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Original poster

Universal credit experts??

69 replies

Inbedbynine · 01/05/2019 12:12

Can anyone tell me what would happen if I stopped working in these circumstance please?

I currently work 16 hours term time. I get WTC, CTC? HB, I get carers allowance as have a disabled child.

If I stopped work is that a change enough to change me to UC? It’s in my area for new claims. Or under UC can I work under 16 hours or will I lose a lot of money? I think I would lose the WTC now wouldn’t I?

Thanks

OP posts:
Stickmangate · 02/05/2019 07:03

www.gov.uk/income-support This is the link for the government pages on eligibility for income support. I think you will be best seek some advice in real life from cab or the other welfare advice organisations (can differ between regions) they will be able to look at what you current get and how your different working options might affect you.

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 02/05/2019 07:08

Getting hold of CAB was a nightmare yesterday as it’s linitrd hours, when I’m at work!

With the severe disability element, doesn’t that mean me having it and not my dc? I’m not disabled in any way...

OP posts:
buggerthebotox · 02/05/2019 07:18

CAB have got a webchat facility, I think.

Entitled to has a list of "triggers" to UC.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
stucknoue · 02/05/2019 07:28

Turn to us can show you what you get under the old rules and what you get under the new ones, you can try with and without your job. The other thing to try is the specific circumstances team (not sure there actual name) at the job centre who are trained to advise people like you, my friend heads it up for our area.

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 02/05/2019 07:41

In been on the entitled to website and that says I’ll be better off on UC but others on here doubt that? It also shows I’d be better off not working on UC than I am now.... which I wouldn’t be on the old system.

Do you mean phone the job centre stuck?

OP posts:
PencilsInSpace · 02/05/2019 08:05

With the severe disability element, doesn’t that mean me having it and not my dc?

Yes, the new rules are only around severe disability premium.

If you have a disabled child you would get disabled child premium and possibly enhanced disability premium in your HB and disabled child element and possibly severely disabled child element on your CTC. None of these come under the new rules.

If you stopped work or dropped below 16 hours you would lose WTC and would not be able to claim IS, it would have to be UC.

Many people are worse off under UC but not everybody. The Entitled To calculation is not necessarily wrong but it's worth getting it checked by CAB or similar before you take the plunge.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 02/05/2019 08:11

I can help, but it won't be until later today. It will take 10 mins to type post out, and am just leaving the house. Don't worry. It will all be fine. I can do a calculation for you also.

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 02/05/2019 08:32

I’d really really appreciate that this Iv barely slept.

I can’t believe my boss is doing this to me.

OP posts:
MrsSquiggler · 02/05/2019 08:57

You can't make a new claim for income support as it's a legacy benefit. But losing WTC will not stop your CTC claim so if you can live without income support you don't need to claim UC:

"Where an existing tax credit claimant is entitled to both working tax credit and child tax credit, any change that affects only one of them will not lead to termination of the whole claim and thus will not necessarily require a claim for UC.

Example 2

Jacob is a lone parent with two children. He works 20 hours a week and is entitled to working tax credit as well as child tax credit. Jacob is made redundant and is unable to find another job. Although this will mean his working tax credit claim will end, he is still entitled to child tax credit and if he does start working above 16 hours again, he can claim working tax credit again. He will not be required to claim UC (unless he needs to access another benefit that UC has replaced (see below for further information)."

revenuebenefits.org.uk/universal-credit/guidance/existing-tax-credit-claimants/changes-of-circumstances#what%20changes%20end%20tax%20credit%20claim

Once you make a UC claim (ie, hitting submit on the online application) you can't go back to tax credits. So if at any point HMRC (possibly mistakenly) stop your tax credits claim and tell you to claim UC, then get advice first. If they stopped your TC claim in error you could choose to challenge that decision rather than claim UC.

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 02/05/2019 09:02

Thank you for the links. I spoke to tax credits who confirmed that I couldn’t make income support claim but would stay on tax credits but yes lose the child tax. That means losing my wage plus child tax credit which is ALOT of money Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Inbedbynine · 03/05/2019 13:47

Well I’m even more confused. Cab couldn’t help.... talked about being sanctioned, they rang job centre and they couldn’t help. I rung UC and they didn’t know anything about migration!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Inbedbynine · 03/05/2019 14:03

The guy I’m speaking to just now put me on hold, he then comes back to say I won’t get transitional protection as that’s only for the people it’s being ‘tested’ on just now! Why is there so much mis information?? According to him the amount I would get is £1000 less than the entitled to website, the amount he gave just about pats my rent Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Inbedbynine · 03/05/2019 14:08

Iv been on the phone over an hour to UC and they can’t answer my questions! Yet there’s no one they can pass me to as I don’t yet have a uc claim?? I just want help and they won’t help me? He’s said there’s a benefit cap, Iv said but I’m entitled to it says if you’re caring for someone you are excerpt from the cap...,. He doesn’t have a clue. Anyone know who I can speak to???

OP posts:
Original poster
Inbedbynine · 03/05/2019 16:56

Thank you for that link, I haven’t seen that one. However I don’t call into any of those categories ... I’m on WTC and ctc and HB and a carer and a lone parent. I can’t see anywhere one box that says stops work........

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 03/05/2019 17:05

CAB couldn't help? How did you contact them - did you visit/call your local branch or did you use the national helpline or webchat?

If you haven't yet done so, I suggest you contact their Help to Claim service: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/

Ask them to do a "better off" calculator for the following two scenarios:

  1. Continue as you are (working 16h/w, claiming WTC, CTC and HB)
  2. Stop working and claim Universal Credit, which will replace your tax credits and HB
In both scenarios you can and should continue to claim Carers Allowance and Council Tax Reduction. You won't necessarily be worse off under UC, see what the calculation says. (However, you will be worse off if you stop working - or work less than 16h/w - and don't claim UC, because you will lose your wages and WTC, and you won't be able to claim income support as it's a "legacy benefit" ie it has been replaced by UC).
AnotherEmma · 03/05/2019 17:05

calculator calculation

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 03/05/2019 17:11

I had an apt and went in this morning. They rand the job centre whilst I was there who couldn’t give any answers..... she then gave me UC phone number and as you’ll read in my exasperated messages they had no clue! Gave me one figure about £1000 and I said but that doesn’t cover my rent.... he kept going off to someone else and said my calculator is wrong and then gave another figure about the same as my current tax credits and my HB which was fine then he said it will be less due to the benefit cap.... I said I’m except from that due to being a carer. He argued, then went off again and agreed with me and has come back with the second figure which is ok. But I have no idea who to trust. He told me if I claimed today my period would be 3rd May to 2nd June and my payment would be on 9th June...... no later. Who knows??

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 03/05/2019 17:16

Oh dear.
Well I'd be happy to do the calculation for you if it would help and not confuse you more. (I'm a benefits adviser.) I would need the following info which you could PM me:

  • your wage (gross yearly and net monthly)
  • any other income (apart from benefits and child maintenance)
  • any savings that you have (under £6k is not counted)
  • your rent
  • whether or not you live in London (this is relevant for the benefit cap if it applies)
AnotherEmma · 03/05/2019 17:17

PS Also whether you are in social/private rented housing, how many bedrooms you have and whether your children are male or female.

colditz · 03/05/2019 17:19

Inbedbynine

I have a similar circumstance to you. I got a job which pays £90 per week, and it triggered a switch to Universal Credit. I am a lot worse off, even whilst earning rather than staying at home, and even though I got to keep the carers allowance.

My advice to you is to do as little as possible to trigger a change. You are better off not changing to UC. It's a rigid benefit that isn['t fit for purpose.

AnotherEmma · 03/05/2019 17:21

I wish misinformed people would stop telling others that they will be worse off under UC and shouldn't apply.
Everyone's circumstances are different, just because yours are "similar" to the OP's does NOT mean you can make assumptions. Some people are worse off under UC and some people are better off.
UC has its negatives but the scaremongering pisses me off because it makes people anxious or even terrified of it when there is no need to be, most of the time.

AnotherEmma · 03/05/2019 17:27

A quick calculation tells me that if you stop working and claim UC, you will get UC of £1092.20/month PLUS the housing element to cover your rent.

colditz · 03/05/2019 17:33

yes anotheremma, I used to say that to people.

And now I'm £190 a month worse off INCLUDING my wage.

I wish people would stop defending this shitshow. it has literally ended lives, but nobody wants to think it could happen to them, because "all circumstances are different"

I do not know a single person who is not worse off under UC, and my area has had it for at least a year now. It hits carers very, VERY hard, especially WRT council tax, which is higher on larger properties (that carers need for wheelchair room and extra bedrooms)

AnotherEmma · 03/05/2019 17:40

As a benefits adviser I know plenty of people who receive the same amount under UC and some people who are better off. Obviously a few are worse off too. The biggest issue is the long wait for the first payment.

Re council tax, it's separate from UC. When claiming UC you still have to claim Council Tax Reduction separately. And a disabled person who needs a bigger home for wheelchair and/or certain adaptations, you can apply to the council for them to reduce the council tax band.