To ask you to help me work this out?

[Lulu2021]

My head is a mess as I'm going through some relationship difficulties with a young baby and I'm trying to make sense of my entitlement to financial help.

I've done a UC calculation a few times but it comes out with an amount that i think is an overestimate.

My details are;

• FT salary of £47,126, net monthly income £2,516 after deductions.
• 2 DC (ages 15 years and 6 months) - no childcare costs for eldest, costs of £700 pm for youngest when I go back to work from mat leave.
• child maintenance of £120 pm for the eldest child only.
• private rented property
• no other benefits claimed
• no significant savings

It's telling me I'd be entitled to in the region of £650 pm as a single parent. Does this sound right? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[gobbynorthernbird]

What's the local housing allowance for where you live, and how much is your rent?

[Lulu2021]

@gobbynorthernbird

What's the local housing allowance for where you live, and how much is your rent?

Thanks for replying. Honestly I don't know the answer to this - I find that part really confusing!

My rent is currently 800pm but there's no way I'll be able to afford that when I'm alone so it will be £600 max as I'll have to find somewhere else

[gobbynorthernbird]

OK, when you get universal credit it takes your rent into account and part of it is to go towards that. You can google your local housing allowance and find out what will be paid as UC.

[MoiraRose4]

I wouldn’t think you’d be entitled to anything with that salary. Not sure about childcare. I earn about half of your salary and get about that in benefits.

[ANameChangeAgain]

I certainly hope its wrong. Most families bring in less than that as a household income and don't claim UC!

[Lulu2021]

@MoiraRose4

I wouldn’t think you’d be entitled to anything with that salary. Not sure about childcare. I earn about half of your salary and get about that in benefits.

I've got the same amount on 2 different online calculators though! It's so confusing

[Lulu2021]

@ANameChangeAgain

I certainly hope its wrong. Most families bring in less than that as a household income and don't claim UC!

Thanks for "hoping" it's wrong. As a single mum I'd have to give up my career that I've worked my arse off for over a decade if I'm entitled to no help as I simply can't afford £700 a month in childcare.

[QuestionableDanceMoves]

Need your lha rate to be able to do a calculation

[Lulu2021]

@ANameChangeAgain

"Most families" might not have studied and worked their arse off for over a decade to be professionally where they are, making multiple sacrifices along the way. Sorry but your comment has infuriated me.

[QuestionableDanceMoves]

lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Secure/Search.aspx

This is the website to find it out

[Lulu2021]

@QuestionableDanceMoves

Need your lha rate to be able to do a calculation

Can someone please help me with how on Earth to work this part out?

[Lulu2021]

@QuestionableDanceMoves thank you!

[Lulu2021]

@QuestionableDanceMoves it tells me I'm entitled to 2 bedrooms?! No amount 😂 none the wiser ...

[catfunk]

Missing the point completely but 800 rent plus 700 childcare leaves you with 1k for bills/ food/ travel. Are you sure you'd have to move ?

[QuestionableDanceMoves]

Have you filled in all the sections and then clicked submit? It’s the second page that tells you the lha rate eg in my area for a 2 bed it’s £126.68 per week

[sst1234]

[quote Lulu2021]@ANameChangeAgain

"Most families" might not have studied and worked their arse off for over a decade to be professionally where they are, making multiple sacrifices along the way. Sorry but your comment has infuriated me. [/quote]
Where’s the father/s of your children, OP? Why isn’t he contributing to childcare etc.

[inappropriateraspberry]

£700 childcare + £600 rent = £1300. Leaving around £1200 for bills, food and other expenses. Seems like a lot to me!
I do t understand why you'd need UC?

[QuestionableDanceMoves]

@sst1234 it’s in the op that there’s £120 per month child maintenance for the eldest

@Lulu2021 you should contact CMS for maintenance for your youngest if dad is alive/resident in uk

[JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue]

Congratulations on studying and applying yourself to earn that high a salary but ... I also know families who earn less and who aren't entitled to UC, so I'd be surprised if you are entitled to that much.

[catfunk]

Was also going to ask about CMS for youngest - is that a possibility ? Would help towards childcare.

[Lulu2021]

@catfunk

Missing the point completely but 800 rent plus 700 childcare leaves you with 1k for bills/ food/ travel. Are you sure you'd have to move ?

Yes. My other bills and outgoings (other than rent and childcare) come to £935. That's before food or fuel to commute to work is factored in.

[Thadhiya]

How does someone on 47k qualify for UC!? That's financial assistance for those in need, not bonus payments for people earning far, far above the national average.

And before you get all righteous, I'm not far off that salary myself and would never dream of taking from the public purse when I didn't need to.

[HeyArnoldHey]

[quote Lulu2021]@ANameChangeAgain

"Most families" might not have studied and worked their arse off for over a decade to be professionally where they are, making multiple sacrifices along the way. Sorry but your comment has infuriated me. [/quote]
That's abit rude op. Plenty of people work hard and earn low e.g. nurses

[Lulu2021]

Where’s the father/s of your children, OP? Why isn’t he contributing to childcare etc.

He's around but cannot be relied upon for financial contributions.

[TedMullins]

£800 rent + £700 childcare leaves you £1k left over for everything else - why on earth do you think you’d need UC? Honestly I don’t think someone with a grand to play with after housing costs should be entitled to benefits.