fbpx
Get ahead of the crowd with Premium
Login
Register Forgot password

Benefits on a cut wage

Home Messageboards Benefits & Financial Support Benefits on a cut wage

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #150606
    Paul
    Participant

    If my hours and pay has been reduced, would I be entitled to any benefits, even if I’m working?

    #150639
    Annie
    Keymaster

    Hi Paul,

    You may be eligible for Universal Credit support if your income has been reduced. It depends on your circumstances (such as whether you live with a partner who is also working), and if you have any savings or assets (like second properties).

    If you have capital over £16,000 (either on your own or between you and your partner), you won’t be eligible. Anything between £6,000 – £16,000 will reduce how much you’re entitled to, but you could still get something.

    Head to the Universal Credit application page – fill out the answers and it’ll tell you if you’re entitled to receive benefits. Hope that helps!

    #150647
    Paul
    Participant

    Thanks Annie!

    #150651
    Dan
    Participant

    What if your employer won’t do things like give you the pay at a later date? Mine wants to cut pay permanently by 20% or we have to take redundancy. But I haven’t been there enough to get redunancy so I’d get nothing.

    #150665
    Annie
    Keymaster

    Hi Dan,

     

    Any change like this has to be agreed by you and your employer in writing. If you can’t agree, they can make you redundant – so it really puts you in a corner!

    As you’ve not been there very long, it’s hard to raise a case against them, too. I’d suggest that, if they’re forcing you to take the cut, you accept but start looking for another job. You’ll at least have some income then, until you get a new job.

    Maybe there’s an employment lawyer here who can give more advice?

    #150687
    Sam Smith
    Participant

    Hi Annie, so to clarify, if one member of the family is working normally (i.e they work for the NHS) but the other cannot, they can’t apply?

    #150695
    Jen
    Participant

    I was working part time in a bar during university but now I’ve lost work, am I able to claim any benefits even though I’m still studying full time for exams next month?

    #150701
    Amy
    Participant

    Hi, I’m a single mum and work in hospitality. Where I worked has closed and I’ve lost all sources of income. Am I allowed to ask for furloughed pay from my employer and also apply for childcare benefits? My furloughed pay wouldn’t be enough to cover all my rent and bill costs.

    #150707
    Sam Smith
    Participant

    Amy – have your employers not communicated anything about being furloughed?

    Jen – I’m not sure students can apply for Universal Credit, but are you officially furloughed or has your employer just cut your hours? It would be good to know how this impacts students.

    #150715
    Annie
    Keymaster

    Hi Annie, so to clarify, if one member of the family is working normally (i.e they work for the NHS) but the other cannot, they can’t apply?

    It depends what the household income and assets are. You could have one partner working but on a low income, and so you’ll be eligible. You can always apply online to see – once you’ve input your household income and assets figures, it’ll tell you if you can get Universal Credit or not, so you’ll know on-the-spot if you’re eligible.

    #150716
    Annie
    Keymaster

    I was working part time in a bar during university but now I’ve lost work, am I able to claim any benefits even though I’m still studying full time for exams next month?

     

    Oof, this is a tough gig – full-time students don’t qualify for benefits 🙁 The only thing you could do, if you were still on the bar’s payroll on 28th Feb 2020, is ask them to re-hire you and furlough you with their other staff. That’d give you a little income (furlough income for casual hours/zero hours workers are worked out on the average 12 months’ hours or February’s wage, whichever was higher).

    #150717
    Annie
    Keymaster

    Hi, I’m a single mum and work in hospitality. Where I worked has closed and I’ve lost all sources of income. Am I allowed to ask for furloughed pay from my employer and also apply for childcare benefits? My furloughed pay wouldn’t be enough to cover all my rent and bill costs.

    Hi Amy,

    Do you have a permanent contract with your place of work, or was it a zero hours one? Have they furloughed other staff? If you have a permanent contract, they must pay you your salary, make you officially redundant, or officially furlough you to receive 80% pay.

    You can apply for benefits if your furloughed pay is a low income. It all depends on your assets (savings) as well as your income – but it’s definitely worth applying in case you’re eligible!

    #150839
    Jen
    Participant

    Sam – I haven’t been officially furloughed, just had all my hours cut as the business closed so a bit of a tough one.

    Annie – Thanks for the advice, will get in touch with them and see if I can get furloughed by them.

    #150846
    Stan
    Participant

    I read that this money isn’t paid until June. Is that right? And if so, how are we expected to survive when furloughed? We can’t sign on in this scenario.

    #150848
    Sam Smith
    Participant

    My friends have also been asking Stan’s question on social media. This might be a good place to direct them too.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.