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Original poster

Benefit calculators, why are they so inaccurate

24 replies

beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 06:48

To the point they seem useless?

I am a carer to my son. H works full time for 30k a year. I also have a 3 year old little girl

Turn2Us and entitled to both say roughly the same thing. That I'm entitled to claim and it would be £1300 or around that a month!

I'd be terrified to be overpaid if I claimed that Sad

Why are they so inaccurate? I get that it can't be 100% but googling previous threads makes me suspicious that's it's more often the rule than the exception that they're wrong

OP posts:
Original poster
beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 06:57

Might also be off because of disability but they seem to calculate that in their breakdown so I'm really not sure

OP posts:
ml3jp · 09/01/2024 07:12

In my experience, they’re not. As long as you input the correct information. If your son is in receipt of DLA, your UC will include a disabled child element (rate depends on his DLA award). There will also be a carer’s element, although carer’s allowance is deducted on a pound for pound basis. Please don’t miss out on what you’re entitled to. If you are still unsure, book a face to face appt with a welfare rights adviser. They’ll be able to confirm your entitlement.

margotrose · 09/01/2024 07:14

Why do you think it's inaccurate?

Nonametonight · 09/01/2024 07:16

Yes in my experience inaccuracies are mainly from people putting in wrong information. Take your time to read questions carefully, and make sure you've entered your rent and any household income correctly. If two different calculators are giving similar results that is probably correct

Original poster
beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 07:22

ml3jp · 09/01/2024 07:12

In my experience, they’re not. As long as you input the correct information. If your son is in receipt of DLA, your UC will include a disabled child element (rate depends on his DLA award). There will also be a carer’s element, although carer’s allowance is deducted on a pound for pound basis. Please don’t miss out on what you’re entitled to. If you are still unsure, book a face to face appt with a welfare rights adviser. They’ll be able to confirm your entitlement.

Thank you

He's on high rate for both living and mobility so that does entitled us to the severe disability element

But still seems so much money when we already have an income of £2600+, not including some of the payment used to pay for the mobility scheme car

I am just terrified of being overpaid by thousands if I'm completely honest.

OP posts:
Boomboom22 · 09/01/2024 07:25

They are renowned for being accurate along as you put the right details in. 2600 is very little for a family. A single parent can earn 60k and still get some elements of uc if their rent and childcare meets the criteria.

Original poster
beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 07:26

Boomboom22 · 09/01/2024 07:25

They are renowned for being accurate along as you put the right details in. 2600 is very little for a family. A single parent can earn 60k and still get some elements of uc if their rent and childcare meets the criteria.

Their calculations bring it up to around 4k though (forgot about child benefit in my last post)

OP posts:
Original poster
beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 07:27

No childcare costs

OP posts:
Sk8erboi · 09/01/2024 07:29

You're asking why they're so inaccurate with no reason to believe they're inaccurate.
They aren't if you enter the correct information.

Original poster
beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 07:30

@Sk8erboi my reason to believe they're inaccurate is because I'm shocked at how much it says I'm entitled to

That's all (plus other people previously saying they're inaccurate)

OP posts:
Sk8erboi · 09/01/2024 07:33

Even if you're shocked at how much you're entitled to doesn't mean you know they're inaccurate.
Do you want people to come on and moan they they work all the hours god sends and don't earn that much and then have the thread snowball into a benefit bashing thread? Thats the vibe i got.

Make a claim and receive what you're entitled to.

dizzygirl1 · 09/01/2024 07:35

Entitled to was spot on in my case. I'm uncomplicated, rent, 2 children and no childcare.
The piece I actually like about UC, is its 'real time' so if I earn more one month it reduces the amount I get. Having been one of the tax credits claimants who owed hundreds by accident, it reassures me.

Arthurnewyorkcity · 09/01/2024 07:41

Did you post another thread about this last night in the money section? You are entitled. It works on real time earnings. Just fill it in and stop posting threads about how you can't believe the amount you're entitled to. It will result in brnefit bashing. Put in a claim. It's simple.

Original poster
beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 07:49

Sk8erboi · 09/01/2024 07:33

Even if you're shocked at how much you're entitled to doesn't mean you know they're inaccurate.
Do you want people to come on and moan they they work all the hours god sends and don't earn that much and then have the thread snowball into a benefit bashing thread? Thats the vibe i got.

Make a claim and receive what you're entitled to.

No, but sadly I was stung by a tax credits overpayment so always worried of similar

Won't post anymore about the topic now

Seems reassuring like another post said that it's reevaluation every month anyway

OP posts:
RaininSummer · 09/01/2024 07:58

Even if it was wrong, you won't be awarded an incorrect sum so there is no need to worry about putting a claim in.

FlemCandango · 09/01/2024 08:20

If you are worried call the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service. They will verify what you are entitled to. It sounds very likely you will be entitled to the amount you are stating as the benefit cap is removed if you are earning over a certain threshold (also if claiming certain disability benefits).

There is a work allowance applied to your claim if you have children, this is the amount you can earn before your income reduces your UC. This varies depending on if you are getting a housing element of UC or not (£379/£671).

To work out your monthly amount of UC, all the elements of UC you are entitled to are added together. The work allowance is taken into account, your income over the work allowance reduces the amount you get by a rate of 55p per every £1 earned in the assessment period. If you get carers allowance, a contribution based benefit or a pension that reduces the amount you get in UC £ for £ as it is classed as "unearned income".

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/

ZaZathecat · 09/01/2024 08:27

Just claim and as long as you answer all questions accurately you won't be overpaid.

Morasssassafras · 09/01/2024 08:37

beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 07:49

No, but sadly I was stung by a tax credits overpayment so always worried of similar

Won't post anymore about the topic now

Seems reassuring like another post said that it's reevaluation every month anyway

Show quote history

You can't get stung by UC in the same way you could by Tax Credits.

UC work out how much you are entitled to each calendar month, then it looks at how much you were paid within the entitlement period for that calendar month, and pays you accordingly. If you earn too much the following month you just don't get any UC that month. They don't take back any money for the previous month.

As long as you tell them the truth and report everything then it will be fine. Please claim.

x2boys · 09/01/2024 08:38

beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 06:48

To the point they seem useless?

I am a carer to my son. H works full time for 30k a year. I also have a 3 year old little girl

Turn2Us and entitled to both say roughly the same thing. That I'm entitled to claim and it would be £1300 or around that a month!

I'd be terrified to be overpaid if I claimed that Sad

Why are they so inaccurate? I get that it can't be 100% but googling previous threads makes me suspicious that's it's more often the rule than the exception that they're wrong

That does seem a lot for context I also have a disabled child who get ,s HRC and HRM DLA my DH earns around £20,000 and we get £800/month tax credits I do get carer,s allowance too and have another son still in education
Do you rent is housing benefit included?

Original poster
beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 10:20

@x2boys yeah £900ish is the rent

Is yours calculated with rent too? I thought tax credits did that separately

OP posts:
x2boys · 09/01/2024 12:24

beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 10:20

@x2boys yeah £900ish is the rent

Is yours calculated with rent too? I thought tax credits did that separately

No we don't get any help.towards rent I live in the north west in social housing so rent is cheap
It might be right then assuming you live in a high rent area

BettyBakesCakes · 09/01/2024 12:44

They always seriously overestimate my ctc

BettyBakesCakes · 09/01/2024 12:46

They must know the ctc isn't always accurate as they ask if the amount they give is corrects vs what you currently get.

dizzygirl1 · 09/01/2024 16:49

beinginthegrass · 09/01/2024 10:20

@x2boys yeah £900ish is the rent

Is yours calculated with rent too? I thought tax credits did that separately

For UC it's all under the same umbrella so rent will be included, high rent is why I had my UC.
Honestly redo the entitled to assessment and make sure you've been completely honest, see what the outcome is.

UC is better than tax credits for understand the correct entitlement and as I said above, it reduces if you earn more.

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