GOING BACK TO WORK

The decision to go back to work is one that you should consider very carefully.  We recommend you take advantage of all the advice and assistance available to ensure you have all the information that you need to help you make your decision.

There may be a range of reasons why you want to go back to work:

• to be better off and provide more for your family
• to meet new people
• to improve your long term prospects
• to work towards a long term career
• to put new skills and training into effect
• to help you cope better with health problems

You will need to consider some of the following issues:

• Should you consider further training or study
• Will you feel there is enough time for your family
• How will new costs for clothes, transport and school meals affect you
• Will it be easy to find and pay for childcare
• Will the benefits/tax credits system work effectively for you
• Will you be able to avoid stress
• The effect on your overall health

You can take advice and guidance on this from a range of organisations as well as asking for the opinion of your family and friends.

If you decide to go back to work there is financial help available to help you make the transition between claiming benefit and returning to work.  There may also be help to top up your income from Tax Credits when you are in work.

Going into work:

Job Grant - If you have been getting Income Support before going into work you can get this payment of £250. It is designed to help you with some of the costs of going back to work and help you get by until you are first paid.

Housing Benefit Extended Payment - This is four weeks full Housing Benefit after you start work. You can get this if you have been receiving Income Support before going into work.

Social Fund - As you will not be able to apply to the Social Fund for Grants or Loans when you are receiving Tax Credits we would recommend that you consider applying for a Grant or a Loan before you come off Income Support.

When in work:

Housing Benefit - you may still be entitled to Housing Benefit after the first four weeks, this will depend on your income. We would recommend you seek advice on this or simply make an application.

Working Tax Credit - If you are working 16 hours or more this can be paid on top of your income and can include help with your childcare costs. It acts as a top up for low incomes. This payment can also include help with up to 80% of your

eligible childcare costs where your child is looked after by a registered childminder, nursery or play scheme or similar.

Less formal childcare may also be included through the Home Childcare Approval Scheme - contact us for more information on this.

Child Tax Credit - This is a payment for families with at least one child. It is made up of the following elements:

A family element payable to any family responsible for a child. It is paid at a higher rate to families with at least one child under the age of one. This is known as the baby element.

A child element for each child you are responsible for. This is paid at a higher rate if the child has a disability and at an enhanced rate for a child with a severe disability. This is known as the disabled child element.

Health Benefits:

You may still be entitled to help with prescription costs and other health service costs but this will depend on your overall income level. We would recommend you seek advice on this or simply make an application.

For further information:

You can get free, impartial and confidential advice on going back to work from Gingerbread NI’s Freephone Advice Helpline – we can advise you on how this might affect your current benefits and work out exactly what your full income will be if you take up a job or even if you are only considering this.  Gingerbread can also offer you careful guidance and help identify other options you may have.  Get in touch for details.

For further information the Freephone Advice Helpline is available on:

0808 808 8090 Monday - Friday  10am - 4pm (closed 1pm - 2pm )

The Advice is FREE; So is the call!

Alternatively, you are welcome to drop into our centres in Belfast and Derry to see us. Our addresses for the drop in service together with times of operation are as follows:

If we are unable to see you then we will arrange a mutually convenient time for you to return for an appointment.