Can anyone answer some Universal credit questions??

[Elliebellybum]

So, due to DV I’m now a single mum to 3 children. We had tax credits and WTC as a couple, but I work for myself (only a few hours a week) so obviously have changed to a single claim for child tax credits.
I’m about to apply for Income support until Sept when youngest starts school at which point I will be working (possibly before September)
I’m going to need to try for HB as I’m having to rent privately, I’m not on the mortgage/deeds for FMH but I appreciate through marriage I have an interest in the property and that HB may well be funny about this.....

Anyway, I’ve been reading up and am now beyond confused.

If I try to claim HB and IS will I be moved onto UC? Even though I have 3 children and the system doesn’t seem entirely set up to manage more than 2 (I see the retrospective removal of benefits for the third child has been scrapped)
And if I do move is it as awful as I read it as being?

I was going to try to build my business back up alongside doing 16 hours of other work but it seems very harsh on self employment tbh (I lost custom during illness and have struggled to get it going again)

So much seems to be changing that I can’t seem to make sense of it. Obviously if I have to go on it so be it, but I’m very stressed about it as I already think I’ve screwed up the kids lives by leaving a secure home with a half ok income without adding in being really badly off financially as well!

You need to claim IS and HB before the end of January otherwise you will have to claim UC. Sort it first thing Monday.

If as far I i was aware can’t cope with a claim including three children - it’s goes into melt down

When you make your HB claim state that your not named on the deeds or mortgage but will be persuading a divorce claim including a part share in the house and if successful will alert them to this at that time - if the capital isn’t yours yet...

See I’m finding it very confusing, as I thought nothing was being done now until July after the mass roll out was put on hold? Isn’t there a vote then to move 10,000 families on to it?
I don’t think we would be an easy case to move over, I assumed it would be “trialled” as the wording says on the two child families first?
I’m not in my rental yet, until the beginning of Feb so even if I claim IS tomorrow I will still not be able to claim HB until Feb?

Everything I read tells me something different.

Is it a really awful system? I must admit I like Tax credits, it’s much easier with self employment which does go upland down

There's a group on Facebook - universal credit essentials - and the admin are very helpful . Post on there :)

Thankyou x

Ellie - have a look on your local district council website and see if you can claim HB online... if you can then claim and state in the box at the end you have 3 children so have been told to claim UC

Do it now ready for the dates you move in

ring them first thing on Monday morning.

lots of knowledge on here

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=139

New claims for three child families are definitely UC only. You are confused with the trial migration of current tax credit claimants starting in July.

You won’t be able to claim HB after Jan 31st you willhave to either pay rent yourself or claim UC.

That should say UC after 1st Feb.

Thankyou everyone!

I will try to get it sorted before the end of Jan. I assume as long as my claim is in by then I won’t get put on it?

I’m trying to claim HB online, but I don’t know how much tax credits I’m getting yet, as it’s not been sent to me, and do I say I am claiming IS? I will be, but I haven’t put the paperwork in yet?

I know this sounds stupid, but what with our lives having been totally destroyed with what my ex did this feels like the final straw for me.
All I read is how awful it is

When was your youngest born? The scraping of the third/subsequent child element you speak about is only for children born before 6th April 2017.

You'll claim old style legacy benefits. Don't be concerned with UC for a while. Any migration won't impact you at this stage, it's likely to be old style JSA claimants who are migrated first

My youngest was born in 2015 so they are all eligible.

I am going to have to claim new benefits though, such as IS and HB which I wasn’t before, so having read up I think it will trigger me needing to apply for it!

I don’t know what to do? I don’t have my tax credits award notice yet for the HB application and I still have money sat in my bank for the letting agency so have too much money to claim IS!

I know I’m probably over stressing but our lives have been in turmoil since we left and I can’t face things getting worse for us right now

You can't claim HB until you actually have a rental liability. You can submit your claim in advance but it won't make any difference to your award date which won't be until you reside in your rental property.

I’m going to end up going back to him at this rate

Claim Income support and tax credits. Claim housing benefit when needed. Your over thinking it at the moment. UC is changing so rapidly you need to claim depending what your circumstances are right now

I think two things are getting mixed her

Two children benefit cap

The fact universal claim system can’t cope with more than two children - therefore the need to claim old style benefits if you have more than 2 children

How much to input for tax credit amount on housing benefit application- use entitle to website to input your circumstances and get an idea of the weekly amount, use this figure and in the box - anything else to tell us- as the end of the firm, state you have used a benefit calculator to estimate the amounts as you’re yet to receive your award letter. Advice you will take the award letter in as soon as you receive it

Am I stressing too much over everything?

I’m just worried that my actions in leaving (although for good reasons) are going to push me and the children into hardship.
I’ve read nothing good, not one thing good about UC.
I’m happy to work, I had always planned to in September but I’m worried I will work then they will start pushing and sanctioning me to do more and more hours

You can’t claim HB until you have a tenancy and as things currently stand you will have to claim UC if you want rent help after 1st Feb.
However for now claim Tax credits you definitely can before end of Jan and it won’t trigger UC as it’s not possible to claim UC in your circumstances until Feb.
Then once you find a property you will have to make a choice pay the rent yourself and stay on tax credits or claim support with rent and claim UC.
I suggest you check your calculations very carefully at that point.

Mydc - how is op going to claim UC after February 1 st if she had 3 children?