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.

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

Please don’t do this. Contact DLA for an application form and Income support isn’t applicable - she receives UC.

OP ignore all the sniping comments. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to go through a difficult pregnancy, then care for a baby with significant needs, during a lockdown with no wages. I'm sure you are doing your best.

I hope some of the other sources of benefits will work out, but really I'm afraid your DH needs to go back to work somehow. There are a lot of precautions you can take to minimise the chances of exposure to the virus. It's going to be with us for a long time, it's not really feasible to wait until it's 'all over' somehow.

If it's any reassurance, my husband has been working in food retail this whole time and we are fine. Contact tracing shows that loads of people who do catch the virus do not give it to anyone in their household. So try not to worry too much, just be careful.

You do sound really vulnerable OP, but this is what stood out to me

I don't want my husband going out to work then exposing us to the virus

So many people are in this position but they have to get on with it. Do the best you can with washing hands and him taking his work clothes off as soon as he gets in the door. That's what my friends do.

Being on benefits is a dreadful struggle but you don't need to be struggling. You just need to get DH to get a job.

OP are you on the next door app? I see lots of people advertising services like handy men on/electrician/decorator on there and they always get lots of interest even at the moment. I think you need to think a bit creatively about how your DH might be able to use his skills to bring in some money

Hello everyone,

We've had a number of reports from people concerned about this thread so, as we usually do in these circs, we're putting our heads round the door with some important reminders.

Right now we can't see any evidence to indicate that the OP isn't above board – if we did, we'd remove the thread straight away. But the truth is that, sadly, we at MNHQ can't know with 100% certainty that any poster is genuine, no matter who they are or how long they have been here. As frustrating as it is, we're not able to vouch for anyone here.

So we always ask users to remember that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are – and remind folk not to give more to another poster, either financially (in cash or gifts) or emotionally (in time or care and support) than they'd be prepared to lose if things went wrong. We strongly advise against parting with any cash or giving away your personal details, and if you receive a PM which makes you uneasy - report it to us and we’ll take a look.

Sorry to hijack your thread briefly there, OP – we really hope you get it all sorted soon. In the meantime, you might find some useful information on our guide for dealing with financial difficulty

@Evasmummy2019 you UC was low am assuming as you had some income during the last assessment period. You should be getting couple and child element in full, plus child benefit separately.
Apply for dla you should get high rate care if you dd stop breathing in the night. Use this guide
cerebra.org.uk/download/disability-living-allowance-dla-guide/
Ring 0800 1214600 and ask for a child dla form. Due to Covid19 you have three months to return the firm rather than the usual 6 weeks and it will be backdated.
Pm me if you need more help re dla.

How about he leaflet for external decorating? I've just had my whole house exterior painted by two chaps who maintained their social distancing at all times. They also shared a van. Now is the perfect weather for external decs!
That way he wouldn't even be coming into contact with home owners.

The OP said on another thread that her baby is healthy and happy other than cleft palate and reflux so I doubt DLA is going to apply here.

The child was planned and longed for, so having no savings and unstable employment was deliberate rather than accidental. 8 rounds of IVF suggest that they may be older as well (which, for UC purposes at least, works in their favour).

Unfortunately OP - your partner is going to have to find a different job. Self-employment is not easy and it's not for everyone. If your options are UC, or getting a job in a factory or care home I'd suggest the latter.

@MouthBreathingRage benefits are hard they were hard when I was on them and their worse now. How people live on that money everyday I don't know I was on them for six months and literally had a fiver a day to feed me and three kids it was the worst time in my life ever.
Get sick of people thinking it's easy when it is far from it.

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.

I asked OP way back which country she was in because there is a payment available in Scotland that the DH might have been able to claim. It was ignored.

Are you sure you are getting the right rates of UC?

Basic allowance is £409 if you are both under 25 or £594 if one of you is over 25.

Child allowance is £255

Sometimes they get things wrong, especially in a new claim.

Sadly, one of you is going to have to work. It's really important, too, that he learns to be more 'medically minded'. What if you should fall ill? He'll need to take over. There's no excuse. You both need to know how to care for her medical needs.

Yes, UC can be very low. People have been saying this for years and being shot down, now we're seeing more people on it, it's becoming clear how it is designed to not provide sustenance.

To everyone saying that people are fine now with tradesmen coming into their homes that's a lie. My boiler is broken right now, as in no heating at all, just hot water and if I run the taps to high then its makes an awful rumbling clunking noise, and it's going to stay that way until I feel comfortable with a stranger coming into my house, probably a couple months away still.

I know I could get someone round to look at it and I know I SHOULD, but it's still not going to happen.

That sounds like an awfully low amount but also doesn't sound far off what they expect, long gone are they days of getting grands from benefits and disability a month, my epileptic partner said when he was younger (about 15 years ago) and moved out he had money thrown at him, for his rent, council tax, disability, money to travel as he can't drive etc etc I think a lot of people think it's still like this.

I was unemployed for a very short time
£74 received per week to pay all bills including food
Lucky to find new employment quickly

That is the reality

To everyone saying that people are fine now with tradesmen coming into their homes that's a lie

I hate to break it to you, but you don’t represent the whole of the UK. Some people are now okay with tradespeople working in their homes and gardens.

OP you have had a horrible time. In the past and on this thread. There's been lots of useful advice on this thread

What would be the most help to you now? If someone went through the thread and listed all the ideas that might help?

It sounds as though you are bearing the mental load worrying about money too. What is your DH doing?

Could he take that loan and learn to drive (driving instructors can't work from home meaning some might be up for teaching your DH) then because you already own a van your DH could take on any number of jobs and still develop his business

I'm sure that there are plenty of paying customers who would be happy for him to work if he develops some social distancing guidelines (we've had someone in to repair our washing machine and the company had done just that)

Decorating (normally done without people under your feet) is the ideal job to get back to. Not everyone will have DIYed. Time to advertise and pick up the early trade.

The other option is that you train your DH so that he can care for your DD properly and find a way to return to work yourself. I see that your DD breastfeeds and has a bottle that's ideal! She can have the bottle when you are out and lovely Mummy cuddles as soon as you get home.

Your DH really needs to step up in case anything should ever happen to you.

You might have the higher earning capacity. I hope the GP can give you advice that would allow you to return to work with PND. Do check out the charities that help with PND, they'll have a working and PND section. Good luck.

OP what does your statement say for deductions? It doesn’t seem the right amount, unless there is also a wage deduction on there?

Your DH needs to apply for a bounce back loan.

£2k-£50k (can't exceed annual turnover)

No payments for 12 months and the government will cover the interest for that 12 months

2.5% fixed interest after the 12 months and repayable for up to 6 years

The form is simple, is done online and you will receive the money within 48 hours upon approval

Also, you should be getting £849 UC a month

Over 25's couples allowance and child born after 17th of April 2017 child element

If you paid NI for 13 weeks before your DDs due date you are eligible for maternity allowance. Are you getting that?

I wonder if they'll take into consideration a premature birth?

Because based on your posts you do qualify for MA (to the best I can work out)

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

To everyone saying that people are fine now with tradesmen coming into their homes that's a lie. My boiler is broken right now, as in no heating at all, just hot water and if I run the taps to high then its makes an awful rumbling clunking noise, and it's going to stay that way until I feel comfortable with a stranger coming into my house, probably a couple months away still.

It's not a lie. It's quite simply that you are not the only person in the country and others have a different opinion. I think a broken boiler, if it's a gas boiler, is a priority and I wouldn't sit back and wait. You are happy to do so. There is still work for the boiler person because I will happily have him in my house.

Don't say people are lying because they don't agree with you.

Can’t believe your husband is so useless he can’t learn to keep his child alive. Sorry “medically minded” or not he has to learn!

Once he’s learned you have to go out to war simply. It’s tough but these are extreme circumstances and everyone is having to do things they’d rather not do

Out to work clearly not out to war!