How will change of hours affect universal credit?

[Leeds22]

Hello everyone. I live with my partner and her 5 yr old girl and we are expecting a new arrival at the end of October. I have a full time job that I work 35 hours a week working. Things have become hard at work with Rota and contract changes and am looking for any advice on hours working?
We receive universal credit and when I checked through the calculator we could be on the same income if I dropped a lot of my hours, I spend a lot travelling to work too so added bonus! Just wondered if anyone with knowledge or a similar situation could give me any advice, thank you very much to anyone that could help !

[locketsprocket]

What's becoming hard at work exactly?

You will be expected to work full time minimum 35 hours unless you are primary carer to baby or a carer to a disabled person

I believe if you work under these hours you will be appointed a work coach and will be required to seek work

[AwkwardPaws27]

You'd be better looking for a new job (although you might want to wait until the baby is born, as if you change employer now I doubt you'll get paternity leave).
UC will expect you to work 35 hours - so if you dropped to say, 25 hours, you'd probably have to see a work coach and spend the other 10 hours actively seeking work.

[Leeds22]

Ok thank you, with having a little girl of 6 and a baby on its way I didn't know if 20+ hours would be enough, contract changes at work take away all bank holidays and change rota to hours that are unsuitable, (I also have an 11 year old that stays weekends. ) the calculator said the benefit would make income the same as am doing now ,

[AwkwardPaws27]

This isn't meant unkindly, but most couples I know both have to work full-time to afford children. If you want to work 20 hours a week that's fine, but you can't expect benefits to cover the difference.

[AwkwardPaws27]

(unless of course there are other circumstances, such as you being a carer for your partner or having a disability which means you cannot work full-time)

[Babyroobs]

If you drop your hours Uc will not replace your wage. There would be less deductions for wages if you earnt less but you would be much worse off. On UC you have work commitment meetings - one of you at least would be expected to work full time, you could be sanctioned for dropping hours without good reason.

[Shinesweetfreedom]

Leeds there is a Facebook group Universal Credit Survival,have a look at that.
I believe you are correct in your calculation.