UC entitlement help

[RyanBergarasTeeth]

Is anyone well versed in claiming UC and how it all works? I have found myself in a bad situation workwise in that im on furlough until october whilst everyone else at work has returned and ive been told kts not looking good for me. Im applying to job after job and being rejected and now my dp has unexpected issues. He works full time in a shop and takes home around 1k a month. I am/was on a zero hour contract and earn around £800 a month on average sometimes a little more usually less and we private rent. We dont claim any benefits at all and are beginning to struggle especially with thoughts of me not having a job come october. I am lucky enough to have 9k in savings. I have looked on 2 different benefits calculators one said i would be best off claiming UC but the entitled. Co. Uk one said i am entitled to nothing and i really dont know if its worth applying if theres no point. Not really an aibu but i really need help. Thanks.

You may need to divide your savings between yourself and hubby then apply.Apply, declare savings they will soon tell you what you are entitled to...don't delay.

Thank you! I think i will apply this week and declare it and see what they say :)

As far as I'm aware savings don't come into
It unless it's more than 16k, I could be wrong. I'd suggest you call them because they take the whole years finances into account too, and you don't want to end up owing money

I work in Universal Credit- you would need to make a joint claim and they would take into account all savings in either of your name. Dividing your savings would make no difference at all.

At £6000 savings they start to take deductions from your benefits- it’s on a sliding scale and you will find the exact deductions on gov.uk

At £16000 savings you wouldn’t be entitled to UC at all.

Before applying put all of your details into a benefits calculator, there are a number of different ones on gov.uk

This will give you an idea of if you would be eligible for anything at all. There’s no point going through the rigmarole of applying if you’re not eligible. If you do lose your job and your circumstances change then check the calculator again.

Wishing you luck and hope things go well for you.

The best place for genuine benefit advice is gov.uk not Mumsnet.

Thank you i will look into it more. I would rather just find a new job than have to apply but getting worried with personal circumstances at the moment. I have tried 3 benefits calculators but they gave different results so its frustrating.

Don't use a benefit calculator, they don't seem to give accurate readings.

I would suggest applying as you've nothing to lose but could be entitled to something.

I would apply to get yourself in the system, if the worst situation was to happen and you were still unemployed after you have drained your savings, its better to be in there and maybe not have to wait, then having no money and waiting a minimum of 5 weeks

Apply the day AFTER your last paycheck, or they'll use that sum as income for the month.

If you have a credit card, pay it off. They take savings into account but not debt. So if you have £9k savings but £2k credit card debt, they count that as £9k savings - but if you pay it off, they only count the £7k savings.

I wouldn’t advise applying at the end or beginning of a month as this means that you could end up with 2 pay dates in one assessment period if your pay date changes slightly each month or if you get paid early due to bank holidays.

Oh thats good to know so i should apply mid month? And also re credit card i habe £300 on one so will try to pay it off but i dont know how. As it stands i have £300 to last me until 30th september and need to pay some bills and do a food shop yet.

You lose £4.35 of UC monthly for every £250 (or part thereof) for savings between £6k and £16k, so £9k of savings would give a deduction of £56.55 or £52.20, depending on whether it is just over or just under £9k.

Are you renting? If so, find out the local housing allowance for your area. Unless you have DCs (which you haven't mentioned), you'll only be entitled to the one-bedroomed rate.

The standard allowance for a couple is £594.04 a month. Add this to the LHA figure, this will give you your maximum entitlement.

Then, multiply your net pay by 0.63, and subtract this figure from the maximum entitlement. If you end up with a minus figure, you won't be entitled to anything. If it's a positive, that's what you'll get, less the £50-odd referred to above.

You'd have to be in a very high rent area to qualify for help as a child-free couple with an income of £1,800 pcm, but may if either of your jobs go tits up.

It gets more complicated if you have children, because part of your earnings will be disregarded, plus you get child elements added to your maximum entitlement.

And the advice about paying off debts to reduce your savings to below £6k is spot on. If you have various debts, pay the one with the highest interest rates.

@RyanBergarasTeeth

Oh thats good to know so i should apply mid month? And also re credit card i habe £300 on one so will try to pay it off but i dont know how. As it stands i have £300 to last me until 30th september and need to pay some bills and do a food shop yet.

Can you not pay the credit card off from your savings?

I wouldn’t advise applying at the end or beginning of a month as this means that you could end up with 2 pay dates in one assessment period if your pay date changes slightly each month or if you get paid early due to bank holidays

This really should only be happening to those who are paid on the last day of the month now, and only in the 30-day months or February.

HMRC has issued guidance to employers stating that, when staff are paid early because the normal pay date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the pay date should show on the payslip as the normal pay date, not the actual date on which the payment is made.

Having said all that, I'd advise new claimants who are paid at the end of the month to start their claim in the first couple of days of a month rather than the end. A claim that starts on the second of a month will give a monthly assessment period running from the 2nd to the 1st of all subsequent months.

I get paid at the end of the month which is a nightmare which is why i got the credit card as usually i hate any debt but we needed it. Its added extra now as we private rent which is £500 a month then our bills and maintenance for dps son plus due to personal circumstances he has to pay for his ex to live as well until she can claim benefits so its one big headache. The savings i have ive accumulated since working from age 13 to buy a house. I have also moved north as theres no way i could ever afford to live back home in london.

Apply in the middle of the month you will get some reduction due to your savings but you have savings so your in a more fortunate situation than others hopefully you will get a job soon

Why can't his ex claim benefits, OP? Is she from overseas or something?

Definitely clear your credit card and any loans, overdraft etc before you start to claim. It'll save you interest, you'll have more disposable income because you won't be making the monthly payments and you'll get a bit more UC when you claim because your savings will be lower.

When you get back on your feet, you'll be able to step up your savings more quickly because you won't have to pay so much on your cards every month.

Thank you. Im absolutely in a better position than many but its still a massive struggle especially when trying to save for a house so partners child can have a permanent home somewhere. I know i may end up entitled to nothing which is fine but just thought i would put the feelers out until i can find a job even part time at this point would help.