Switching from tax credits to UC

[icebearforpresident]

Husband and I claim tax credits but receive pretty much the bare minimum, it works out about £30-odd a week as we seem to be right on the threshold for earnings.

After ignoring the migration notice for ages I’ve sat down to apply tonight and have decided it isn’t worth it, mostly as my husband works 39 hrs a week but has to agree to seek additional employment as part of his application. Presumably I will have to agree to the same, albeit I work part time.

I can’t figure out how to cancel/abandon what I have submitted already to UC or end our tax credit claim. If I just ignore everything (so don’t hit submit on the UC application presumably my tax credit claim will end and nothing will happen with UC?

Your husband won't need to seek more work if he already works full time. If you don't complete the claim or don't attend any initial appointments or accept the commitments , the claim will be closed anyway.

Yes I would think that is what would happen. If your husband is working full time it is very unlikely he'd be asked to look for more hours though. Do you have kids/ rent to pay? Some people are better off on UC and the amount you currently get in tax credits should be protected so may be worth still claiming. Depends whether you want to go through the hassle of it really but usually once it is set up, most people don't have to keep going to appointments.

There is protection for the first year so you won't loose any money.
Think very carefully before deciding not to claim £30 per week is £1500 over the year!

I work 35hrs and wasn't asked to work more when I did the migration. It was far more straightforward than I'd expected, I didn't even need to go in to verify my documents as I was already using the government gateway site to check things. Just be prepared for the 5 week wait (if you rely on the money) and then getting it monthly rather than weekly.

I get less money on UC than I did on tax credits. I've was migrated last October.

I switched in August 2022 and went from £150 a month to almost £500! I work full time (37 hrs) and have never been asked to work more.

There is a very useful group on Facebook called Universal Credit and Legacy Benefits - some really useful advice on there and how to do a manual calculation- you might be surprised!

Plus you'd get any cost of living payments if there are to be any more

Sorry everyone, I meant to come back to reply last night but got waylaid.

We pay a mortgage but have no childcare costs. We had a childminder but she had to retire due to ill health in 2022, I expected that our tax credit payments would stop then to be honest. As a result I work part time and rely on friends and family 2 days a week afterschool, there are no other childcare options (no afterschool clubs, no childminders with spaces, literally no other options) so I can’t pick up any more hours apart from covering the odd shift here and there when it works around family.

Thanks for the recommendation for the Facebook page, I’ve joined but to be honest it’s reinforced my position that it’s more hassle than it’s worth. The few posts I have seen have been people providing pay slips from years ago, submitting bank statements and justifying their spending etc. I appreciate that £1500 isn’t nothing but we are fortunate that we aren’t dependent on it, our mortgage is fixed for another few years and we have savings if there are ever any issues. I also don’t feel confident that a benefits advisor/work coach based miles away would understand my position with my working hours and lack of childcare options (I mean yes, my mother in law could have the kids another day, but the poor woman deserves to enjoy her retirement and not be doing the school run 3 days a week).