People on universal credit - how much do you get a month?

[VodkaCranberry2]

Just been approved for UC for me and my DP and my new baby however baby isn’t registered on there yet due to his birth not being registered yet (been told to wait 21 days because offices have not been taking appointments). We got an advance of £1,244. But won’t find out how much we get a month for 5 weeks. I’m just wondering if anyone else is getting it and what sort of figure we can expect to get?

Me - self employed, ending maternity this week
Partner - works in a supermarket

Thank you and sorry for posting here wasn’t sure which topic to post in.

But there should be wisdom. Sure people on low incomes should be allowed kids and sure there should be top ups. Zero issue with that.

But if you earn 20k a year - you really shouldn’t be having 3 or 4 kids. It’s irresponsible.

Iseeareddoor. As has been explained numerous times , the poster getting that amount has a disabled child so will be getting a disabled child element and a carers element on their claim. These alone can add up to an extra £600 if the child is severely disabled. This is why the amount is so high, it would not be usual for someone on those wages to get that much unless they had a very high rent, or numerous children or as in this case a disabled child.

People can no longer claim for 3 or 4 children . They are capped at claiming 2 x child elements. They can still get child benefit and childcare help for any number of children though.

I've always found it generous as a top-up.

When I paid rent I got about £1,400 for me and my two children as a PhD student. So £1,200 a month stipend plus £1,400 UC plus child benefit and child maintenance. They deduct a certain amount for the stipend but don't treat it as earned income.

Then last year I was lucky enough to be allowed to move in long term to a house owned by a family member where I don't pay rent so my UC payment is now about £500.

But I also believe that people spouting "just get a job" don't actually understand the modern job market or the fact that to get UC you have to job hunt for 35 hours a week and prove your applications etc

This is strange to me because my younger sister, who spends a lot of time out of the country, always manages to get a job no problem whenever she is back for an extended period of time.

They jobs are certainly not her “dream job”, but it’s a job and income nonetheless.

Top ups of 1400 seem crazy - people working full time minimum wage don’t even earn that.

This is strange to me because my younger sister, who spends a lot of time out of the country

You know that not everyone has your sisters situation right?
My situation is I'm a single parent to a 7 year old and I have no family to use as child care so I have to rely on paid for child care as the only option. Paid for child care runs from 7.30am-6pm Monday to Friday.

So I can't do night shifts, late shifts, early starts, late finishes, weekend work etc.
That means I apply for office based work, receptionist, admin, HR, tea maker etc.
I did try self employment as a cleaner, but it didn't work out for various reasons.

But it's pointless trying to explain anything to anyone as they'll mostly.believe what they choose to believe without any research.

I’m afraid I’m old school. Sure people can lose jobs - but I’m a firm believer in providing for your own children.

Fair enough CB for low earners - but that’s it.

As has been explained numerous times , the poster getting that amount has a disabled child

It wasn’t mentioned in the post so will mislead a lot of readers. I’ve just managed to read through the entire thread and have seen it now. However...

No longer qualify but we used to get £750 a month UC

That was for 2 adults, 3 dc and total income of £1600 ish (one parent working ft)

I was gobsmacked it was so much if I’m honest as all i’d read was about how UC was peanuts

Even the poster was shocked at the top up amount.

I'm not sure why people think the top up amount I get is worth giving up work for 🤔

I'm a single mum, working 40 hours a week, renting from the LA.

I didn't choose to be the above. I was literally left desitiute and homeless after events unfolded with exh. I managed to retain my career luckily but yes ended up a lone parent of DS renting social housing.

I have to manage everything on one income. It wasn't a lifestyle choice, trust me I was happier in a marriage with two incomes in a mortgage house with mass disposable income, but I don't have that now. The grass isn't always greener.

£409 Standard Allowance (single, 2 DC)
£370 Housing
£508 for 2DC
£337 for LCWRA allowance

I am going to hide this thread because of how annoyed it makes me.
It really isn't that hard to get a job, a majority of people just believe that some jobs are below them.
Unfortunately the system isn't good enough to those who genuinely need it and too good for those who don't

As the lady at the job centre told me: it's a good thing you get child maintenance otherwise you wouldn't be able to afford your rent. That £8 maintenance a day for 2 dc makes all the difference.

I remember the days of being married and having two incomes and not being on any benefits except child benefit. Naturally I chose for my husband to fuck off, my job contract to not be renewed due to not needing me, to have a contraception failure in a new relationship and have my role filled by someone else due to taking mat leave but unable to do anything about it as I was self employed. I can't afford to learn to drive and childcare options are very limited with start and finish times and public transport so I'm retraining to fo something that works around the dc. Although obviously it's a piece of piss being a single mum of three on UC so maybe I shouldn't bother. Now, where's that tv and goat?

Not much

@CoachBombay
@Bercows

Dont justify yourselves to ignorant fuckalls on the internet. You do what's best for you and yours and if people think UC is great they can go claim it for themselves.

It still amazes me how many fathers don’t step up and provide for their children. It’s so sad.

They are often busy providing for their new families. My ExH spends nearly £1,000 a month on his lease car of choice. A 5 seater one when he and his gf have 8 kids between them But there's no chance in hell he will contribute any extra to school uniform. It beggars belief.
The system is flawed but I have no solution.

I also receive £0 in CM and have no legal way of getting it. I'm literally on my own on this.

We have not long been moved over to UC, my DH works full time but currently on 80% furlough, I work p/t and also now on 80% furlough - when we originally applied we were offered around £1200 in advance, but never took it as never needed that amount. Just had our first payment which was £240 - so quite a difference from the advance payment

I get £0 in CM and no childcare help either.

I don't criticise or judge people who are on benefits so pretty annoyed people on here judging and criticising landlords and calling all landlords greedy. Landlords provide housing for people who would otherwise be homeless. If all landlords sold all properties they let out local authorities would not be able to house everyone that needed accomodation. Landlords provide a service.

I agree - it’s a cheap argument calling landlords greedy.

If "rude, benefit bashing twat" was a UC element, there would be a few people on here entitled to that top up.

So much nonsense. If you work full time in minimum wage you can get universal credit to top up the fact that doesn’t meet the cost of living in a landlords market. Ergo it’s meaningless to compare their salary to someone on uc because theirs will be topped up.

Whoever said it’s like being on 60k is insane

Landlords provide housing in exchange for someone else paying a mortgage that will see hundreds of thousands profit for them in the future. Luckily my landlords understand this mutuality and are grateful for a long term reliable tenant.

Many of us stuck renting would be homeowners if the government hadn’t protected buy to let landlords with virtually 0% interest rates since the financial crash.

Renters are paying for your privileged retirement. Surely you don’t need them to doff their caps and grovel in gratitude too?