Are they any new rules for WT Credit ?

[Billsoh!]

I am in a situation where I am disabled and am trying to be self employed as a result. I was thinking of going onto working tax credit for 16 hours with a disability element which gets added to this. I was on another forum that does not specifically know about the tax credit benefits. One person mentioned on this forum that a bill propably had been passed in parliment for people on WTC. He said instead of you automatically qualifying if you worked 16 hours (with disabilities) things might have changed. Instead it might be you have to earn £5000 profit whether you own business earning this money or not. Has abyone heard of the latest developments or if not can you point me to someone I can reach buy email. The tax office take ages to get through and cost a lot on the phone. My other worry is that it may takes 2 years or so to implement the changes so the tax office will say 'no you are fine' and then I'd be stuck later on. Any advice if you have heard anything would be greatfully received.

Thanks very much!

[RMC]

Tax credits will be replaced by the Universal Credit, to be phased in between 2013 - 2018. The legislation has not been finalised yet but there is plenty of information on the subject on the web. According to a government statement, nobody claiming TCrs should be worse off under UC.

Regarding the £5,000: From April 2013 disregard for income rises is reduced to that amount.

Hope you'll find suitable job soon, so you can start claiming working tax credit.