Please can anyone help me understand (Universal Credit Minimum Income Floor) expected number of working hours in claimant commitment for my situation?

[VIC0000]

Hi, I am self-employed and am looking at the future when I have to move onto universal credits from child tax credits. I am trying to understand what a minimum income floor will look like in my situation. I have two children who will then be aged 12 and 16, does anyone know whether I am expected to earn 25 hours per week as I am a single parent or will it be 35 hours in a claimant commitment. Thanks.

I just found this on entitled to website so it looks like it will be 25 hours until my youngest son finishes year 11? Is that August the year he is 16 then increases to 35 hours? Thanks for reading this thread.

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Group 4. All work-related requirements
Anyone not mentioned above is included in this group.

This group will be subject to a work search requirement and work availability requirement, as they would under Jobseeker's Allowance.

Personal advisers will be able to order "Mandatory Work Activity" - a full-time work placement for four weeks. A severe sanction can be imposed if this is not attended without good cause.

A higher level sanction may be applied to the Universal Credit award for failure (with no good reason) to comply with the requirement to prepare or apply for work; take up an offer of paid work; or ceasing work voluntarily or through misconduct. This sanction could result in a reduction of your Universal Credit award, for up to a maximum of 3 years, depending on the number and regularity of such failures.

The expectation is that when in work people in this group will earn at least the equivalent of 35 hours at National Minimum/Living Wage. This is known as the 'individual earnings threshold'. So if you earn the minimum wage then you will be expected to work for at least 35 hours a week. But note that if you earn above minimum wage you could be lifted above your earnings threshold but work less than 35 hours - the threshold is measured in terms of earnings not hours.

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.

I haven't gone into all the ins and outs of it yet, but will have to after my holiday as I will be delivering training on it in the autumn.

On the most cursory reading, which was over a month ago, the minimum income floor is instead of the hours requirement applied to jobseekers and people working part-time.

After a grace period (can't remember if it's 12 or 24 months) the DWP can insist that you look for extra work if your income is below the level specified and/or treat you as earning the minimum income.

I'm going to have to start bringing my benefit handbook home, I think. I have more need of it here than I do at work, where the sort of questions I'm asked are much more mainstream!

Hi LakieLady Hope the training goes well. The minimum income floor is applicable in my situation after 12 months start up of a business (I am in year 3) and is calculated on a minimum income floor at national minimum wage (£8.21) at predetermined hours of 25 or 35 depending upon your situation. If I am expected to work 25 hours the calculation is 25 x £8.21 x 52 / 12 = £889 then about £27 is taken off for national insurance contributions so £862 monthly. Personally I will earn well below the income floor as a part-time gardener but will be subject to it as a self-employed person. If I am expected to work 35 hours it completely wouldn't be viable so that's my main concern in terms of expectation on single mum, self employed with children 12 and 16.

your MIF will be 35 hours as your youngest will be 12

I don't understand why you think it's 35 hours if the entitledto website says 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 youngest child over 12 it will be 35x nmw.

Is that for self employed people though?

yes it's the same rules for employed and self employed

from the gov.uk website