Universal counting the money that's taken out for pension as income. AIBU?

[1234IDeclareAPeanutWar]

It's fucking embarrassing to be a Band 6, husband working full time and having to claim universal credit in the first place.

But we need the meagre amount UC give us toward the childcare.

Ive noticed UC have noted my take home pay as more than I actually have as take home.

They have just replied to say that the 9.8% pension isn't deducted.

They consider that as income.

Income that I won't be getting until I'm in my 60's (at least!).

AIBU to be angry and gutted? We are utterly broke.

Well they are wrong

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/pension-contributions

As this says that 100% of income paid into pension is disregarded for universal credit.

Am I misunderstanding them??

Entitled to say they should NOT be counting my pension contributions!

(Ignore the first bit, that was about my errors entering childcare dates)

They’re wrong to do that.

Or Im misreading them? Does the bottom
bit mean what I think it means?

5a:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/regulation/55

Says pension contributions are excluded. (Even if you were to decide not contribute to a pension you wouldn't get that amount in your pay in any case because you'd be taxed on it.)

Thank you! I'm going to quote that exact legislation.

Titchy, did you read what I put from UC, am
i misreading them?

under regulation 57(4).]

(5) In calculating the amount of a person's employed earnings in respect of an assessment period, there are to be deducted from the amount of general earnings or benefits specified in paragraphs (2) to (4)—

(a)any relievable pension contributions made by the person in that period;
(b)any amounts paid by the person in that period in respect of the employment by way of income tax or primary Class 1 contributions under section 6(1) of the Contributions and Benefits Act; and
(c)any sums withheld as donations to an approved scheme under Part 12 of

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/part/6/chapter/2/2022-09-20

You may need to consider why you have overstretched yourself in the first place?

Can someone confirm I'm not misreading them before I write about legislations and regulations on my journal.

Thanks for your help as well, I've been getting stressed out about this!

@silverclock222 how is that helpful

Have you looked at tax free childcare? It might be more generous than UC and is less of a faff to get.

Shitty comment. You dont know the OP's circumstances.

This is probably a good shout. Especially if you have more than one child you're paying childcare fees for.

You may need to consider why you have overstretched yourself in the first place?

You may need to consider getting your head out of your arse. Where does OP say she's overstretched? It's more than possible with the current economic climate for two wages to STILL not be enough to cover massively escalating food, fuel, petrol, mortgage, essentials etc price increases.

Yeah send one of your kids back OP

I agree with how your interpret the response in your journal - it's seems quite clear 'Laura' has included your (gross 🤦‍♀️) pension contribution when she should have ignored it.

There's always one....

They use my take home not my pre tax earnings. Have the questioned this at all, especially with the new auto opt in

OP ignore silverclock222 there are really nasty pieces of work on mumsnet at the moment

Stupid question: if pension contributions aren’t included would that allow someone to put larger contributions into a pension and it not be counted?

I don’t have an answer to OPs question but if UC assessment don’t take into account pension contributions then it may allow people to fudge the system more if they upped their pension contributions?

Thank you!! I'm so glad I posted.

I had absolutely not confidence that they were wrong.
I genuinely believed what they were telling me and never even considered looking at legislations (ironic, given my bloody job!).

I will now inform Laura's that she is wrong.

Thank you!!

I wondered this as well, which was another reason why I thought they might be right?!

Do you know what else is embarrassing and insulting.

Not only do I get regular messages on my journal on attending groups to teach me how to get a job, the only way I can get a response is to message my Work Coach in my journal.

My work coach!!

Im a professional. Im so embarrassed I could fucking cry.