Working couples who claim universal credit

[Pinkponyclub123]

This is a question for anyone in a couple claiming universal credit, where you are both working.
If one of you worked full time, and the other worked part time to save on childcare costs and do school runs ect, is it fair for the part time worker to use all of the universal credit money to pay for things needed for the household (eg kids clothes, school trips, ect) once they've paid the bills from their wages? Or should they transfer half of it to the full time worker because it's a joint claim? Bearing in mind part time workers wages are less than half of the full time workers.

I think that's something that we'd have to sit down and work out the exact figures of because our finances are so separate, but to give an idea ft worker always has enough for a lot of beer and tobacco, pt worker doesn't drink or smoke but definitely wouldnt be able to afford it if they did.

And this I think is why people think UC is too generous, and needs a massive overhaul .
no one should have enough for lots of beer and tobacco on Government money which obtained from other peoples taxes.
most of don’t mind paying for your kids shoes, or even a day out at the beach for the kids complete with chips and ice cream, but we do mind when beer and cigarettes are bought.
no idea how to stop what people spend money on and am fully aware it a centuries old problem

I get your point. And perhaps if he didn't smoke and drink so much he would use his full time wage to help out with household costs more and claiming uc would never have crossed my mind. However it is what it is and we are entitled to it (despite both working and paying tax ourselves), so I put in a claim because I simply cannot afford to pay for everything with my wages alone.

You might be better off being a single parent if he is smoking money meant to feed the kids.

He drinks and smokes so much he uses all his wages? Get rid of him.

Is it worth having him around or financially would you be better off claiming UC as a single parent?

Sounds like a real prince.

Absolutely. Splitting up has been discussed many times. But he won't move out because splitting up isnt what he wants, and I can't afford to either. So we're kind of stuck.

Well, at minimum I wouldn't listen to him whining that you don't give him enough of the UC you get for the kids to spend on booze and cigs. If you have one and a half jobs between you I highly doubt you'd qualify for any UC without the DC.

I can't believe full time worker is only paying the rent???

As a family everything should go in one pot of course - that is if you are a committed couple. What would happen if the full-time worker had an accident and couldn’t work for a few years?

I never understand questions like this my dh isn't perfect and has many faults as do I but he's never been controlling about money everything goes in one pot and we both use it as we see fit,it's never been been his money and my money it's always been our money.

If you're a family, living as a family, UC claim and finances should be handled as a family.

All money into a joint account with a set amount moved to individual accounts for 'fun / personal' spends, which is equal for each partner, regardless of earned income.