Universal credit and working full time

[MuyBien]

Hi all, I work 5 days on, 3 off then 4 days on 3 off rotating each week if that makes sense.

I earn between £1100 - £1200 per month

I am moving out of my brothers house where my I would normally have my kids but due to marriage breakdown I have to move. I can only afford a room so i don't think my kids would be able to stay over anymore.

My question is would I be able to get financial help through universal credit to help me afford to get a studio flat?

My brother thinks because I have two kids I would be entitled to a 3 bedroom flat but I find that hard to believe!

This will help you: www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=844bb780-99d6-456a-ba75-6b41208efc28

Plus info here: www.gov.uk/housing-and-universal-credit

Hi, can you please help me filling it in. I've tired before and got stuck.

I'm stuck on this question,

Which best describes your current housing status?

I live with my brother but I pay rent but I don't know which option to choose. Would I put homeless?

How old are you and do you know what your LHA housing rate is? Also how old are your children and what are their sexes?

I'm not sure what the situation is with regards to housing benefit with shared care of children. I know there was a report on the issue back in 2020 which spoke of the "bedroom tax" having a detrimental effect on separated fathers having their children to stay over.

I'd fill it in as if you were renting (find out how much rent would cost by looking on rightmove or similar)

As far as I'm aware though, unless the dc live with you the majority of the time you are only entitled to claim as a single person. So you won't be entitled to the 3 bed rate for housing.

Do you mean your kids live with you whilst you’re at your brother’s house or do you mean they come to visit/stay for some days?

Unless you’re the primary carer I’m pretty sure UC won’t help you with anything. Double check with the links that people have attached but I don’t think you’re eligible for anything

If your brother writes a letter giving you an exit date then you will be homeless from that point. I think if you're not the primary parent and not in receipt in child benefit you won't get any housing allowance/ universal credit for the children.

Is the other parent claiming for them? How much contact do you have? I know people who have 50/50 care and and claim child benefit/ universal credit/ housing allowance for 1 child each. They work opposite hours though which would be really difficult with your rota.

You are renting from family.

A single person on a low income can claim UC. It’s not only for people with children.

only the primary carer can claim the child components of it though.

There has been a move to allow separated parents to claim the extra bedroom element though. I don't know if it has actually been brought in but there was a government report into the matter in 2020. It is because it is seen as not safe/desirable for a separated dad to have his children stay over in a shared house situation as housing benefit only covers the cost of a room on a shared house for anyone under the age of 35.

Possibly.

But a child can only be included on one UC claim. So if the children’s mother claims UC and is their primary carer, then they can only be on her claim.

Not sure how that affects local housing allowance.

The under 35 rule doesn’t apply if the household includes a child for whom the claimant is responsible. That is probably different to being able to claim the child elements of UC.

citizens advice can probably clarify.

A single person on a low income can claim UC. It’s not only for people with children.

I never said it’s only for people with children? It depends on the LHA rate as a pp has mentioned. 1200 isn’t a low wage if private renting a room is 450 for example. All depends on the location and the rate so OP may be entitled to nothing. That’s what I meant

It’s a low income for UC purposes though, regardless of LHA.

Exactly. The LHA rate for a shared room where dd lives is £620 per month. For a 1 bed flat it is £1,204 per month

Whereas where I live the rate for a 1 bed flat is £374 per month!

It's a grey area as to whether OP's children will be taken into account.

Hi, I'm 39 and I don't know what my LHA rate is.

I did the universal credit calculator and it seems im not able to receive it. Hopefully I filled it in right.

Thanks

I chose the option living rent free with friends or family but paying rent without a contract.

I did the universal credit calculator and it seems im not able to receive it. Hopefully I filled it in right.

Thanks

Hi, my ex is claiming for them. Too many to list.

We don't have 50 / 50 contact

I live in Essex and my kids in East London, plus I work nights.

I filled it in as living with family with no contract to pay rent. I pay £80 per week.

I will try and fill it in as renting.

My kids don't live me me. They stay over sometimes.

As a 39 year old single man you would be potentially entitled to help to rent a 1 bedroom house/flat. You can calculate the maximum amount of rent you would get help with by looking at the LHA (local housing allowance) for your area. I did an example calculation for Brentwood and it came out as £161 per week.

You can then do a universal credit calculation based on the LHA to see what the potential help from Universal Credit would be.

Basic allowance for a single person age 25+ is £334.91 + £700ish potential housing = £1034pm Max UC
Then you would have a deduction of approx £600 based on a wage of £1100pm (1100*0.55).
so UC would give you £430ish pm in this example

that is assuming you do not have capital/savings of more the £6000.

There’s a good calculator at Universal Credit Essentials

Hi all, I was trying to reply to all posts but I'm getting muddled up

I'm 39 with two kids but had to move out when me and my partner broke up.

My ex claims all benefits for both kids. Too many to list!

I moved in with my brother and have been living there for over a year but due to their marriage braking down I am having to move out.

I filled out the universal credit calculator but it seems I am not entitled to anything.

I'm just going to have to rent a room and see my kids outside. It's better than nothing.

I think rent for a single room will be around £550 per month with all bills included in East London

I can try and find a second job to afford a studio flat.

Thanks everyone for the replies

But you might be entitled to something if you're paying rent. So fill in the calculator thing as if you are. Find out how much rent would be for a 1 bed place in your area and use that amount on the calculator.

Hi, thank you for taking the time to reply. I will will check LHA and then UC.

I'll message back

Thanks again

Hi, I'll fill it in again.

Thanks

Hi Everyone, I spoke to CAB and was told I would need a tenency agreement before claiming universal credit and that I could receive £896 per month if that's correct.

Can I fill out the universal credit application as much as I can and then look for a property to rent?

I've added some calculations below but it could be incorrect...

LHA in Hackney would be £295 pw and works out £1280 pm for a one bed flat.

My last payslip (April) was £1274 ( average is £1200 per month)

Then I would have a deduction of approx £660 based on a wage of £1200pm (1200*0.55).
so UC would give me £236 a month.

If that's correct then I couldn't afford a one bed flat near my kids.

Thank you for the all the help so far!