Universal Credits for working couple

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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.

Entitled to and turn2us both say we're not entitled to anything so I wouldn't trust them at all!

Myusernameismud yes mine looks like your screenshot it includes the standard allowance and the children section BUT it doesn't have a box about the rent we pay, maybe that's why!!! When I go into the form I filled in etc it says I've put what rent we pay and who to etc but not on the bit where they breakdown your payment. I will ring them tomorrow and see if this is why. Thankyou for all of your replies by the way trying to help me work it out, so nice!!

I've just rang universal credits again and they said that they hadn't processed my childcare invoice and he said that based on my earnings he isn't surprised that we are not entitled to anything as we earn too much on 25k.

That salary seems very low to not get anything extra.

That's a load of rubbish! What the UC advisor said I mean, not you. We earn a good deal more than you and we are still entitled to some UC. It could be that they're waiting for confirmation of your rent before adding that amount to your total, so I'd query that.
What's your combined monthly take home pay if you don't mind me asking.

You should be getting UC on 25k with 2 kids, renting and childcare costs. The guy on the phone is wrong. Many of the so called advisors give wrong advice. It drives me wild!
When your rent and childcare is added on, it should be sorted.
Did you upload the recipts in the assessment period? And does the recipt show it was paid within the assessment period?

Yeah I shown everything within the time but he said they hadn't processed my childcare invoice which the woman failed to tell me on the phone this morning🙄 so at least that's something towards help. I mentioned about the rent payment box not showing on my statement and he said I wouldn't get help for that from what we earn, he made out I was a millionaire haha. Anyway I will see citizens advice just as back up. Husband gets under £1400 a month and then his pension needs to be taken off that figure not exactly sure what that amount is as it has just changed and I get £720. It might sound loads I don't wanna seem greedy!! Obviously rents expensive, parking my car to go to work is £50 a month so it all adds up x

If they’re giving you a £ 500 work allowance they think you don’t pay rent. So their calculation is wrong. www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances

Ring them back and ask them to confirm that they’ve definitely included your housing element.

How much is your rent? Do you know what your local housing allowance is? I can give you a calculation.

It’s pretty easy to work out what you should get. They are guides online explaining how to calculate your payment.

Local housing allowance here. lha-direct.voa.gov.uk

Are you renting privately or council/housing association? If not private then LHA doesn't apply, which is why we get all our rent included in our UC calculation.

My first payment was messed up. I noticed on my statement they wasn't anything about child allowance so I didn't get a work allowance either. I phoned them up and they didn't include my child on my claim. The man I spoke to sorted it over the phone. Iv read alot about how UC make alot of mistakes. Double check everything.

Op do you mean you earn £25k net rather than gross?

25k is what we bring home after tax etc. My rent is 665 private rent x

That’s probably why as 25,000 take home is the equivalent to about £33000 gross. They use your gross pay

Very significant drip feed there OP!

Explains why no benefit

They don't use gross pay at all, they get exact details of your take home pay from HMRC every month.

OP unfortunately you won't get your full rent included as it's private. If you can work out what the LHA is for your area then might be a bit clearer what you might be entitled to. Also, are you in a 2 or 3 bed? And how old are DCs?

On that gross income you're unlikely to be entitled to anything.
You earn significantly more than 25k, your combined income is actually over 30k gross

No it doesn't explain it at all! Our combined income is 30k AFTER tax and we still get some UC. Admittedly its about 50 a month, but we don't have childcare costs.

Oh sorry to drip feed! I think I've been quite honest actually. Thanks myusernameismud, it's 3 bed and children are 5 and 8. I wouldn't ever expect any of my rent to be paid at all, I literally just wondered if anyone was in a similar family and financial situation and if it sounds right, if it does then fine and I was more surprised at the no help at childcare costs but as I've rang them twice now they have made a mistake so now I'm abit clearer, I fully accept no other money it was more the childcare costs and the incentive to work. I will have to work out the lha when I have abit more time :)

They absolutely do use your gross pay and the cut off point is around £32000 for 2 kids.

Op I think the calculations are correct then as you actually earn circa £33k not £25k.
You can claim tax free childcare instead.

123 how have you come to that conclusion? Because our gross salary is significantly above that and yet here we are, still entitled to universal credit!

They 100% use net pay.

It is TAX CREDITS that use gross pay.

Their gross pay isn't 33k btw. Look at their individual earnings. Her DP earns approx 19k gross. She earns £8650 gross (her net is the same). £27650 gross.