Benefits calculators - WTF?!

[BrightonForWine]

I have used Turn2us, EntitledTo, and Policy in Practice.
I was ultra careful in the info I put in, and I checked it before I finished.

Yet I got three different answers of weekly benefit entitlement of tax credits (no UC, we are already on tax credits and circumstances are about to change re new job).
EntitledTo said we would get over £300 a week
Turn2us said £119 a week
Policy in practice says over £800 a week

?!

Does the P.I.P one include Housing Benefit and the others don't?

None of them include housing benefit, we aren't entitled to that.

We both work and my income is about to increase and DH's is about to slightly increase.

I believe if your circumstances change you will be moved on to universal credit

No our circumstances have changed a few times (covid and changes in childcare) and we remain on TC.
It only changes if it's a new claim (that's what they told me, it may be different now).

Depends what the change of circumstances is - if it's a change in earnings up or down then you won't need to move to UC. If you need to claim other benefits now then you will.

It's an increase of income and decrease of tax credits

This one should be accurate if it’s just tax credits you’re claiming www.gov.uk/tax-credits-calculator

You have made an error, entitled to & Turn2us will give the same answer for the same input, they ask questions differently though.

PiP gives your total weekly income not just benefit entitlement, I think you will find that £800 a week includes earnings.

You are right that a change in income is not a relative change to change from Tax Credit to UC though.

Just call the CAB tomorrow when they open they will use a benefit calculator that will let you know exactly what you will get.

[quote Polly111]This one should be accurate if it’s just tax credits you’re claiming www.gov.uk/tax-credits-calculator[/quote]
That's helpful I didn't realise they had their own.
Thank you.

@whatwedontknow

You have made an error, entitled to & Turn2us will give the same answer for the same input, they ask questions differently though.

PiP gives your total weekly income not just benefit entitlement, I think you will find that £800 a week includes earnings.

That makes sense!! Thank you.

£800 per week (£42k per annum)... where do I sign up?

@Whammyyammy

£800 per week (£42k per annum)... where do I sign up?

Exactly! I wish!

@Whammyyammy

£800 per week (£42k per annum)... where do I sign up?

I don't understand the benefits system

clearly the £800 a week one isn't going to be correct unless you have loads of kids or disabled children.

@Babyroobs

clearly the £800 a week one isn't going to be correct unless you have loads of kids or disabled children.

Neither! Just one childcare in a very reasonably priced childcare setting for a few days a week.

My friend calculated hers, with one child two parents and child in childcare for 2 days a week and the PiP said £971 a week

FWIW the government website worked it out as about £120 a week which makes much more sense and was roughly what the Turn2us calculated.

@Babyroobs the Pip one includes income in the final calculation, hence £800 / £900 plus, it’s benefits and income combined.