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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why I can't claim Universal credit?

60 replies

Walkinginthemoonlight · 24/10/2025 07:03

I'm single, 57, and I've been working 30 hours a week in retail for quite some time.
My contracted hours are 18, and over time has taken my hours to 30.

Now however, all overtime has been stopped for all staff and so I applied for Universal credit to try and help me out. I don't have savings over £6,000, but my Son (who is a full time student but working part time) was living with me when I applied.

I do own my own home outright, but I've read that this isn't taken into account as capital if it's the home you're living in. Considering I'm on minimum wage, I can't understand how my low income doesn't qualify me for any help when even couples can claim UC apparently.

I'm just wondering how little an income people have to actually earn to be able to qualify for help. Btw, I've been constantly looking for other jobs too, but I think my age could be putting would be employers off. Could it be the fact that my son was living me (he's just moved into his own place now) affected the outcome of M6 application?

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 24/10/2025 07:37

@Walkinginthemoonlight I'm sorry your hours have been cut. I don't know where you live but in the South East cleaners and carers are in short supply and high demand. I pay my cleaner £18ph.

Are jobs like that an option?

Starlight7080 · 24/10/2025 07:34

Its probably because you dont have rent to pay monthly. Or dependants.
So the wage you do get they will class as enough to live on.
I think as someone else has said in a previous post. The people who get it are on a very low wage and have rent/mortgage and dependants.

Zanatdy · 24/10/2025 07:34

Definitely check the eligibility calculator to see if it’s correct.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 24/10/2025 07:32

BedknobsNoBroomsticks · 24/10/2025 07:29

It is really easy to work out.

Start with what you are entitled to which would be a single person over 25 which is £400 per month.

Then you move onto your earnings. The first £684 of your wage is disregarded, then for every £1 above that 55p is taken off.

If your earnings are more than the £400 you will be entitled to nothing.

With no health limitations or dependent children on her claim there is no wages disregard. So, unless her son is in full time education at school or 6th form and under 18, she would have th deductions based on all her income.

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 24/10/2025 07:29

Walkinginthemoonlight · 24/10/2025 07:21

No I didn't, I just applied, but it seems like my earnings are too much according to @Nonametonight , even though they're really low

Show quote history

Sadly this is correct; as a single person, with no dependents or health limitations and no rent on the property you live in, your entitlement is only £400.14 so any wages over £727.52 would wipe out your entitlement.

BedknobsNoBroomsticks · 24/10/2025 07:29

It is really easy to work out.

Start with what you are entitled to which would be a single person over 25 which is £400 per month.

Then you move onto your earnings. The first £684 of your wage is disregarded, then for every £1 above that 55p is taken off.

If your earnings are more than the £400 you will be entitled to nothing.

Acommonreader · 24/10/2025 07:28

Try an eligibility calculator but I suspect you need to work more hours. Especially as you do not have a young child. I have 2 dc under 14 years old and my hours were dropped ( by employers) to 18 per week. I had to have a meeting with a UC work coach and promise to increase hours to a minimum of 22. You can’t work part time without good reason ( children) and expect to be topped up with UC.

Original poster
Walkinginthemoonlight · 24/10/2025 07:21

Bigtreeesss · 24/10/2025 07:11

Did you use one of the eligibility calculators?

No I didn't, I just applied, but it seems like my earnings are too much according to @Nonametonight , even though they're really low

OP posts:
Bigtreeesss · 24/10/2025 07:11

Did you use one of the eligibility calculators?

Nonametonight · 24/10/2025 07:11

You should be able to look on your online account to see how your UC was worked out

But as a single adult with no health conditions, no dependent children, no rent liability and no entitlement to support as a carer, earnings of about £730 a month would be enough to knock your entitlement down to zero

The media might tell us that people on UC are living it large, but in reality UC is set at a very low limit and most people whose incomes are low enough to get it are in severe hardship