AIBU to think i've made the wrong choice - universal credit and self employment

[singlemammy]

Hi, i'm a single parent of 6 children all under the age 16 and only a month ago went self-employed. I love my job and only work 16 hours per week due to having the children. Now am a little confused as when i signed up to go self-employed there was no mention of the way Universal credit would effect myself and children.
Currently i recieve child tax credits, working tax credits, housing benefit and a discount on council tax plus what i earn. Now to be honest i am worried. Can anybody tell me how the UC may effect me :/ thanks in advance

[IneedAsockamnesty]

It depends on how much he earns,the gov has set a type of unit earnings thing dependant on the type of household and how many adults you have in it.

A single parent is safe from all intrusion when they earn exactly what nmw would be for the hours the gov wants you to work the hours are dependant on the age of your youngest child.

If your part of a couple you are safe when that 'unit' earns the equivilent of nmw for the required hours.

I believe a couple is required to work longer hours but do know know what amount of hours it is.

I do know its the income not the actual hours so if one gets more than nmw you will hit that target with less hours but its ok because you've hit the target sum

[SpottyTeacakes]

Gosh it's so confusing! Dp earns around £400 a week. I have got a job but my boss is awful 'part time workers don't earn as much as full time workers that's just the way it is' is what he said when I questions why the new, less senior, person was earning what it took me five years to get so I was planning on a college course or something. Hmm lots to think about... Sorry for hijacking your thread OP!

[JingleMum]

sock

In october as well as existing claimants those claiming WTC whose circumstances change also get put on UC? Would that apply to me? I'll be temporarily changing address from november 2013 until may 2014, i'll be going back home in the may, but i need to tell the tax credits people about my temporary change of address. Is that classes as a change of circumstance.

So basically, if you're a single parent and your youngest is over 1 you have to be earning NMW and working atleast 24 hours to qualify?

He's a twat. Nazi dictator bastard.

[ScarletLady02]

Is it bad that I like to think I'm quite intelligent and switched on, but the more I read about UC the MORE confused I become?

[SpottyTeacakes]

Same here scarlet!

[IneedAsockamnesty]

No jingle it should only be changes that change your award the word they use is significant the examples they give are another child or from joint to single or other way or reduction in children

[JingleMum]

Thanks sock is it correct that once your youngest turns 1 you have to work either employed or self employed at atleast national minimum wage, in order to qualify for UC? Is this the same for both lone parents & parents who are still together?

[JingleMum]

Sorry sock meant to say at least 24 hours, at minimum wage.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

That's where it gets weird, if you don't work those hours you will basicly still qualify for what ever benefits you currently recive (taking into account the cap but that will only change the amount recived for large family's with at least 3 kids who do not work more than 16 hours )

But they will all be called UC.

So no its not the case that you won't qualify but say you only work 16 hours at nmw or any hours that pay less than either 24 at nmw would or 35 dependant on age of youngest child.you will be classed as under employed and you will be expected to go on courses attend,workfare,interviews attend any meeting the DWP or an agent acting on there behalf deems as needed and follow all instruction whilst at there beck and call on 48 hours notice. And you will be expected to spend the hours you are not at work job seeking and using there track able website until your job seeking and employment totals x amount of hours.

If you don't you will get sanctioned ( money stopped apart from hardship amounts)for either 3 months 12 months or 3 years dependant on type and frequency of the failure.

Basicly you will be treated as an unemployed person, some groups are protected from this such as carers but not many.

I'm not sure if they have actually passed it yet but the intention was/is to tie any housing costs into the process as well so if you are not in a protected group and you remain under employed you lose the rent sum of UC after being under employed for more than 2 years

[JingleMum]

This is sooooooooo confusing.

I've l

[JingleMum]

Posted too soon!

This is so confusing, i've had a look but can't find anything set in stone regarding how many hours need to be worked in order to qualify.

If your child is in full time school is it definitely 24 hours at atleast minimum wage?

It looks like if you're self employed you need to prove your earnings every week, they don't take annual profit into account. How will that work? Sometimes being self employed you have weeks/months where you need to buy stock, therefore making very little profit, certainly not minimum wage.