrs but I want to work 25 hours - 5 hours a day and I understand if you are working 75% or less of the hours that a non-disabled person in your position would do and your partner works less than 24 hrs per week you have a potential to claim.
I am also wondering how IS would affect housing and council tax benefit?
I have called the DWP helpline twice and no one seems to know what I am on about - they are as much use a chocolate teapot!
I want to balance my finances as best I can as this will be a long term thing - I am certainly not improving in my condition but I still want to preserve a certain standard of living.
Any help would be appreciated and many thanks!

[gizmo111]

Originally Posted by robbond55

Sorry to trouble everyone as I understand that there are more pressing problems here to deal with but I am enquiring about Income Support as I want to reduce the hours I work due to health.
My wife works 18 hrs a week and we have a 3 year old in childcare.
I would like to reduce my hours at work due to overwhelming fatigue due to MS. I just cannot work past around 3 pm and and literally falling asleep at my desk.
I understand you can claim IB if you work 16 hrs but I want to work 25 hours - 5 hours a day and I understand if you are working 75% or less of the hours that a non-disabled person in your position would do and your partner works less than 24 hrs per week you have a potential to claim.
I am also wondering how IS would affect housing and council tax benefit?
I have called the DWP helpline twice and no one seems to know what I am on about - they are as much use a chocolate teapot!
I want to balance my finances as best I can as this will be a long term thing - I am certainly not improving in my condition but I still want to preserve a certain standard of living.
Any help would be appreciated and many thanks!

I suggest you have a look at Start Calculation and put some figures in of your expected earnings on reduced hours, and see what you are entitled to.
Are you claiming working and child tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit at present?

[robbond55]

Thanks for your reply.
As I am on full time hours now I cannot claim but will receive HB and CTB when I reduce my hours.
It is very stressful as I have just rang the DWP and they said with my wife on 18 hours and me on reducing to 25 hours I cannot get any other help but the drop in money will present quite a problem.
However, my absenteeism level is high - the equivalant of one year off in the last four due to my health and I have had 2 relapses in one year alone and I do not know how tolerant work will continue to be towards me unless I drop my hours. I am on zero pay regarding sickness now and this whole situation is getting me down.

[adamrao]

Best thing is to see a CAB advisor who can do your benefit calculations.

If your household earnings are more than £94 a week then I am afraid you wont be able to claim Income Support. But you will keep on getting working tax credit (with child tax credit) and may qualify for some housing benefit.

The amount of housing benefit also varies if you are a council tenant or renting property from a private landlord. It really depends how much is your household income. If you have some figures then I would be able to tell you how much 'reducing hours' would affect your entitlement. Normally if you are in receipt of Income Support you can claim full housing and council tax benefit.

Hope this answers your question.

[emmaf01]

Also your local council welfare rights officer may be able to help.

Also do you claim DLA? It might be an idea.