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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Universal credit

59 replies

ObamaLlamas · 07/03/2023 13:39

So I've namechanged and this is my 2nd thread this afternoon, penis beaker, cancel the cheque etc before someone says im goading. This is a genuine query.

I bumped into a friend at softplay she has two under 2.5 years old. She was a teacher and husband in the army and her kids were in nursery 1 day a week and she worked part time. It was difficult with her husband needing to be away at time and travelling etc so she decided to quit work. She now puts her kids for 3 days a week in nursery and 85% is paid for by the government (how she phrased it - no idea what that really means) and they are also better off financially by 'hundreds of pounds' a month.

I'm soon to be made redundant from my work at home flexible job and I'm looking for something else. I have a 4 year old at school and 1 year old at nursery and a mortgage.

My husband takes home £1900 a month, so similar to my friends husband, working full time. We have savings of less than 6k and get no other benefits, our nursery bill is £700 per month.

'Entitled to' says we are only eligible for child benefit if I stop work and nothing else. It would be impossible to live on that and I'm just confused as to how the system seems to work for one family than the other. Can anyone explain it? I am confused if i put something wrong on the forms. Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
ObamaLlamas · 07/03/2023 16:01

Bump

OP posts:
didldidi · 07/03/2023 16:06

does she own or rent her property? do you own or rent?

megletthesecond · 07/03/2023 16:08

Renting / mortgage and childcare costs make a difference.

BippityBoppityBoehyBish · 07/03/2023 16:14

Did you do your calculation to include the wage you have now? If so that will be why you wont be entitled to anything. On a wage of 1900 with 2 children youd be entitled to around £300 a month. If your friend rents then she'd get a higher amount as she would be entitled to the housing element.

If your both earning then it's unlikely youd be entitled to anything.

Original poster
ObamaLlamas · 07/03/2023 16:24

BippityBoppityBoehyBish · 07/03/2023 16:14

Did you do your calculation to include the wage you have now? If so that will be why you wont be entitled to anything. On a wage of 1900 with 2 children youd be entitled to around £300 a month. If your friend rents then she'd get a higher amount as she would be entitled to the housing element.

If your both earning then it's unlikely youd be entitled to anything.

Why does entitled keep saying £0? We own with a mortgage, she rents. I put my wage as £0.

OP posts:
didldidi · 07/03/2023 16:25

That will be it then - an element of UC gives help towards rent but there is no equivalent for mortgage

Original poster
ObamaLlamas · 07/03/2023 16:28

So the fact she rents means she's hundreds of pounds a month better off and they pay for childcare. That's so unfair. How does the childcare bit work? She said 'the government' pay 85% of the childcare fees. I didn't really understand how that works. But when she worked she could only pay for 1 day a week at nursery for her kids and now they go 3 days a week and she doesn't work AND is better off financially. Just can't get my head around it - surely that's not just all because she rents?

OP posts:
SunshineGeorgie · 07/03/2023 16:30

Are they living together in Army accommodation?

GoodChat · 07/03/2023 16:30

Her child's age probably makes a difference too

GoodChat · 07/03/2023 16:31

Sorry I missed the bit about your 1 year old. Ignore me.

Original poster
ObamaLlamas · 07/03/2023 16:31

SunshineGeorgie · 07/03/2023 16:30

Are they living together in Army accommodation?

I'm not sure - does that make a difference?

OP posts:
Original poster
ObamaLlamas · 07/03/2023 16:32

GoodChat · 07/03/2023 16:30

Her child's age probably makes a difference too

She has two kids aged 1 and 2
I have a 1 year old and 4 year old

OP posts:
MoveBitch · 07/03/2023 16:33

I was under the assumption that you had to actually be working to claim 85% childcare back

It will be because of rent though.
For example my rent is 1300pm. My local council rate is £1000pm.
So even though I work full time + overtime etc after deductions for my earnings I still receive about £800pm in UC to cover my rent.

If I had a mortgage I would get zero

Ringmaster27 · 07/03/2023 16:34

If your income is below a certain level, you qualify for the 85% childcare costs via UC. If it’s over that amount but under the next higher income floor, you should qualify for tax free childcare instead.

Ringmaster27 · 07/03/2023 16:34

And yes, I’m pretty sure you have to be in work to qualify for the 85% childcare.

MoveBitch · 07/03/2023 16:35

Although there are different rules for parents in the forces, this might also be playing a part

SunshineGeorgie · 07/03/2023 16:35

Well yes it makes a difference.... if she is claiming as a lone parent for example?

Army accommodation is (from my experience) subsidised, and taken from wage at source. Might have changed though

Beezknees · 07/03/2023 16:35

ObamaLlamas · 07/03/2023 16:31

I'm not sure - does that make a difference?

Show quote history

It would do, Army accommodation is heavily discounted.

youtwoandme · 07/03/2023 16:37

OP as frustrating as it is, try not to compare what your friend is entitled to, to what you are entitled to. Everyone's circumstances are different. You won't know the in' and out's of her claim.
And yes, the fact that you own a home will reduce any entitlement. Again, very frustrating, but nothing can be done.

Skyeheather · 07/03/2023 16:37

A quick look on Google says you have to qualify for UC to apply for the 85% childcare. If you don't qualify for UC, you can't claim for the childcare.

Remember that by having a mortgage you are investing your money into your house which you will one day own. Your friend is paying out money for rent that she will never see again.

Do you claim for whatever replaced Childcare Vouchers?

Beezknees · 07/03/2023 16:38

You own a home, she doesn't and you're moaning how unfair it is. 😒

Ithinkineedout · 07/03/2023 16:38

Has any of her children got disabilities? Is she a carer for someone? Otherwise unless she works aswel as her husband you can’t claim 85% childcare.

KikkisCat · 07/03/2023 16:41

Agree something not quite right here. To get universal credit for 85% of childcare both your friend and her husband would have to be working.

CherryBlossom100 · 07/03/2023 16:46

Did you put in that you had childcare costs? I think you both have to be in work to get that though. I've just put my claim in for uc. I'll get the £300 for single adult and around £200 for each child and then 85% childcare costs up to a max amount each month of just under £2000 i think.

The entitled to website is very good. There are different rules for armed forces.
Its the childcare element that makes her hundreds better off. I'm the same. Its better for me to earn a little less to get uc and the childcare element than to work full time. Ifs that's wrong then the gov should help working parents out more. Having three in childcare (unexpected twins before anyone comes at me) is more than my daily wage.

Whammyyammy · 07/03/2023 16:51

Military accommodation is heavily subsidised, probably about £200pm, which would be deducted from her husbands pay before he receives it.