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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand Universal Credit or believe that we qualify?

106 replies

UCConfused · 09/12/2020 11:45

So I read on another thread about applying for UC if you have less than £16k in savings.

We have basically no savings. So thought I'd read more and have done a few of the calculators.

Between us we earn a little over £40k - no childcare costs as I can WFH outside school hours.

We rent privately at £1100/month.

Use credit cards etc but no big debts. Bascially each month we're at zero. But we do manage a couple of holidays a year. France/Spain/Wales etc, nothing too glam, but we can pay for DDs extra curricular things and don't go without.

Apparently though we can claim around £400/month UC.

Which is music to my ears, especially the Help to Save scheme thing, as having savings is the dream.

But do I have this all wrong? I feel like a fraud filling the application!

OP posts:
Bleughbleughbleugh12 · 09/12/2020 11:47

Your not wrong

FiveGoMadInDorset · 09/12/2020 11:48

My income was £1700 this month as my self employment was good and worked extra bank shifts, I didn't get any UC this month

shallbe · 09/12/2020 12:05

How many children do you have?

Original poster
UCConfused · 09/12/2020 12:06

@shallbe

How many children do you have?
Just 1 - primary school age.
OP posts:
Original poster
UCConfused · 09/12/2020 12:11

I'm glad to hear you're able to earn more at this time, harder for us right now.

So the UC is quite flexible then it seems? Each month based on that months' income?

OP posts:
shallbe · 09/12/2020 12:12

That has to be wrong then surely? The cut off for tax credits used to be around £26k for one child a few years ago and about £32k for 2 (not childcare element) even when we had childcare costs (which bumps it up quite a bit) we weren't getting £400 when we were on around £40k, I am going back a few years though and when it was tax credits, but I will be very surprised if you get £400 a month for 1 child on £40k a year, of course apply (you don't need to feel guilty, if you're eligible, you're eligible!) but double and triple check all your figures because they are buggers for overpaying and then needing to claw back. Is there an enhanced element atm because of Covid?

Jenala · 09/12/2020 12:12

We earn about 45k between us with 2 kids and not entitled to anything. We claimed during covid when my husband couldn't work but wouldn't be eligible now.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 09/12/2020 12:16

That is my whole household income this month as a widow so way below the £40k you take home.

shallbe · 09/12/2020 12:19

I just had a play on entitled to (bored, lunch break!) and it only says child benefit for annual income of £40,000 between two people with one child, no childcare.

1990shopefulftm · 09/12/2020 12:20

Our household income is going to be 20k when my maternity pay stops and our entitlement would be nothing when I checked with our 1 year old if our income went about 24k if we had no childcare costs so that doesn't sound right.

Original poster
UCConfused · 09/12/2020 12:23

Thanks all, I've done 3 different calculators. I'll get my DH to do them too.

I am trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I'd hate to be seen to be asking for something fraudulently. May just not bother as it would really worry me!

OP posts:
Jenala · 09/12/2020 12:23

Yes just double checked, under 45k between us with 2 kids and we are not entitled to anything.

There's no harm in applying the worst that will happen is you'll be told you're not eligible.

Jenala · 09/12/2020 12:24

On entitledto there's a net income page but you have to put in pre-tax income. I'd imagine if you're putting take home pay in there it would be v different.

Original poster
UCConfused · 09/12/2020 12:26

@Jenala

On entitledto there's a net income page but you have to put in pre-tax income. I'd imagine if you're putting take home pay in there it would be v different.
I'm putting in pre-tax gross monthly income for each of us.
OP posts:
CustardGoodJamGoodMeatGood · 09/12/2020 12:36

that must be wrong OP, we have a household income of just under £30k, one child just turned 1 who goes to nursery. I do 3 days, DP works full time, DD in nursery two days p/week and we get around £360 per month towards her childcare

SonjaMorgan · 09/12/2020 12:40

Fill out the forms, you have nothing to lose and, as you have stated with the help to save scheme, more than just the extra cash to gain.

This is completely unsolicited advice so don't take offence but you really need an emergency fund. I speak from experience, everything can go to shit very quickly without any type of safety net.

Mumofsend · 09/12/2020 12:44

Entitled to isn't accurate for universal credit.

I can't imagine you will be eligible without childcare costs

LakieLady · 09/12/2020 12:44

@shallbe

That has to be wrong then surely? The cut off for tax credits used to be around £26k for one child a few years ago and about £32k for 2 (not childcare element) even when we had childcare costs (which bumps it up quite a bit) we weren't getting £400 when we were on around £40k, I am going back a few years though and when it was tax credits, but I will be very surprised if you get £400 a month for 1 child on £40k a year, of course apply (you don't need to feel guilty, if you're eligible, you're eligible!) but double and triple check all your figures because they are buggers for overpaying and then needing to claw back. Is there an enhanced element atm because of Covid?
Tax credits doesn't include a housing element. It'll be the housing costs that tip the OP into eligibility.
17bluebirds · 09/12/2020 12:45

2 dc, single mum, £22k full time salary. I'm entitled to £40 a month. (I do have some savings though, but not over the £16k)

So it doesn't sound correct that you are entitled to so much.

Happyheartlovelife · 09/12/2020 12:45

Yeah. I just did it and came to only child benefit.

Lougle · 09/12/2020 12:47

It might as being right. For a start, you'll only get a 2 bedroom rate for your rent. So you need to look up your area's Local Housing Allowance. It doesn't matter what your rent is, if it's over the LHA for your area, it's capped. If you got the maximum rent allowance, you might qualify.

Hayeahnobut · 09/12/2020 12:48

Have you checked that your full rent is allowed? Check the two bedroom LHA rate for your area, that's the figure you need to enter for housing costs.

There's no harm in applying, it's not fraudulent to give the DWP your financial information and they then work it out.

JamesMoriarty · 09/12/2020 12:48

I'm assuming it's wrong but who knows. I'm living on student income with no savings and apparently I'm not entitled to anything.

sunset900 · 09/12/2020 12:53

It will be the £1100 per month rent that is tipping it. I think they increased the amount of rent that was allowed to be claimed against for COVID but not sure what to.

movingonup20 · 09/12/2020 12:55

I thought the cap was £23k in London and £20k elsewhere not including child benefit (separate) and pip/dla (exempt)