Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A great way to make some quick cash, either to save up for travelling or to spend at home,
is seasonal work. There are always extra short-term jobs going at Christmas: in the Post
Office sorting office or in local shops. In the summer there's fruit or vegetable picking for
example. There's a website that links farms in the UK and worldwide with students looking
for holiday work:
www.pickingjobs.com
Another option, if you have reasonable IT skills, is to temp in an office. July and August are
good months for this too, when permanent staff are on holiday. You can register with local
job agencies, which will almost certainly want to do a simple test of your skills. Temping
is also a great idea if you're not at all sure what sector you want to work in - it's a good
chance to find out about different types of work.
Pay, tax and National Insurance
You can expect to be paid in cash for casual labour, by cheque (weekly or monthly) in a
small company and by bank transfer in a large one. Always keep the payslip that goes with
your pay, along with your own records of what you earn (including payments for casual
labour) during the tax year: from 6 April one year to 5 April the next. You need to ask
your employer for a P46 form when you start your first job and a P45 form when you leave
(which you take to your next employer). If you are out of education for a year you are not
treated as a normal taxpayer.
Personal allowances - that is the amount you can earn before paying tax - are reviewed in
the budget each year in April. To find out the current tax-free personal allowance rate call
the Inland Revenue helpline or go to:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic
Minimum wages, maximum hours
In the UK, workers aged 16 and 17 should get a 'development rate' of £3.72 an hour; 18-to
21-year-old workers should receive £5.03 an hour; and workers aged 22 and over should
get £6.31 per hour.
To check on how the National Minimum Wage applies to you, go to the Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly called the DTI) website:
Alternatively, phone the National Minimum Wage Helpline on 0845 6000 678.
If you think you are not being paid the national minimum wage you can call this helpline
number: 0800 917 2368.
All complaints about underpayment of the National Minimum Wage are treated in the
strictest confidence.
