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Original poster

Can you get universal credit for being a SAHM if husband works f/t?

522 replies

faultywiring · 11/04/2023 12:25

I am a SAHM and dh works full time, only min wage but he does about 50 hours.
Would I be able to get Universal credit and stay at home dc are 5 and 7 both at school.
I don't want job seekers as I'm not looking for jobs but just wondering if UC was an option or if I'd be expected to look for work?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Babyroobs · 11/04/2023 12:45

fyn · 11/04/2023 12:43

We do, I do have younger children though (2 and four months) so I’m not sure if that is a consideration!

Yes totally different for a parent of under 3's, one parent will have no work commitments if they are down as the main carer.

Alfiemoon1 · 11/04/2023 12:45

It depends on your husbands income but you would be expected to look for work

purpledalmation · 11/04/2023 12:45

This will go down well. Popcorn time

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
BunnyRabbitSandwich · 11/04/2023 12:46

Why can’t you work? Other people do.

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 11/04/2023 12:47

Marchforward · 11/04/2023 12:40

You can transfer your allowance to him and claim child benefit which you should be doing in your name to make sure you get NI contribution but I don’t think you will be entitled to anything else.

Hi, which allowance can be transferred? TY!

Babyroobs · 11/04/2023 12:49

purpledalmation · 11/04/2023 12:45

This will go down well. Popcorn time

I think people do need to stop being so mean to op. Until recently when the rules changed, as long as one parent earned over a certain amount the other was able to be in the light touch group with no real requirements to work or look for work so it's not unreasonable of op to ask. In fact I think it is still the case now but is changing soon since the announcements in the spring budget that there is now a big push to get more people working. I'm just surprised that people in a couple have been able to not have work search commitments on UC for so long, wheras lone parents have been asked to look for work as soon as their child turns 3. It is time it was made fair.

bellabellaIzzie · 11/04/2023 12:50

Are you serious? @faultywiring I think it's extremely unlikely you'll get a penny piece for that purpose.

Marblessolveeverything · 11/04/2023 12:52

Given some recent chats with mums about barriers to returning to the workplace. Is the issue childcare or a child with additional needs appointments? There are some supports available in the UK.

If you have specific medical challenges acting as a barrier then you need to engage in one of the support services or return to work schemes.

Talking to a number of women recently who wanted to return to work but felt absolutely trapped I appreciate a bit that my experience of always been a full time employee may cloud my response.

But no choosing to be a SAHM means your family income needs to support that choice, it isn't a right.

Babyroobs · 11/04/2023 12:52

bellabellaIzzie · 11/04/2023 12:50

Are you serious? @faultywiring I think it's extremely unlikely you'll get a penny piece for that purpose.

It completely depends on op's situation. If she has rent nd husband on minimum wage job then it's highly likely she would get some UC as it's a pretty generous benefit for families where one is working on a low income.

WeeOrcadian · 11/04/2023 12:53

"I am a SAHM"

No you're not.

There's no reason you can't work (at least none that you've stated) so why do you need to stay at home?

Boltonb · 11/04/2023 12:53

Morningcoffeeview · 11/04/2023 12:34

Set up a go fund me, I’ll contribute. A truly worthy cause.

Yes, me too. I could only afford about £400 monthly, but hopefully it will all help you.

MrsSamR · 11/04/2023 12:56

Babyroobs · 11/04/2023 12:49

I think people do need to stop being so mean to op. Until recently when the rules changed, as long as one parent earned over a certain amount the other was able to be in the light touch group with no real requirements to work or look for work so it's not unreasonable of op to ask. In fact I think it is still the case now but is changing soon since the announcements in the spring budget that there is now a big push to get more people working. I'm just surprised that people in a couple have been able to not have work search commitments on UC for so long, wheras lone parents have been asked to look for work as soon as their child turns 3. It is time it was made fair.

Show quote history

I think the reason people are 'being mean to the OP' is because there is a cost of living crisis on. Every day there are threads on here about people working all hours and cutting costs back to the bone to make ends meet and the OP thinks for some reason she should have her lifestyle choice not to work funded by the very people who are struggling to provide for their own families.

Mogginsthemog · 11/04/2023 12:56

I will depend, best thing to do is to plug your figs- husband earnings, rent etc, into an online benefits calculator, turn2us or entitledto

bellabellaIzzie · 11/04/2023 12:56

Thanks @Babyroobs I agree with your post about the fairness (when compared with single parents especially) of the new rules being introduced.

I suppose it will also depend on his income at the moment. 50 hours I think she said.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 11/04/2023 12:57

<hands op even bigger spoon>

AnyFucker · 11/04/2023 12:58

Drop and run, eh ?

Original poster
faultywiring · 11/04/2023 12:58

We do manage fine with dh earnings. I just wasn't sure if there was something I could have been claiming and wasn't.
We do get child benefit.
It's the logistics of it all, my parents are nearly 80 and have health issues so are not able to look after the dc and dh family live hours away.
The dc never seem to be in school.
6 weeks off in the summer holidays
Half terms
End of terms
Easter hols
Xmas hols
Inset days
Days sick
And lately Strikes
It's easy to say the dc are at school but they never seem to be and any jobs I have had in the past have ended because I can't get child care, especially for flexible work which is the field I work.
I don't know any Childminders who will just have dc as and when you need them.

OP posts:
chocspot · 11/04/2023 12:59

It's not that you'd get UC just for being a SAHM. It all depends on your circumstances. Rent if applicable, what the LHA is in your area, how many children, then your household income.

Unless your children are still very young, both parents are expected to work and earn a certain amount.

berksandbeyond · 11/04/2023 13:00

You’re not a stay at home mum, you’re unemployed, now you’d like to add ‘on benefits’ to that description. If you can’t finance your own lifestyle choices then you’ll need to get a job. Frankly I would have thought it would make sense to work and let your husband work a bit less? 50 hours a week in a (manual) minimum wage job can’t be great for his health as he gets older. If he drops dead you’ll really be fucked

bellabellaIzzie · 11/04/2023 13:01

I'm not sure you'll get much sympathy with the 'logistics' listed there. It's something we all have had to contend with at some point, and that will include single parents.

MrsSamR · 11/04/2023 13:02

faultywiring · 11/04/2023 12:58

We do manage fine with dh earnings. I just wasn't sure if there was something I could have been claiming and wasn't.
We do get child benefit.
It's the logistics of it all, my parents are nearly 80 and have health issues so are not able to look after the dc and dh family live hours away.
The dc never seem to be in school.
6 weeks off in the summer holidays
Half terms
End of terms
Easter hols
Xmas hols
Inset days
Days sick
And lately Strikes
It's easy to say the dc are at school but they never seem to be and any jobs I have had in the past have ended because I can't get child care, especially for flexible work which is the field I work.
I don't know any Childminders who will just have dc as and when you need them.

How do you think the majority of families in this country with 2 working parents manage?

Babyroobs · 11/04/2023 13:02

MrsSamR · 11/04/2023 12:56

I think the reason people are 'being mean to the OP' is because there is a cost of living crisis on. Every day there are threads on here about people working all hours and cutting costs back to the bone to make ends meet and the OP thinks for some reason she should have her lifestyle choice not to work funded by the very people who are struggling to provide for their own families.

Show quote history

Totally agree, but it is the system which has allowed one of a couple to stay at home for years on end if the other of the couple is working that it is at fault. Even on the old tax credits system a couple were allowed to work just 24 hours between them and still get generously topped up, even when their kids were bloody teenagers ! This has been the case for years with the benefits system and I think it's just become ingrained in some people's minds that this is ok and the norm. Now it is changing ( thank goodness) and everyone will have to work once their kids are 3. I know it's frustrating for those of us who have always worked ( I went back to work when my eldest kids were 4 and 5 months old to make ends meet) but really it's the system that has allowed it that is at fault !

berksandbeyond · 11/04/2023 13:02

faultywiring · 11/04/2023 12:58

We do manage fine with dh earnings. I just wasn't sure if there was something I could have been claiming and wasn't.
We do get child benefit.
It's the logistics of it all, my parents are nearly 80 and have health issues so are not able to look after the dc and dh family live hours away.
The dc never seem to be in school.
6 weeks off in the summer holidays
Half terms
End of terms
Easter hols
Xmas hols
Inset days
Days sick
And lately Strikes
It's easy to say the dc are at school but they never seem to be and any jobs I have had in the past have ended because I can't get child care, especially for flexible work which is the field I work.
I don't know any Childminders who will just have dc as and when you need them.

How do you think everyone else manages?!
I don’t have any childcare help either, have still managed to work since having a child. If you’re worried about juggling days off sick / school holidays etc then work when your husband is around - evenings , weekends, night shifts?

nakeklak · 11/04/2023 13:02

faultywiring · 11/04/2023 12:58

We do manage fine with dh earnings. I just wasn't sure if there was something I could have been claiming and wasn't.
We do get child benefit.
It's the logistics of it all, my parents are nearly 80 and have health issues so are not able to look after the dc and dh family live hours away.
The dc never seem to be in school.
6 weeks off in the summer holidays
Half terms
End of terms
Easter hols
Xmas hols
Inset days
Days sick
And lately Strikes
It's easy to say the dc are at school but they never seem to be and any jobs I have had in the past have ended because I can't get child care, especially for flexible work which is the field I work.
I don't know any Childminders who will just have dc as and when you need them.

You'll have to get a different job that suits your situation then, lots of people are in your situation. You should absolutely not be receiving any UC

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