To wonder why I can't claim Universal credit?

[Walkinginthemoonlight]

I'm single, 57, and I've been working 30 hours a week in retail for quite some time.
My contracted hours are 18, and over time has taken my hours to 30.

Now however, all overtime has been stopped for all staff and so I applied for Universal credit to try and help me out. I don't have savings over £6,000, but my Son (who is a full time student but working part time) was living with me when I applied.

I do own my own home outright, but I've read that this isn't taken into account as capital if it's the home you're living in. Considering I'm on minimum wage, I can't understand how my low income doesn't qualify me for any help when even couples can claim UC apparently.

I'm just wondering how little an income people have to actually earn to be able to qualify for help. Btw, I've been constantly looking for other jobs too, but I think my age could be putting would be employers off. Could it be the fact that my son was living me (he's just moved into his own place now) affected the outcome of M6 application?

UC is extremely low for people without children. Benefits always have been, even before UC. You rarely get anything at all unless you're unemployed, and even then the amount you get to live on whild claiming is miniscule unless there's something major (such as significant chronic illness/disability)

Contrary to what most people assume, the rate of benefits isn't tied in any way to the cost of actually living. The govt doesn't pretend that benefits are enough to live on, ie to pay for utilities and food, it's just a number that has been picked and very occasionally increases.

The applicable amount (the amount the government thinks you need to live on if you don't have housing costs) for UC for a single adult is £400 per month. For a couple its £628 per month. If you earn significantly more than the government thinks you need to live on, you don't get UC.

So sorry to hear your hours have been cut.

A pp has suggested cleaning work, this is a great idea. You could also consider ad hoc babysitting (childcare.co.uk), we pay a student £15 an hour cash for before or after school care for late primary-age kids, but would love someone older/with more life experience.

Also check out employers who have a positive approach to older workers, B&Q used to be good for this.

Would you consider renting a room to a lodger? You could try a short term arrangement initially to see how you get on. I believe you can earn up to £6-7k a year before you need to pay tax on income from a lodger.

OP has no work allowance disregard. Has no LCWRA or child dependant. So does not apply. Earnings will be deducted from base.

Have you now applied for your 25% council tax discount?

Apologies you seem to have already answered the 25% question. But definitely look at if you are qualify for further CTR

Single childless people are screwed when they suddenly fall on hard times. After working over 20 years 50-55hrs a week and paying every penny on my mortgage, no holidays , only charity shop clothes, no nails done ever, hair cut no more than once a year, saving every penny i could now can't find much work and i get fuck all. If i had my time again i would rent and enjoy life ,work cash in hand and claim benefits, hard work does not pay off any more if you are honest.

Surely people that own their homes outright can’t claim UC? In that case, I’ll use my savings to pay off the mortgage and get a lower paid job and claim UC?

Could you look to sell your home OP and move to a cheaper property to release some equity?

If you own your own home you can claim UC but you don't get a housing allowance.

Go ahead. Full time on minimum wage as a single person with no dependants and no rent to pay will gain you - £O UC

18 hours per week at minimum wage (the Universal Credit Administrative Earnings Threshold) is £219.78 per week which is well over the £92.34 allowance per week for a single person over 25 with no rent/allowances etc.

HRTFT but I think you've fallen into the Daily Fail trap of how generous the benefit system is.

Looks like you either need a second job or one which pays more OP. With no rent to pay, or dependants living with you, there’s not alot you can claim.

Yes they can. What are homeowners supposed to live on if they’re unemployed? If you want to live on £400 a month, go ahead - I suspect you probably don’t.

You are earning around £953 per month and won't get a work allowance, so 55% will be deducted, which is £524. The personal allowance is £400, so your deductions exceed the allowance and you get nothing.

I'm sorry it's all so hard.

It’s not just childless people. I raised 3 kids alone and their dad paid the bare minimum maintenance (whilst being on a decent salary)

I worked 3 part time jobs around pretty much full time custody (they spent one night with him each fortnight, because he ‘worked too much’ to have them any more)

So he got free childcare at my expense, whilst I worked for a negative sum for the 13 weeks of school holidays per year as I had to pay childcare to go to work which cost more than I made and my benefits put together and that was with the reduction rate I got for my eldest.

This was before the 2 child cap. God help anyone who’s on benefits these days, it’s not enough to cover basic costs never mind anything else, and you still get the same shame, the stigma and judgement from those who don’t know what it is like to live like that plus the media crowing about how people on benefits are just raking it in at their expense. It’s not true. It has never been true, and it is even less true now than it has ever been before.

I feel for you. It’s a horrible and dehumanising way to live.

There's no such thing as housing allowance, the housing element is part of universal credit.

OP,don't close your UC account down. If your earnings fall below the threshold you will automatically be awarded a payment,based upon what you have or have not earned in a specific period.

I don't know if things have changed but ten years ago I was single (adult children all at Uni), working 18 hours a week and earning around £600 per month. I was not eligible for any help whatsoever, and my earnings went on rent in their entirety. Any help was limited to telling me to get another job where I'd have more hours. I was working part time for a reason and as soon as that reason ended I had to change jobs. There was no financial support at all.

Rent out ds room is he moved out

Rent a room in your home: The Rent a Room Scheme - GOV.UK https://share.google/6NVPNgMFWOhp1j0XS

Feel for you, i was raised too by a single mum with no help as dad fucked off basically. What is really annoying is the fact how many people thaf i know get loatsnof money from UC being dishonest, one i know gets 1300 a month ,lives on her own in 2 bed flat,working cash in hand. The other one claims to a single parent ( her partner of 10 years lives with her) . It really shit when i can't even sell my fucking flat as the government isn't fixed the cladding, but apparently i don't need help as i have an ASSET that i can so nothing with as it is valued at £0

How nit picky. I called housing element housing allowance. The principle still stands.

I wouldn't consider a lodger, I wouldn't feel comfortable with it and I want my home to feel like my home,

A zero claim will remain open for 6 months, yes.

Just report them if its that blatant.