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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

178 replies

Evasmummy2019 · 15/05/2020 09:15

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.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 15/05/2020 12:50

Thats incredibly low. But I read on another thread carpet fitters have gone back. I think he should be able to go back to work now.

Original poster
Evasmummy2019 · 15/05/2020 12:50

Husband isn't useless he's just not medically minded at all. And I don't need to hear him being called useless. He is not. I am sorry I would like to delete this thread I've just ended up feeling so much worse and frankly completely useless. I just wanted some advice which I got so thank you to those lovely people. But I wish I hadn't asked to be honest

OP posts:
Lovestonap · 15/05/2020 12:52

You don't have to be 'medically minded' to learn how to keep your child alive

MuthaClucker · 15/05/2020 12:54

That’s really low Sad

One of you is going to have to find some way of working as soon as possible, to keep that roof over your head.

BoxOfShapes · 15/05/2020 12:59

£629 including child benefit does sound low.

Have you tried plugging in your details into turn2us or entitledto?

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Universal-Credit-Rates

vanillandhoney · 15/05/2020 13:00

And yes my husband theoretically cannot work from home but neither can he gonto work in other people's homes. It's hard.

Yes, he can. There's nothing in the law to say you can't work in other people's homes, you just have to maintain social distancing, and you shouldn't work in the home of anyone who is shielding or who has symptoms.

He needs to go back to work.

dottiedodah · 15/05/2020 13:02

How big is your house? Could you maybe take a lodger for a while? You say you have a young baby who is not well .Could you look into childminding? TBH neither of these are ideal ,but needs must and all that .Maybe returning to work on a P/T basis may be possible but DH needs to step up to the breach! Sending hugs and kisses to you xx Good luck!

Original poster
Evasmummy2019 · 15/05/2020 13:03

People AREN'T having tradesmen in their homes though

OP posts:
Biscuitbiscuits · 15/05/2020 13:04

Can DP not to get a job in a supermarket or warehouse for the time being?

There are lots of vacancies going at the moment around here in food production/retail.

MouthBreathingRage · 15/05/2020 13:05

@Evasmummy2019, you're still avoiding why he can't find another type of job though?

sexbearhouse · 15/05/2020 13:07

I don't think OP wanted practical solutions....like working.

maria860 · 15/05/2020 13:10

OP is getting such a hard time on this post she's got a four month old baby and is struggling to make ends meet at the moment especially with what we are all living in at the moment and the short termed self employed got the massively short straw from the government.
The lady asked for advice not judgement wow.
I've been on benefits it isn't fun it's poverty anyone who says it isn't is lying I'm sorry.
The UC system is a complete joke I'm not on benefits thankfully now because I know a few friends that can't feed their kids on the money they get in one low monthly sum which is pennies when you have all your utilities to pay and food and in your case mortgage.
I suggest applying for DLA for your baby you should qualify based on what you said and you will also get carers allowance as a top up.
Claim your council discount aswell ASAP as your on benefits at the moment.
Hopefully things pick up again soon so your partner can work properly

maria860 · 15/05/2020 13:12

Also I'm so sorry people have been cruel to you on this post when your already having a shit time we aren't all like this on here judgemental and patronising to say the least.
I know tradesman are having it hard my friends hubby is a boiler fitter he's doing one day a week if that at the moment as people don't want him in the house.
Don't get upset about people on here anyone can say things over the internet they wouldn't say it to you in person.
Take care

MouthBreathingRage · 15/05/2020 13:13

I don't think OP wanted practical solutions....like working

I dont think that's quite fair. I can understand why she wouldn't be at work at the moment, her baby is only 5 months and both seem to have medical issues (I'm putting aside the excuses made for her husband not medicating the baby properly, 'not being medically minded' is just another way of saying 'but the poor manz can't be relied on to remember these things').

I am wondering if her husband has basically said 'I want to do my business or nothing at all'. May not be true, but the fact that the OP is avoiding telling us why he hasn't looked for other employment makes me rather suspect.

NailsNeedDoing · 15/05/2020 13:13

OP, I’m sorry this thread has left you feeling worse. Ignore the stuff that isn’t helpful.

Unfortunately the benefits system simply won’t give people who have a mortgage rather than a tenancy enough to live on long term. Understandably, the taxpayer isn’t there to buy houses for people, but it does mean that the safety net that is meant to exist simply doesn’t work for homeowners. It’s very unfair.

A decorator local to me has been advertising with information about how he will socially distance inside people’s homes. I admired his initiative and would hire him if I needed to just now. Could your DH do something like that to try and drum up some business?

Bojohair · 15/05/2020 13:14

I am having tradesman in my home, electrician, plumber and I am having shutters fitted next week. I hope things work out for you.

avroroad · 15/05/2020 13:14

How big is your house? Could you maybe take a lodger for a while?

This has to win 🏅

Hands down the stupidest post on Mumsnet throughout the whole of the coronavirus crisis.

Well done Hmm

maria860 · 15/05/2020 13:16

@avroroad that was literally the stupidest advice on this thread by far.
Sick baby self isolating so takes in lodger to pay the bills..what planet are some people on.

CornishTiger · 15/05/2020 13:17

Minimum you should have been entitled to is

724.42 If both under 25. 847.87 if over 25

Why haven’t you had that. What does your statement say about deductions.

As you aren’t receiving housing costs you can earn up to £512 per month without it affecting your UC. There are lots of jobs you or husband can do.

You can also claim Council tax relief which typically reduces your CT to about 25% payable. You do this online via your local council. Don’t delay.

Also disability benefits and carers allowance.

sexbearhouse · 15/05/2020 13:18

I can understand why she wouldn't be at work at the moment

Sure - but if it's that or have no food, what would you do?

Also, OP has said the only reason her DH isn't working is because she doesn't want him to. I have plenty of sympathy for people struggling on benefits who really cannot work.

OP and her DH just don't come into that category.

MouthBreathingRage · 15/05/2020 13:19

I've been on benefits it isn't fun it's poverty anyone who says it isn't is lying I'm sorry.

We've been there as a family. My husband was self-employed, and suddenly couldn't find much work right around the time we had our first. I'd also been made redundant during pregnancy (the business folded). It was a bloody tough few months, not enough to live on, had to borrow all the damn time, it was the bloody pits. I do feel for the op, and I think she needs to take on all the advice about UC here and hopefully get what they're actually entitled to.

However, that's not to say that a few bits here really do need to be evaluated, such as why its the op looking for work whilst her husband seems to be just waiting to go back to a business that may not be going again for months, and was costing them money to begin with.

CornishTiger · 15/05/2020 13:19

And child benefit is on top of those amounts so there must be other deductions in your universal credit- either work deductions , an advance which you said you didn’t take or savings deduction. Otherwise previous fines, hmrc overpayments or similar.

MuthaClucker · 15/05/2020 13:20

To be fair, I do know a few people who are having work done at the moment (although one is the garden). People are spending their holiday budget on their homes.

Mum2Girls19 · 15/05/2020 13:22

Hi OP
Im truly sorry that you have been through some turmoil, I think you need to sit and think of the positives for a while..

  1. You have a family...regardless of this situation you have people in your life, your husband and your daughter.
  2. You have a home, a secure home, your mortgage is on a break and your happy in your home.
  3. You had the strength to come on here and talk about your issues, that takes strength.

You should repeat them every day, you have things to be thankful for that will keep you going.

In terms of income, maybe make a list of everything you can pause for the time being, you mentioned your mortgage is on hold, what about things like water bills or internet? Can they be stopped.

Maybe contact your UC advisor and enquire about DLA for your daughter as she is sick or Income Support as a top up?

See if there is a local Foodbank or Cornavirus support near you, they might be able to help with Food and such during this time.

I wish you all the luck and remember to get to a rainbow we have to suffer the rain...

  1. Your husband has a job yes that might be ideal at the moment but he has employment.
LittleFoxKit · 15/05/2020 13:23

Also let's not forget that the restrictions have only lessoned in england, if the OP is in wales/Scotland/NI or on the boarder then it will be even harder to get work as there resitrictions haven't lifted.

And I agree with OP that the majority of people will not be having non-essential trade work doing at the moment, either due to the risk of the virus or financial/job uncertainty.

Op I would definately check on one of the benefits calculators to ensure you are in receipt of all the benefits your entitled to. I'm really sorry your in such a awful position.
Please call your GP regarding your pnd. I have chronic depression, and really know how much worse and hopeless everything seems when your struggling with depression and anxiety, and it feels like all the solutions always had huge problems to them or are actually worse. I would definately see if you can get a phone consultation with your gp regarding it as if you treat it, it may help the situation seem more manageable rather then bleak and hopeless xx

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