Working couples who claim universal credit

Pinkponyclub123 · 2025-05-03T12:56:27+00:00

This is a question for anyone in a couple claiming universal credit, where you are both working. If one of you worked full time, and the other worked part time to save on childcare costs and do school runs ect, is it fair for the part time worker to use all of the universal credit money to pay for things needed for the household (eg kids clothes, school trips, ect) once they've paid the bills from their wages? Or should they transfer half of it to the full time worker because it's a joint claim? Bearing in mind part time workers wages are less than half of the full time workers.

Invinsibubblality · 04/05/2025 15:05

If you're a family, living as a family, UC claim and finances should be handled as a family.

All money into a joint account with a set amount moved to individual accounts for 'fun / personal' spends, which is equal for each partner, regardless of earned income.

x2boys · 03/05/2025 22:13

I never understand questions like this my dh isn't perfect and has many faults as do I but he's never been controlling about money everything goes in one pot and we both use it as we see fit,it's never been been his money and my money it's always been our money.

TisILeClair · 03/05/2025 20:11

As a family everything should go in one pot of course - that is if you are a committed couple. What would happen if the full-time worker had an accident and couldn’t work for a few years?

Bestfadeplans · 03/05/2025 19:50

I can't believe full time worker is only paying the rent???

StClabberts · 03/05/2025 19:24

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 19:23

Absolutely. Splitting up has been discussed many times. But he won't move out because splitting up isnt what he wants, and I can't afford to either. So we're kind of stuck.

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Well, at minimum I wouldn't listen to him whining that you don't give him enough of the UC you get for the kids to spend on booze and cigs. If you have one and a half jobs between you I highly doubt you'd qualify for any UC without the DC.

Original poster

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 19:23

legoplaybook · 03/05/2025 18:26

Is it worth having him around or financially would you be better off claiming UC as a single parent?

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Absolutely. Splitting up has been discussed many times. But he won't move out because splitting up isnt what he wants, and I can't afford to either. So we're kind of stuck.

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StClabberts · 03/05/2025 18:43

Sounds like a real prince.

legoplaybook · 03/05/2025 18:26

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 17:36

I think that's something that we'd have to sit down and work out the exact figures of because our finances are so separate, but to give an idea ft worker always has enough for a lot of beer and tobacco, pt worker doesn't drink or smoke but definitely wouldnt be able to afford it if they did.

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Is it worth having him around or financially would you be better off claiming UC as a single parent?

TwoFeralKids · 03/05/2025 18:20

He drinks and smokes so much he uses all his wages? Get rid of him.

TwoFeralKids · 03/05/2025 18:19

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 18:07

I get your point. And perhaps if he didn't smoke and drink so much he would use his full time wage to help out with household costs more and claiming uc would never have crossed my mind. However it is what it is and we are entitled to it (despite both working and paying tax ourselves), so I put in a claim because I simply cannot afford to pay for everything with my wages alone.

Edited

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You might be better off being a single parent if he is smoking money meant to feed the kids.

Original poster

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 18:07

redfishcat · 03/05/2025 17:58

And this I think is why people think UC is too generous, and needs a massive overhaul .
no one should have enough for lots of beer and tobacco on Government money which obtained from other peoples taxes.
most of don’t mind paying for your kids shoes, or even a day out at the beach for the kids complete with chips and ice cream, but we do mind when beer and cigarettes are bought.
no idea how to stop what people spend money on and am fully aware it a centuries old problem

I get your point. And perhaps if he didn't smoke and drink so much he would use his full time wage to help out with household costs more and claiming uc would never have crossed my mind. However it is what it is and we are entitled to it (despite both working and paying tax ourselves), so I put in a claim because I simply cannot afford to pay for everything with my wages alone.

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redfishcat · 03/05/2025 17:58

And this I think is why people think UC is too generous, and needs a massive overhaul .
no one should have enough for lots of beer and tobacco on Government money which obtained from other peoples taxes.
most of don’t mind paying for your kids shoes, or even a day out at the beach for the kids complete with chips and ice cream, but we do mind when beer and cigarettes are bought.
no idea how to stop what people spend money on and am fully aware it a centuries old problem

Original poster

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 17:36

legoplaybook · 03/05/2025 17:16

How much does each person have left over?

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I think that's something that we'd have to sit down and work out the exact figures of because our finances are so separate, but to give an idea ft worker always has enough for a lot of beer and tobacco, pt worker doesn't drink or smoke but definitely wouldnt be able to afford it if they did.

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AmusedGoose · 03/05/2025 17:34

In these circumstances it should go into the joint pot.

Picklechicken · 03/05/2025 17:20

We put everything into one pot and give ourselves equal spending money each month - dh works and I don’t (disabilities etc, I get PIP, that does into the joint account too, everything all in and then we transfer an equal and set amount to our own accounts for personal spending). We make sure we leave extra in the joint account for days out, family stuff etc.

Mrsttcno1 · 03/05/2025 17:19

legoplaybook · 03/05/2025 17:16

How much does each person have left over?

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Yep this.

If you don’t want to put it all into one pot then the fairest way is to sit down and work out what you are both left with after paying everything that needs to be paid.

legoplaybook · 03/05/2025 17:16

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 17:14

For a bit of clarity, full time worker pays the rent, part time worker pays for everything else, bills, food shops, things for the kids ect. Overall full time worker has more going into their bank account every month than part time worker even with uc included

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How much does each person have left over?

StClabberts · 03/05/2025 17:16

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 17:14

For a bit of clarity, full time worker pays the rent, part time worker pays for everything else, bills, food shops, things for the kids ect. Overall full time worker has more going into their bank account every month than part time worker even with uc included

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Ok well with that and your other update I don't understand the FT workers point. If they want it to go into their account, I guess that's ok but are they also going to sort all of the stuff the PT worker does and uses the money for, or do they just envisage transferring it? Basically, if £50 is needed for kids shoes, presumably the PT worker now sorts it. Is the FT worker going to take over, or just transfer? The latter seems a waste of everyone's time.

Original poster

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 17:14

StClabberts · 03/05/2025 16:47

Wouldn't the full time worker still have to use it for the same household expenses anyway? I'm confused!

As a general rule, if you've joint finances (and I don't understand how you can't with a joint UC claim) then all one pot and equal spending money. Some room for maneouvre on that if eg one party does much less/more than the other as a lifestyle choice. But that's not going to apply when you have young DC.

For a bit of clarity, full time worker pays the rent, part time worker pays for everything else, bills, food shops, things for the kids ect. Overall full time worker has more going into their bank account every month than part time worker even with uc included

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Original poster

Pinkponyclub123 · 03/05/2025 17:11

Mrsttcno1 · 03/05/2025 16:48

It’s not either of you money, it’s your households money, and should be treated as such, it goes into a household pot. Even if you don’t have joint finances usually your UC money has to be because it is not either of yours it is genuinely “ours”

Pretty much everything spent is 'household expenses', things like kids clothes, birthdays, Christmas, breakfast/afterschool club, it certainly isn't one person's money to go on things for themself

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TwoFeralKids · 03/05/2025 16:53

Katemax82 · 03/05/2025 16:51

Our universal credit goes in my bank, my husband works, I don't. I decide what happens to it

I thought it had to be a joint account?

Katemax82 · 03/05/2025 16:51

Our universal credit goes in my bank, my husband works, I don't. I decide what happens to it

Mrsttcno1 · 03/05/2025 16:48

It’s not either of you money, it’s your households money, and should be treated as such, it goes into a household pot. Even if you don’t have joint finances usually your UC money has to be because it is not either of yours it is genuinely “ours”

StClabberts · 03/05/2025 16:47

Wouldn't the full time worker still have to use it for the same household expenses anyway? I'm confused!

As a general rule, if you've joint finances (and I don't understand how you can't with a joint UC claim) then all one pot and equal spending money. Some room for maneouvre on that if eg one party does much less/more than the other as a lifestyle choice. But that's not going to apply when you have young DC.

TwoFeralKids · 03/05/2025 16:46

We both use it as it goes in the joint account. Is he complaining that you are using it for the kids?