going part time

[hotpink]

I have been given no choice but to go part time at the end of the month. (not happy) can i get any benefits, until i get another full time job? i will be going from 37 to 16 hpw. my husband earns �16k a year and we have a mortgage.

[aims1202]

I think you can get some tax credits if you have a low income but they do count both you and your partners incomes together. For this you need to call the Inland Revenue.
Do you have children? if you do and you work 16hrs or more a week then you can get working tax credit and child tax credit.
You might also be able to get some housing benefit to go towards your mortgage and/or council tax benefit depending on income. For this you need to contact your local council offices.

[thugulike]

I don't think this is 'reasonable alternative employment'. You could, therefore. be in a redundancy situation if you wanted. That would give you a lump sum and give you time to look for another job. Not ideal, I know but it may be worth considering. If you put it to the company they may just change their minds? Speak to ACAS or CAB for good and free advice.

[ChuffingHell]

If you did go down the redundancy route as suggested by thug, the Company is only legally bound to give you any money if you've been employed by them for over two years. Further more, the statutory pay rate is one weeks pay for every year of service so unless you've been there for years and years OR unless the company has a fab redundancy package, you'll probably get less money than sticking with the 16 hours.

Assuming the business reason for making this change is sound (otherwise you could look at taking them to tribunal), are there no other roles internally you could look at and ask for a transfer to?

On the subject of benefits, with job seekers allowance, as far as I'm aware you can only apply for that if you work less than 16 hours I believe. Might be worthwhile popping in and asking your local JC though, anyway.