Do you claim universal credit with no kids?

[Sleepingboy]

Hi!

I'm trying to figure out if I can afford to split up with my dh and to help with that, claim UC. I don't claim benefits currently so don't really know much about them. I currently work pt and earn around £600 a month only. If I have the kids with me in a house with no mortgage it seems I would be entitled to around £1200 a month. If I have no kids living with me then it's about £300. Can this be right? What if I can't find a ft job that pays enough to live on?

Even if you have one house all paid for. This will be a huge help you can actually live on a basic salary less than full time and get by OP when you are mortgage free.

@LittleBearPad

Why would the split be 60:40?

Because I would have the children living with me, he has much more learning power than me and I gave up a good job to work part time in not such good jobs to raise our kids. Could be more...

Earning, not learning!

Op, you said that you wouldn't have children living with you? Are they older teens?

Well, they will be older teens soon!

If your children are over 13 you will be expected to look for full time work (35 hours per week) on UC. So if you work 24 hours now you would be expected to work search for 11 hours on top. You would be expected to take another part time job if your original job can't offer you more hours.

You can still claim for children and child care if necessary while they are in full time non advanced education while you look for more work.

The house you live in will not be classed as capital, the fact you would be mortgage free is irrelevant. Any other property or capital from a divorce would be included in your assessment.