To not understand Universal Credit or believe that we qualify?

[UCConfused]

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!

I doubt you will be entitled to anything with that level of income and no childcare costs.

If you have fb go on universal credit essentials they have a accurate calendar

Calculator

UC so you can 'save'. I've heard it all now.

With a family income of £40k. I'm shocked you are even contemplating applying for benefits, which is supposed to be for those who are in temporary hardship or with serious medical problems. £16k savings is the limit above which you lose your benefit - it doesn't mean you can claim so you can save up to that figure.

If your rent is too high perhaps you need to move to a cheaper area? It's what people do if they find their current rent too high.

@MonicaGellerBing

UC so you can 'save'. I've heard it all now.

It's pretty shocking isn't it.

Im genuinely shocked.

How much do you have in the way of savings op? You say you don't have much, but anything over £6,000 will reduce your UC. There is a sliding scale between £6,000 and £16,000, with anything over the larger amount meaning that you get nothing.

That’s wrong, there is no way on this earth your entitled to this amount of money.

Universal credit essentials website has a accurate calculator. I can work my monthly award out each month. Entitled to and others are not accurate. They were way out for us.

And yet I’m on the bones of my arse after losing 2 jobs this year and DP being furloughed but not entitled to anything even though he’s only making £1000 a month?! Not entitled to a thing. Might just shit a kid out to get money

OP, fraudulently claiming UC would be lying about your income, savings or living situation- not applying when you are ineligible. The DWP will do there own calculation and tell you if you are ineligible.

You need a manual calculation by a trained benefits advisors. Benefits are complex. Contact citizens advice Help to Claim service.

[quote Gothere]@TrialOfStyle I work 30 hours a week and take home £1200 a month & get £80 a week T.Credits.

You should get the 30 hour element if you work 30 hours or more.

My shared ownership is classed as a mortgage, although its actually half rent & half mortgage that I pay every month.[/quote]
I work 30 hours. I think tax credits are more reasonable, as I've just had a look and after childcare, I received £75 this month on UC.

@Anyoldname12

And yet I’m on the bones of my arse after losing 2 jobs this year and DP being furloughed but not entitled to anything even though he’s only making £1000 a month?! Not entitled to a thing. Might just shit a kid out to get money

Are you not even entitled to new style jobseekers? That is based on your own ni contributions so isn’t affected by a partner’s wages.

Why shouldn't people who work full time be able to save?
Im a single parent, work full time and get universal credit.
I can save because I budget carefully and go without things to be able to afford to save.
Uc is not complicated.
I work out my allowance to the £ every month before I get my statement.
Depending on lha and child care you might be eligible.
Someone up thread has posted the calculations.
Help to save is a brilliant way to save, you are not going to get a return like that anywhere else and the government are obviously not against people saving because they are encouraging us to do it.

It sounds possible to me, it's the rent that does it.

I earn 25k, partner SAHD, 2 DC and we get 1k a month. Privately renting, rent 800

@MonicaGellerBing

UC so you can 'save'. I've heard it all now.

So if we don't earn enough to save what else do we do? Seeing as most of MN is appalled if people have zero savings.

What else are people supposed to do?

Also - to the poster who said "just move somewhere cheaper"

It's that easy is it?

Leave our families, jobs, school, (all of which also would cost money we don't have) - very practical. So we should only live here if we are high earners?

We're in a small 2 bed flat. Not some lavish champagne lifestyle.

But we do manage a couple of holidays a year. France/Spain/Wales etc

How nice. Some people haven't had a holiday abroad in years. I suggest you start saving by cutting down to one holiday a year then create a budget, I'm sure you will find things which can be cut down or stopped to save a bit extra.

Benefits were created for people in times of need, not those who earn £40k and fancy some benefits to top up their savings.

Plenty of people move to other locations - I don't know anyone who still lives really close to parents and family. It may take a bit of effort but you maybe can find somewhere cheaper within commuting distance of your jobs?

Combined household income of about £30k between me and DH. DS 2 in nursery (about to be) 2 half days a week at a cost of £240 a month and we're not entitled to anything (I only know because I checked the other day to see if we were better off going with tax free childcare or universal credit)

@UCConfused if you're that determined to save then perhaps the two to three holidays a year you take need to be sacrificed rather than expecting benefits to pay out so you can have savings. Anyone with savings these days are very lucky, some people can't afford food never mind savings. You need a reality check

When my ex was still here we earned about 32k between us. 2 DC and £800 rent. We didn't get anything. I've actually been told since that we should have done, but tbh we managed just fine without it.

[quote MonicaGellerBing]@UCConfused if you're that determined to save then perhaps the two to three holidays a year you take need to be sacrificed rather than expecting benefits to pay out so you can have savings. Anyone with savings these days are very lucky, some people can't afford food never mind savings. You need a reality check[/quote]
You seem to have purposely missed the points where I said I'd feel like a fraud filling it out.

That it can't be right.

And that I won't bother.

Just so you can be a classic MNer.

I see all is well here.

We shan't be bothering with the UC because although we've paid taxes our whole life we don't feel right about it.

But what will also displease you as I also don't work 40 hours a week to not go places we enjoy on our few weeks off. (Where we use Clubcard points for the tunnel and stay at a friends place - not the Ritz)

Enjoy your day.

40k is a decent income. I think thats why people are surprised. More than 2 full time min wage workers. Most people in many areas would earn under this as a family.

Ita crazy if this is right. And I suspect we missed out earlier if so.

If you rent that could be right. We get some and we have a similar income.

No OP. Do not take some comments to heart.