Universal Credits for working couple

[Warmer]

Hi, I work part time and my husband works full time both on minimum wage and have 2 children. I have applied for universal credits and done the long 6 week wait to be told that we are entitled to £0! Not even any childcare help. I've spoke to them and they said this is correct. Is anyone else in the same situation? Where is the incentive for working families? We earn around £25,000 a year and have had help from tax credits for childcare costs in the past but just wanting to relate with other families in this situation.

Can I add we rent and it costs £665 a month.

That doesn't sound right at all. Have you done a calculation on turn2us? I don't claim anything atm but when I got tax credits in the past the threshold was much higher than 25k

Hi this is us! Not entitled to anything. We earn around the same as you and I also work two days per week and my partner full time. We have one DC but soon to be two!

With tax credits our income was significantly less than £25k. We got just enough to make us ineligible for free school meals.

hmm that doesn't sound right, how much are you paying in childcare?

Try putting your details in here and see if it's right www.entitledto.co.uk/?utm_source=BAdviser&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=GovUK

Thankyou for your replies! It's nice to just know that it's not just us. I tried the calculators and they said we would get over £400 a month from universal credits, which I didn't get my hopes up on because I know they sometimes aren't accurate but I at least thought we would get childcare help! The threshold for earnings on tax credits is £32,000 if I'm right and we have had help in the past so I'm just surprised that we will get zero. I understand that there are people worse off but i thought universal credits was to help people into work etc but now I work and send the kids to a childminders which I feel bad about for no benefit really. Our childcare costs are about £130 a month, I know that's not loads compared to some. They said on the phone that anything we earn after £500 a month they will take 63p from every pound. I'm not trying to complain just wondered if this sounded normal and it's also nice to know there are similar families working in this rat race haha x

What’s your combined yearly income?

You’re in the most difficult position financially, you’d probably get more not working which is nonsensical! I guess it’s an investment for the future as well.
I hope you find a way of getting some financial help.

25k a year combined. Thankyou karwomannghia. I know it's not really paying to work, to also put the kids at the childminders it's only a couple of hours 3 times a week after school but they moan about going, I just dont know if quitting work would mean me being sanctioned for 3 months and then also having to prove I am looking for work, can't really win! Plus working is good for routine and for your mind and at least I don't have to answer to universal credits if my husband ever wants to do overtime etc as they just take it off you. I'm just surprised they think 25k is a high earner😒

I'm so surprised to hear that you are not entitled to anything on 25k combined! I think single parents earning that qualify for some assistance? Are you at least getting tax free childcare?

What are your assessment dates? Qhat dates were you and your husband paid on over the last 6 weeks.
Have you checked they have all your elements on the breakdown? Rent? 2 children? Couple element? Childcare element?

I imagine one of you have been paid twice in your assessment period.

Just checked and everything is correct, 2 kids, rent costs etc. Our assessment date is 8th april-7th May. We got paid from work last day of the month so end of April. Fair enough about not receiving any extra money but I was just surprised they won't help with childcare costs as they want people to work as much as possible and people rely on childcare help. Our children are 5 and 8 so we don't get any free childcare hours anymore. I have spoken to citizens advice and they are going to arrange an appointment to go through anything I should be entitled too so at least then I will have peace of mind to know I have covered all avenues and it's not a mistake. Even just help with childcare would be a bonus to make it pay to work,wouldn't want to seem greedy! Xx

OP that really doesn't sound right. Our combined income is just over 30,000 after deductions and we still get around £50 a month from UC. We have 2 children and our rent is £675.

Hang on, if they said to you anything you earn over 500 has 63p deducted then you're not getting housing costs paid. If you receive help with rent, then anything you earn over 198 gets reduced by 63p. Can you screenshot your latest statement? Obvs blank out any identifying details.

Yes screen shot your statement, it’s just not right.

Did you send childcare invoices?

Yeah I sent invoices for the childcare costs. This is my first post so I'm not sure how to add a photo?? I've got my screenshots ready

Just click on the paper clip and the. Select photo library

@Myusernameismud what were your childcare costs though? The OP’s is very small.

You have to be a member for 48 hours to post pics.

My childcare costs are zero! DCs are 10 and 12 and I work school hours, term time only.

Warner does yours look anything like this?

I put in the calculator for the two of us, (one dd no childcare) and it came back as zero on £12k a year (house is mortgage, paid by ex) so I'm not surprised on £25k you get zero it's a lot tougher than tax credits