AIBU to understand our benefit system at times?

[JacketSpud55]

Dh has started a new job on more than double what he was earning previously, which is great and I am very proud of him. He use to earn roughly £24,000 per year and we would get £1367 a month universal credit plus £200 every 4 weeks child benefit, so a grand total of £3152 a month (including wages.) Fast forward to now £57,500 a year with a take home pay of £3360 and we are still entitled to £248 universal credit. Which seems crazy to me especially when they claim back a large chunk of the child benefit back through an adjusted tax code at the end of the year. Why not raise the child benefit limit to £65,000-70,000 and let us keep the £200 child benefit in my case and scrap off the £248 universal credit, it would be much simpler.

Before anyone asks I have contacted DWP through my journal and we are definitely still entitled to the £248 UC, I contacted them as I was 100% sure they must of made a mistake.

I don't get it at all we don't earn that and have a disabled child at high rate, we get absolutely nothing it's crazy, seems like they make it up as they go along.

Oh wow @Gooseberrypies I didn’t know you could claim both, yes I get the carers element of £164 a month. I thought it was either or not both

Oh wow @Gooseberrypies I didn’t know you could claim both, yes I get the carers element of £164 a month. I thought it was either or not both

Yes that's right. If your child receives either middle or high rate DLA you can claim the carers element of UC. Then as long as you don't earn over the limit (around £130 a week I believe?) you can also claim carers allowance separately BUT this is then deducted from your UC award as it's an overlapping benefit. You're no better or worse off, but claiming carers allowance pays your national insurance contributions.

UC also pays national insurance credits, you don’t need class 1 and class 3 for the same time period.

@JacketSpud55

From what you have said your UC claim includes
Standard couples element
Child element x 3
Disabled child element x 1 (either the lower or higher rate)
Carers element
Housing costs element

I don't have the figures to hand but yes the overall UC elements would come to a large amount. Then doing the calc based on DH wages I can see where this entitlement would come in.

I see you say you haven't actually claimed Carers Allowance which is different to the carers element in UC. Bare in mind that if you do claim Carers Allowance this will be included as income in your UC claim. So will in fact cancel out any entitlement to UC. You may find you're better of though as Carers Allowance is £67.60 pw.