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Original poster

Universal Credit - how can this be right?

478 replies

beentheretoo · 04/03/2021 23:24

I’ll admit I know very little about Universal Credit apart from what you hear on the news thankfully (touch wood) never had to claim).

A friend recently got a new job 2 days a week I congratulated her and said it’s the type of job they are always looking for people I bet they’ll be offering you more days in no time. She then said oh I don’t want more days it’ll affect my UC, I’m allowed to work up to 16 hours before they take money off me and besides I’m really looking forward to having 3 days to myself once the kids are back in school. She’s a single parent her DH left her when she was a SAHM she was on full UC for a bit then had another PT job now this new one (she has a degree but doesn’t want to go back into that field).

I was thinking about it how can they be right that if you work 16 hours you get full UC but if you work 20 you get money taken away? Where’s the incentive to work more hours? My friends DC are older so doesn’t need childcare and I’m sure loads of people would love 3 days to themselves I bloody would.

Am I getting it correct then?

OP posts:
SciFiScream · 08/03/2021 13:28

@TulisaIsBrill you could also look into setting up a DAF.

Donor Advised Fund. CAF or your local community foundation will be able to advise you.

May17th · 08/03/2021 14:16

@24butfeeling80 if it’s not beneficial for you to do more hours right not due to the cost of your nursery fees. Do an online calculation juggle around and do what works best for you. There’s no point complaining about what ifs when you can decrease your hours if needs be!

May17th · 08/03/2021 14:17

@MiddlesexGirl

If you have a 3-4 year old the usual expectation is 16 hours a week. 5-12 year old - 25 hours a week 13+ - 35 hours a week. For childcare upfront you ask for a Flexible Support Payment
What is that a flexible support payment? Do you mean from the CC provider?
Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/03/2021 14:29

[quote 24butfeeling80]@Waxonwaxoff0 so what your saying is my child doesn’t deserve 15 hours free for her benefit and socialisation... because I work and earn over 15k?

I know a lot of people who benefits are more than my monthly wage. Not to mention the people who cut their working hours so that they can claim the free hours, and more benefits.. because that’s how the system works unsurprisingly.[/quote]
Where did I say that your child doesn't deserve it? I was just explaining the reasoning.

Funny how on these threads there's always someone who "knows" so many people on benefits getting loads of money. Seems there are a lot of people on benefits keen to divulge their finances. I'd call bullshit because in real life I don't know anyone who discusses their income and salary in such detail.

24butfeeling80 · 08/03/2021 14:44

@May17th Sorry I don’t understand.
I can’t ‘do more hours right now’ because I’m full time anyway, both me and my DH work full time - if I cut my hours... I get paid less Confused

I don’t know if you’re suggesting that by me and DH cutting our hours below the threshold so that we can then claim benefits was your point but that would just go to show how wrong the system is that people can and will do that.

LifesLittleDeciders · 08/03/2021 14:46

@Waxonwaxoff0 well that just goes to show how many people are on benefits rather than working then doesn’t it.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 08/03/2021 14:48

[quote LifesLittleDeciders]@Waxonwaxoff0 well that just goes to show how many people are on benefits rather than working then doesn’t it.[/quote]
Or people are just making stuff up.

boltfromtheblueblue · 08/03/2021 20:19

Funny how on these threads there's always someone who "knows" so many people on benefits getting loads of money. Seems there are a lot of people on benefits keen to divulge their finances. I'd call bullshit because in real life I don't know anyone who discusses their income and salary in such detail

I never understand the "I have never experienced this so it doesn't happen" people. It's really rather narcissistic. All kinds of things happen that you have never experienced.
IME it was quite common for everyone to know who was getting what, people were very open about it as most of their friends and family were in the same boat.

Redruby2020 · 09/03/2021 22:38

[quote May17th]**@Redruby2020* you get your Childcare costs back but you have to pay them first from your own money * I’m shocked at this rule and I cannot seem to get my head around it. Around 4 weeks later you do get the money back no issues usually.[/quote]
Yeah that's what I don't get, like not everyone has surplus cash to do that, ridiculous idea. Was so much easier in my parents day, there wasn't all these complications.

May17th · 10/03/2021 06:09

@Redruby2020 I agree I’m interested to know how people with 2 children in childcare do it? Especially nursery fees! You have to budget in advance. It’s not a good system I would say this is what let’s UC down so different to the old style TC.

Doyoumind · 10/03/2021 06:56

The problem with TC was the way it was calculated based on the previous tax year. The one benefit of the UC system is that it's based on your current situation.

TulisaIsBrill · 10/03/2021 08:37

@Doyoumind

The problem with TC was the way it was calculated based on the previous tax year. The one benefit of the UC system is that it's based on your current situation.
It is perfectly possible under tax credits to provide HMRC with accurate estimates throughout the current tax year to avoid overpayments occurring. They will adjust the amount of tax credits you get to reflect this.

Plus the old pension trick in case you don't bother until the end of the year.

The only flaw in the system is if your income drops, there is a £2500 disregard for this year, which is a cruel thing.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/03/2021 09:10

@Doyoumind

The problem with TC was the way it was calculated based on the previous tax year. The one benefit of the UC system is that it's based on your current situation.
I'm still on tax credits and this has never been an issue for me. I was furloughed from April until August and my tax credits were adjusted, then I increased my working hours in September and my tax credits were adjusted again within 3 weeks.
megletsecond · 10/03/2021 09:22

I've never had a problem with tax credits in 13 years. Although I have always been in the same job.
But even the childcare costs didn't mess it up.

The UC childcare process is an awful idea. I'd have never paid a grand of nursery fees in advance.

Redruby2020 · 10/03/2021 13:32

@megletsecond

I've never had a problem with tax credits in 13 years. Although I have always been in the same job. But even the childcare costs didn't mess it up.

The UC childcare process is an awful idea. I'd have never paid a grand of nursery fees in advance.

Exactly! I will not be doing this, so something else will have to be sorted out!
MiddlesexGirl · 10/03/2021 14:11

[quote May17th]@Redruby2020 I agree I’m interested to know how people with 2 children in childcare do it? Especially nursery fees! You have to budget in advance. It’s not a good system I would say this is what let’s UC down so different to the old style TC.[/quote]
As I posted earlier, you need to ask about the Flexible-Support-Fund. It exists for many purposes, one of which is to enable the first tranche of childcare to be funded in advance.

MiddlesexGirl · 10/03/2021 14:12

I will add though that it's not guaranteed... it's at the discretion of the work coach so you need to demonstrate your need.

May17th · 10/03/2021 14:44

@MiddlesexGirl thanks I will look into it.

brogo · 10/03/2021 15:01

@24butfeeling80

The 15 free hours for people that earn under £15k is from age two but everyone gets 15 free hours from age 3 and 30 free hours from age 3 if you work full time. Everyone does get it but only the most vulnerable children get it from age 2.

Redruby2020 · 10/03/2021 16:13

[quote brogo]@24butfeeling80

The 15 free hours for people that earn under £15k is from age two but everyone gets 15 free hours from age 3 and 30 free hours from age 3 if you work full time. Everyone does get it but only the most vulnerable children get it from age 2.[/quote]
Vulnerable? If your salary is below a certain amount or you receive benefits then your child is automatically entitled to 15 hrs.

Redruby2020 · 10/03/2021 16:32

Thankyou @MiddlesexGirl I will look in to that. All I know is, I will not kill myself trying to do it all, everyone's circumstances are unique.

It does make you feel positive at least when you hear other people obviously do live and work with this benefit in place, but then it also is a concern because of difficulties people face with it.

Redruby2020 · 10/03/2021 16:40

So does anyone have experience of getting the 30 free hours because of working full time, by full time I don't know if that is more based on salary earnt, I was told it is. How you manage your work around doing enough to get the 30 free hours, to continue to get some UC, to get work that means you start after the child goes to nursery and finishes before the child's nursery finishes for the day, manage a home as well.
As I was working it out as 30 free hours a week means 6 hours a day, at nursery? So yeah then it's finding work to do within those hours.

purpleme12 · 10/03/2021 17:09

You use a private nursery rather than one attached to a school

Redruby2020 · 10/03/2021 21:16

@purpleme12

You use a private nursery rather than one attached to a school
What do you mean, how does that help, I assume you might mean because the hours are longer?
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