Universal credit and sahm

[TadpolesInthe]

Is it possible to claim if one partner works and the other is a sahm ?
Does the working partner have to earn a certain amount for this to be ok ?

You claim as a couple so partners earnings are counted.
It total depends on the family set up as well as earnings.
Do a benefits calculator like entitled2 it will give you an idea of your possible award.

Once the youngest child is over 3 years old the sahm will have work search requirements.
Unless the working parent earns the equivalent of 1 x fulltime(I think its 37hours) plus 1x 16hours wage at nmw

Then it changes again as the child is old, possibly over 10 or something to 2 x full time jobs at nmw

@Screwcorona

Once the youngest child is over 3 years old the sahm will have work search requirements. Unless the working parent earns the equivalent of 1 x fulltime(I think its 37hours) plus 1x 16hours wage at nmw

Then it changes again as the child is old, possibly over 10 or something to 2 x full time jobs at nmw

Ok so I think I will work out what he gets what is nmw?

The only way to not have to comply with the worksearch requirements once your child is 3 is if you claim carers allowance for someone. They knock the £66 a week off the UC payment, but you don't have to job Search. Otherwise both partners are expected to look for work.

So what happens then do you just have to come off UC then if you don’t do ‘work search’ (what does that involve?)

Work search means you have to find jobs to apply for, and apply for them, for a set number of hours a week. The advisor sets the hours. If THEY DECIDE you aren't doing enough, they can sanction you - up to and including reducing your money to zero for several months. The advisor has targets for sanctions to meet too. It is soul destroyingly horrendous and stressful, and utterly depends on the individual advisor.
Until you do it, you don't believe it, the "government vision" and what they say about UC is very different what the reality, particularly if you're in an area where they say there are lots of jobs...
You have to prove you've been doing it too, which can be tricky.

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS there are no sanctions targets.

It's nice that you think that crocky.

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS that’s not true at all. It’s household income not individual. If your partner earns over x amount then you will not need to work.

@TadpolesInthe don’t use entitled to they are very inaccurate with UC. Work it out manually here
www.uceplus.co.uk/how-much-will-my-payment-be.html

Are you capable of working?

I don’t mean this unkindly, because I completely get the desperation to be at home with your children and the guilt at being away from them, but I’d not risk going on UC if it’s possible for you to work.

I don't know for certain but I doubt it. First, UC aims to get people back to work. You'll have to take on commitments with a work coach to find a job

If you're entitled, you can also get subsidised childcare so there's not really a reason for you to be at home, if you're on such a low income to be entitled in the first place

How old is your youngest child?
Do any of your children have any disabilities or health conditions?

If your youngest child is 0-2 you're not required to work or look for work. If they are 3-4 (preschool age) you're required to work or look for work for 16h/w. Once they start school this increases to 25 hours. There is supposed to be some flexibility though depending on your family's needs. And if any of your children have health conditions or disabilities you could claim DLA for them, Carer's Allowance for yourself and would not be required to work or look for work.

If you have a child aged under 13, you should talk to your personal adviser about what activities are realistic for you. You can ask for reasonable adjustments including to your expected number of work hours, for example, limiting the hours you are available to work so you can drop off and pick your child up from childcare or school. The expectation is that 25 hours should be appropriate if you have children of compulsory school age and 16 hours should be appropriate if you have children below compulsory school age, though this can vary depending upon your caring responsibilities. If you have an older child adjustments may still be approved.
www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Claimant-commitment-Universal-Credit

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS I know that.

@AnotherEmma they are 3-4 (preschool age) you're required to work or look for work for 16h/w. Once they start school this increases to 25 hours. you normally know your stuff re benefits so am surprised you posted this. @TadpolesInthe as I said previously the requirement is per family and as another pp says it relates to earning nmw x number of hours per household so if you partner earns the equivalent of a full time hours at nmw plus nmw x 16 hours if a child under school age and plus nmw x25 hours up to age 13.
It’s is irrelevant the hours worked and who earns the money, all that matters is that the household earns nmw multiplied by x number of hours.

@TadpolesInthe

It’s called the household conditionality earnings threshold

Couples

(1) For couples, the ‘earnings threshold’ is the sum of your individual thresholds, which may be different. Your earnings are combined and if they exceed the earnings threshold then neither member of the couple is subject to any work-related requirements, even if the earnings for one member of the couple are below their own individual threshold.

@MyDcAreMarvel
I do usually know my stuff, not always off the top of my head, I often look it up to double check! (Also on maternity leave atm so a bit rusty and sleep deprived )
In my defence, my post was not incorrect, OP will have those requirements, it's just that she will be exempt if her partner's earnings cover it, as you pointed out.
So assuming both over 25, with NMW at £8.72/hour, this means the partner should earn £305.20/week (35 hours), and for the OP it depends on the age of the youngest child - either £139.52/week (16 hours) or £218/week (25 hours). And as you point out it can be the partner who earns that, so he'd need to be earning £444.72 or £532.20 in total per week. That amount may well wipe out their UC entitlement, depending what it is (which, as you no doubt know, depends on number and age of children, whether they get the housing element, whether any disabilities etc).

Sorry I didnt get back to you.. have only just come back on here today. Looks like anotheremma has answered re nmw figures. Hope this has helped. I asked uc re my household so 100% certain its correct info.
If your oh earnings are over the amount for your household minimum definitly dont feel guilted into coming off it. You'll only receive roughly what you would have in tax credits in the same circumstances. And the point of lower financial expectations is to have a parent available for the children anyway. Do what works for you

There are quite strict rules setting out how many hours you are required to work. Depending on age of youngest child

Belated congratulations, @AnotherEmmahope you are able to still enjoy your maternity leave in these strange times. My youngest is one was certainly different not having groups etc to go to.

Thank you, she is 6 months old and it's been shite, I'm not going to lie! But I'm hoping the next 6 months will be better as the weather improves and restrictions ease 🤞
Sorry you haven't been able to enjoy mat leave as much with your baby either

(Op sorry for minor derail!)

Ok I think I understand now. It may be that my husband just will have to try and up his hours then to absorb my requirements?
Youngest is under 1 atm but I’m thinking ahead (certain medical issues mean I can’t work but I dont get pip)

As your youngest is under 1, you don't need to worry about any of this, you wouldn't be required to start working or looking for work until they turn 3. Also, if you have health conditions that affect your ability to work, you might not have to do anything then either - see www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/getting-universal-credit-if-youre-sick-or-disabled/