Question about universal credit

[purpleme12]

I will be applying for universal credit. I'm on tax credits.

I know that you get the transitional protection so you're not paid less.
But if you wanted to could you choose not to have that transitional protection? And just have what UC would pay you?
Do they tell you what you'd get on UC? And then tell you what you're actually getting because you've been on tax credits?

Also what questions do you have to answer?
Do you have to show them your bank statements?
I am kind of expecting to perhaps show them how much is in my bank but I'd just rather not share what I spend my money on 🤣

I recently applied for UC, I was getting nearly £192 per week on child tax credit as I have 2 disabled children.
I received a letter that child tax credit is coming to an end in April 2025 and was asked to apply for UC.
Although it clearly said in the letter and on government site that if you apply for Universal credit you will get same amount or more.
It took them a month to make tge decision and guess what, all the money has been deducted and for example , the earning from my husband's job, after £630 every pounds he earns deducts 55p , his savings was also calculated and we were told that any amount more than £6,000, on every 250 tgere will be deduction of £4.30.
It's unbelievable how it's so unfair taking into account that how inflation has rose to its highest peak, everything either cost you double or 1/2.
They also deducted £300 something I receive as carer allowance .
Anyway the decision was made that now we will receive only £80 per month.
So you can see how it's a false promise that you will either get same or more on UC.
I challenged the decision and ask, why it said we will get same or more on Universal credit, I also asked about " what about transition protection "
I wrote in on their contact page on journal and got a reply that we have applied your " transition protection " and it has been increased but still this amount is still less and we lost £228 a month than what we were getting on child tax credit.
I wish I had delayed it till April 2025.
Do ask for " transition protection "

They are pretty clear that the transitional protection is applied to the award before deductions. I'm sorry that you're worse off. If you have two children with DLA, have you got 2 x carers elements on there?

Yes they write "support for 2 children " in the calculation page
Is this what you mean by carers element?

No. I mean a specific section that says 'carer' and it should have an amount for you and an amount for your DH. If you haven't updated it to say that you are carers (care for a disabled person for 35 hours or more per week), then that will add £396.62 to your UC claim each month.

@MemSahb Do you have the disabled children amount in there?

Yes it mentions
"Disabled children£292.62
You said that you have 2 disabled children"

Do they get Low Rate Care or Middle Rate Care for DLA? If they get Middle Rate Care, then you can get a carer element. If both get MRC, you can both have a carer element. That is separate to the carers allowance you already get.

" help with personal care " is middle rate
"Help with getting around" is lower rate.
Do I need to apply it to universal credit?
What MRC stands for?

Thanks for all the help, much appreciated

Transitional protection is only applied once you get a migration letter. If you apply early you don't get it.

If both have middle rate for care (MRC) then both you and your husband can get the carer element. You need to click 'report changes' then add your carer status to one of your children. Your husband will need log in and do the same for the other.

Thnx.
My husband works full time, could he still apply for the other child?

Was it a migration letter that you got? It sounds like it might not have been if it’s mentioning April 2025. Did it say that you had (I think) 3 months to apply and your tax credits would end then whether you applied or not? It’s only if you are officially migrated over that you get the transitional protection

Yes.

...thanks
But my husband does not care for my other son for 35 hours per week or more as he works full time.
It's only me who gets carers allowance for looking after my younger son.
Sorry I am little confused

Is he not home in the evenings, nights, and weekends?

There is a section in the payment page it says
Carer £185.86

You said that _ is caring for someone.
But this amount is 185.86, not the amount you mentioned £396.62
Is this miscalculated by them?

Yes he is home in the evening and night , he works some times weekend.
But he never applied for carers allowance

It isn't necessarily a miscalculation. If your DH hasn't declared that he's a carer, then it will only be you that is counted. But if he looks after the children and provides care in the evenings and at weekends, then he's providing more than 35 hours of care and can declare that on your UC claim.

I appreciate your valuable advice.
I will try and see what happens.
Thank you so much for your time.

If he cares for the child for 35 hours a week.

New UC rules come into force today:

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dwp-rules-180-000-universal-085343733.html

We have reported my husband "care" for my other son however its five days and they have not told us if they are going to pay the care element for him, we can see it on our login page on universal credit.
Do they interview you?
Also my husband earns more than £2,500 per month from his job, does it effect if you apply for "carer element " ?

Thnx

No it's automatic and earnings are irrelevant to have the carers element added. However it forms part of your overall award which with have deductions due to income.

Sell one and put it in a pension.