Page 2 | Partner and I work full time. Universal credit? Is this right?

HeadsShouldersTitsandArse · 2024-04-01T21:11:55+00:00

Obviously everyone is struggling with the cost of living, and the fear of our new nursery bills is making me feel sick and just not knowing what I can actually do. I was under the impression that we wouldn’t be able to claim universal credit because we have a mortgage and both work and have semi-decent salaries (below average but enough to pay bills ect) I’ve done a universal credit calculator thing and it’s returning that we can claim £1400ish in universal credit. Surely that’s not right? I’ve been back through my answers and everything is what we get ect. Really? It just seems too good to be true.

Original poster

HeadsShouldersTitsandArse · 02/04/2024 07:08

Thanks all.

We’re shared ownership so I selected that option and it asked how much we pay in rent and service fees.

I checked the breakdown and the £1400 was after deductions. It was also about £1800 but it included some sort of loan and child benefit but we already claim child benefit so I ignored those bits. The main UC bit was £1400. I’ve made a claim just in case. It would be life altering if we can claim something, anything towards our nursery bills.

we have no savings 😂

OP posts:

Sn1859 · 02/04/2024 01:58

Freshstarts249 · 01/04/2024 23:28

That can’t be right. As a single parent you should receive the personal allowance, the child element and usually full rent unless maybe your rent is extortionate. Then they will make deductions based on your wage, but if you’re not earning a lot it shooldnt be loads.

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You only get full rent paid for social housing. For private (and possibly HA, I’m not sure) you get the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and that’s it. If it’s lower than your rent payment, you’ll have to make up the rest.

JMSA · 02/04/2024 01:55

Thanks for answering my question, to those who did

Freshstarts249 · 01/04/2024 23:28

fridaynightdinner12346 · 01/04/2024 23:15

I'm a single parent; work full time; rubbish wages (just above minimum wage); I get 75% of my rent paid and nothing else. Wouldn't have thought with two of you working full time you'd be entitled to anything. UC don't pay mortgages (which makes sense!)

That can’t be right. As a single parent you should receive the personal allowance, the child element and usually full rent unless maybe your rent is extortionate. Then they will make deductions based on your wage, but if you’re not earning a lot it shooldnt be loads.

XenoBitch · 01/04/2024 23:21

All you can do is try to apply through the proper channels and see what you actually get.

TeaKitten · 01/04/2024 23:20

fridaynightdinner12346 · 01/04/2024 23:15

I'm a single parent; work full time; rubbish wages (just above minimum wage); I get 75% of my rent paid and nothing else. Wouldn't have thought with two of you working full time you'd be entitled to anything. UC don't pay mortgages (which makes sense!)

It does pay 85% of childcare though up to a certain amount, which can be a lot! You also get a higher standard allowance for being a couple and higher work allowance for having a mortgage, so it can creep up.

BookArt · 01/04/2024 23:17

@JMSA no child maintenance doesn't count.

fridaynightdinner12346 · 01/04/2024 23:15

I'm a single parent; work full time; rubbish wages (just above minimum wage); I get 75% of my rent paid and nothing else. Wouldn't have thought with two of you working full time you'd be entitled to anything. UC don't pay mortgages (which makes sense!)

Katemax82 · 01/04/2024 23:08

JMSA · 01/04/2024 22:24

Sorry to hijack, but for the single mothers among us, does the child maintenance you receive count towards your earnings?
I have never claimed this but perhaps I should.

Child maintenance isn't counted against you like it was years ago

Notmyuser · 01/04/2024 23:05

TeaKitten · 01/04/2024 22:51

That’s not true, if you both work full time you don’t have to look for other work or go in for meetings.

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You don’t have to if you both work part time either, as long as you work over a certain amount of hours which I can’t remember. Maybe because our youngest was still under 2.

newwidowtobe · 01/04/2024 23:00

I used to do visits for DWP (still work there but very different role)..

So many people missing out on money they were entitled to claim because their mothers, neighbours, cousins parrot had read in the daily mail that people 'in the same situation' ... wouldn't be entitled... It's rarely correct as most people do not have identical circumstances and income. Both are important and relevant.

Number of kids
Childcare costs
Mortgage
Rent
Child maintenance
Disabilities
Caring responsibilities
Income
Relationship status.

The best bet is to use the 'entitled to' calculator. www.entitledto.co.uk/
and see for yourself. If the questions are answered correctly it is extremely accurate. Most people are surprised. Universal Credit was designed to be an in work benefit above all.

DodgyCanOpener · 01/04/2024 22:58

Just wanted to add, nursery invoices need to be paid in full and proof of payment provided before UC will give you an accurate calculation.

Annoyingly I had just paid our monthly invoice through Tax free childcare so had to wait a full month to be able to submit all the necessary paperwork.

TeaKitten · 01/04/2024 22:51

BigPussyEnergy · 01/04/2024 22:38

You may be eligible for some top up benefits but you’ll also be called in for meetings and expected to fill in a journal detailing all the ways you’ve been looking for more work and trying to increase your low earnings etc. TBH I’m impressed that anyone on a low income is surviving at the moment - maybe it depends where you live but as a single parent on low wages I’m getting deeper into debt just paying my bills and council tax etc plus increasing food and fuel costs. Just had a bill for car repairs that has wiped out everything I’ve earned this month.

Presumably yours will mainly go on nursery fees, enabling you to continue working, paying into a pension and being a stand-up member of society rather than one of those much scorned SAHMs taking tax payers hard earned cash 🙄

That’s not true, if you both work full time you don’t have to look for other work or go in for meetings.

TeaKitten · 01/04/2024 22:50

Impossible to say without the figures. Also remember if you have over 6k in savings it reduces and you can’t claim if you have over 16k in savings.

newwidowtobe · 01/04/2024 22:48

JMSA · 01/04/2024 22:24

Sorry to hijack, but for the single mothers among us, does the child maintenance you receive count towards your earnings?
I have never claimed this but perhaps I should.

No it doesn't.

BigPussyEnergy · 01/04/2024 22:38

You may be eligible for some top up benefits but you’ll also be called in for meetings and expected to fill in a journal detailing all the ways you’ve been looking for more work and trying to increase your low earnings etc. TBH I’m impressed that anyone on a low income is surviving at the moment - maybe it depends where you live but as a single parent on low wages I’m getting deeper into debt just paying my bills and council tax etc plus increasing food and fuel costs. Just had a bill for car repairs that has wiped out everything I’ve earned this month.

Presumably yours will mainly go on nursery fees, enabling you to continue working, paying into a pension and being a stand-up member of society rather than one of those much scorned SAHMs taking tax payers hard earned cash 🙄

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 01/04/2024 22:32

Seems very high.. how many children? What are your earnings?

Have you accidentally put your mortgage payment in for housing costs? UC won't pay the housing allowance, that's for rented only.

Marssuri · 01/04/2024 22:31

Are you sure it's the UC AFTER salary deduction?
Sometimes it shows something like:

housing benefit : 500 gbp
maintenance payment : 200 gbp
child benefits : 90 pounds
total UC : 790

Salary : - 790

Could you take a screenshot?

arethereanyleftatall · 01/04/2024 22:27

JMSA · 01/04/2024 22:24

Sorry to hijack, but for the single mothers among us, does the child maintenance you receive count towards your earnings?
I have never claimed this but perhaps I should.

I think it's child - no, spousal maintenance - yes.

BananaLambo · 01/04/2024 22:26

JMSA · 01/04/2024 22:24

Sorry to hijack, but for the single mothers among us, does the child maintenance you receive count towards your earnings?
I have never claimed this but perhaps I should.

Why aren’t you claiming this?!

Loveshine · 01/04/2024 22:26

I found what the entitled calculator told me I could get was a bit different that what I did get. Subsequently, I've moved from a part time job on NMW to a slightly better paying job, still part time and we're no longer getting anything 🤷‍♀️.

Notmyuser · 01/04/2024 22:25

It doesn’t surprise me. My partner and I were both part time but in reasonably well paid jobs and we still got UC and cost of living payments. Our part time wages were roughly equivalent of two full time wages just above minimum wage, so it definitely wouldn’t surprise me.

Glass113 · 01/04/2024 22:25

JMSA · 01/04/2024 22:24

Sorry to hijack, but for the single mothers among us, does the child maintenance you receive count towards your earnings?
I have never claimed this but perhaps I should.

No

JMSA · 01/04/2024 22:24

Sorry to hijack, but for the single mothers among us, does the child maintenance you receive count towards your earnings?
I have never claimed this but perhaps I should.

BuffaloCauliflower · 01/04/2024 22:23

If you have below average salaries and childcare costs it’s worth making a claim and seeing what comes back