Universal credit

[Singlemum57]

So background. I have a mortgaged property, work and have a toddler. My ex recently left us. I only work part time so my salary doesn’t cover the bills for the house and childcare. So I applied for universal credit. I’ve been awarded less than £100 from universal credit. Which doesn’t really help as it still leaves a significant shortfall.
I’ve now found out I lose my tax free childcare (where the government top up what you put in) because I receive universal credit. So I’m now essentially back to a no matter position.
I’ve applied applied for council tax support. But I don’t think there’s anything else I can do? I can’t afford the fees with selling my house but essentially can no longer afford to live here

Could you get a lodger?

Sadly I don’t have anywhere for a lodger to stay in the property

Its worth speaking to an adviser, you should be entitled to up to 85% of childcare paid, so you could work more hours.

Are you claiming child support

Sorry do you mean the monthly child benefit? If so yes.

That doesn't seem right tbh.
Are you claiming the child element?
childcare element?

No i mean from the children's dad

That doesn’t seem right. Have you gone on a benefit calculator eg Entitled to ( I think it’s called )

That doesn’t seem right as PP said.
unless your mortgage is thousands per month, your salary plus UC should cover it.
is your ex on the mortgage? May be worth talking to the lender and seeing what you can do

UC doesn’t pay anything towards mortgage. If you have a good salary, this may well be correct. I work four days, two children, mortgage and I get about £200.

If you can’t use TFC it’s because you’re align now to claim childcare costs through UC. That can be up to 85%

Losing your tax free childcare isn’t a problem because that gives you 20% discount on childcare, with UC you can submit your childcare invoices and they pay typically up to 85% of those fees.

Yes claim your childcare costs. UC will do anything to not pay it and expect multiple rejections. I just go into my local job centre and show them all the invoices there. You will get 25% off council tax. There’s bollocks all support for working single parents really.
Can you downsize? You really need your ex to pay more.

Universal credit is pretty generous, so either you get well paid even though you’re part time, or you put your figures in incorrectly.

without the figures, no one here can tell you.

is your ex paying child maintenance?

I get spousal maintenance too, and that is included in my income so I don’t get Universal credit, but when I looked, if I didn’t get SM, I would receive pretty much the same amount in UC.

Not when you have a mortgage they aren't. The reason uc seems so high is because its paying towards peoples rent

Ah I see, when I used that entitled to page, i didn’t include mortgage/rent and was surprised by how high it was. Thank you for letting me know it’s not if you have a mortgage, I didn’t know that.

What a complete bastard to put you in this position with a toddler. I’d be going after as much money as I could get from him.

Ha yeah they are meant to but that is like getting blood from a stone.

@arethereanyleftatalli don’t think spousal maintenance counts. My ex sends me money, it doesn’t count in calculations for UC. That’s a flaw of its system.

Spousal maintenance is considered income for UC, child maintenance isnt. Have you declared it?

If OP's p/t earnings are close to what 36hrs at NLW would pay, around £1750/month after tax/NI, then £100/month looks about right.

As above it's rent that bumps UC up to the 'headline' figures; no real help with mortgage.

UC knocks out tax free childcare but allows the fees to be added to UC which should make a difference.

@Singlemum57 have you explored that and/or spoken to an advice agency such as CA?

What’s your salary and could you up your hours? That should make a difference even if you’re on a low wage with the childcare funding.

You need to up your hours at work and/or downsize the house. I’m a completely solo parent and all I get is single person council tax.

Are you married?

Is the house in joint names?

Is ex paying child maintenance?