To ask if anyone else is struggling on one low universal credit payment?

[Evasmummy2019]

I'm not working at the moment as I lost my job as a palliative care nurse while doing my 8th round of fertility treatment last March. I reacted pretty badly to the ivf drugs and overstimulated my ovaries making me really poorly. Thankfully I got pregnant. I then couldn't get a new job while pregnant as I had HG (constantly suck 30x a day) and then in and out of hospital for fluids etc then with diabetes, bleeds, too much fluid and at the end reduced movements. I had my daughter in December. My husband is self employed so took no paternity leave. He's only been self employed for just under a year and doesn't qualify for the 80% SE (self employed) benefit payment. We were living on £20 a week child benefit between March and April and have no savings as he only earns £1600 per month on average and it goes straight on bills. We've cancelled his van insurance, pet insurance for our dog and cat, reduced our energy bills, suspended our loan repayment and council tax break for 2 months . We get no benefits only child benefit for our daughter. We've been really really struggling. We applied for universal credit and was awarded £629 per month. That only got paid on the 6th of May so we've had to still pay all our utilities etc. And I hope our mortgage break continues as that money will be gone on the mortgage alone if it starts back up in June . Its been very hard indeed and our relationship has suffered. I also suffered a traumatic birth and pnd has crept in.

How the government think we can survive on that much really upsets me.

Are you both applying for any job you can?

My husband is applying for a jobs yes but aside from retail and driving jobs (he does not drive) and care work, there isn't much out there he can do to be honest. I am not applying for work mainly because I am shielding with my daughter. Also because I have diabetes so am at risk. And my daughter is only 4 months old and was born prematurely with a cleft and another genetic condition which she needs special care for from myself. I don't have anyone to look after her. I don't want my husband going out to work then exposing us to the virus. He'd probably have to live somewhere else but his parents are 73 and 76 years old so can't stay there.

You don’t claim any benefits but child benefit but you’re in receipt of IC?

Your DH doesn’t drove but you cancelled his van insurance?

The forums on moneysupermarket.com have great advice on making a budget stretch and exploring alternative sources of income. It sounds tough, good luck with it all.

Welcome to the world of benefits. Some people have been surviving on that amount long term.
The government are a joke

I dont want my husband going out to work either, but as a key worker he has no choice. I'm shielded due to multiple health issues, so it's been difficult, he sleeps on a camp bed and we live as separately as possible but in the same house. I had to leave my job last year due to my health so lost half our income. We are coping as best we can, it's what people have to do unfortunately.

Can you not claim SMP ?

Unfortunately life on benefits sucks. It isn't great money and people are far better off working.
Do you not get any maternity allowance?
He just needs to apply for any job going and take what comes to see you through for the foreseeable.

Can you not go to work and your husband care for your child? Plenty people go back to work at 6 months, which your child must nearly be and would be once you have applied, secured and started a job

Does your daughter qualify for any disability benefits due to her heath condition?

We've cancelled his van insurance

(he does not drive)

Agree with PP - One of you will have to get a job. So DH changed from being employed to setting up his own business whilst you were pregnant and incredibly ill? So what is his job/business? Can he not do it now?

That's the reality of life without adequate employment I guess. It's tough. It's a shame you're not one of these families on 'full benefits' with a massive telly, and loads of fags and booze to enjoy each week, that I hear about in the right wing press. Try to get on to that particular benefits scheme. Sounds way better than the one you're on.

£629 seems quite a lot really of your husband is earning £1600/ month do as your daughter get DLA and therefore a disability element? For context I have two children my dh earns about £1200/ month and we get Just a bit more than you in tax credits as my son has severe autism and learning disabilities and gets High rate care and mobility DLA ,can you claim carers allowance ( assuming your daughter gets DLA)

@opticaldelusion you forgot about the goat. Everyone on benefits gets a goat except me

So are you getting £1600 a month salary plus £629 UC. That seems very high. This isn't judgement but I know somebody who got turned down for UC altogether who only earns the same as you.

No we get no salary as husband is self employed and cannot work and with the van insurance he car shares with a pal who worked on the same siye so shared van for tools, transport and keeping his kit in there

x2boys he's getting zero salary as not working as cannot work from home

One of you needs to work, there are plenty of retail positions at the moment. It’s a very tough situation and I hope it works out for you all. Congratulations on your new baby

You need to write in the your online journal as you're missing your child element which is another 280 a month.
You need to make sure that council tax is discounted as you're on uc. Call them. Not just a deferral.

Also claim for healthy vouchers for food and veg.

Thanks. Then surviving on £629 is impossible. Your husband could get a job as a van driver. I think that's the only solution.

Are you sure you're in receipt of everything that you're entitled to? Do you get DLA for your daughter? Probably good advice on somewhere like moneysavingexpert about benefits entitlement. The government doesn't exactly advertise everything that's available and billions go unclaimed each year.

Putting aside the 'cancelled van insurance' 'he doesn't drive' weirdness, the uc doesn't quite make sense either. If you had a single monthly income of 1600 with you just having a baby, why weren't you claiming UC as a top up? Or child/working tax as it was previously? Surely that would have negated having to wait for a payment until May. Not that you have to wait anyway, as there is a UC loan you can take out to cover yourself.