Universal Credit worries

[NGC2017]

Hi

I have been within the tax credits system for the last 4 years. I believe my area switches at some point next year. However I would be lying if I said I am not worried about when it happens.
I am reading every where about lengthy delays and massive losses in income. I don't get great tax credits but literally have to live within a few pennies each month due to alot of debt we were left in by my Ds dad. Any loss will hit our household hard and all calculators suggest I will be losing.

Has anyone been moved onto UC from TC?

TIA

No advice as im in the same boat!

I am trying to simplify my employment though as I currently work 3 jobs (1 part time employment, one p/t term time and self employed work) and I'm aiming to get more regular set hours. It gets messy as it is!

Wow I bet. I've been in the same job luckily for the last 3 and a half years and have been able to go from part time hours, to full time and now 52 weeks a year but around my sons school day during term time.
I have read about transitional protection but this is very rarely mentioned, and all you hear about us claimants struggling.
We already struggle. We only have 100 a month to cover food. So any loss will cause massive problems

I am worried too . Self employed , line parent with a child with dla . I am dreading it

Transitional protection applies if they move you due to your area changing. If you have to move to UC due to a new claim or a change in circumstances, it does not apply. Also transitional protection means you'll keep the amount you get now, but you won't receive any increases until the UC rate catches up. Your income will therefore reduce each year in real terms.

Sorry, it's a god awful system that punishes people when they need it most.

Difficult isn’t it. Constant money stress. Feeling annoyed with sisters at the monent as they just haven’t got a clue how hard it is. Various bits of money coming in on different dates. Things they take for granted are luxuries we can’t afford. Having to work part time due to childcare whilst getting shite maintenance. So unfair. (Realise I’m lucky getting any maintenance, but works overseas and not what he should be paying). Negative again today!

I think I speak for most of us, if not all of us, but none of us want to be in this position to need it. I've worked full time hours and honestly it made a pittance of an difference to the household income overall. I now work 30 hours to avoid the additional costs of childcare etc. I know it is my own fault Im left with the exs debt but I find the stigma attached to people in receipt of tax credits really really hard. I work. And I work damn hard. I don't work those extra few hours as its important for me to be a mom and be present in my sons life, not to mention trying to keep childcare costs down. I am not a scrounger and never will be but my Income is so low life would be impossible without the help.

I have never found it a stigma to be in receipt of child tax credit. The only ones who took exception to it were two elderly relatives who are totally out of touch with reality so I took no heed.

Nobody else has so much as raised an eyebrow.

I've experienced it. 'why should you get topped up? Just work more'. And 'you get an easy ride being a single mom, you have cash thrown at you'. The reality couldn't be further from that. Media portrays a really bad light on recipients. We are all tarred with the same brush. Just read opinions online will tell you that. But I think you are right. It's poor understanding. Yes there are cases where people have no intention of working yet claim and seem to get obscene amounts given to them. But thats a minority

It's a big worry. If you go onto entitledto.co.uk you can put in your details and it will calculate what you're entitled to under the old system as well as under UC. There's also a page on there that details what would count as a change of circumstance that would trigger a move to UC.

I work full time and currently get around £2500 a year CTC. If I get moved to Universal Credit I will get zero, so I'm just going to try and make sure I have no changes of circumstances that would trigger a move so that I can receive transitional protection when I'm forced to move over.

Thank you for this. I've used the calculator but must have missed the 'what triggers a move sooner' bit. I've just had a look and I just pray that nothing happens to our circumstances which will force a move and lose us the transitional protection, as the UC calculator suggests my award will go down by more than half. I don't feel we get substantial tax credits but losing half would be terrible. I've never been in a position where I have had to rely on anyone. I sometimes feel awful that I rely on the income so much, but then I have no social life, I barely take my child anywhere, I've cut all outgoings to the bare minimum, I shop carefully, I haven't brought myself anything in absolute tears, so it isn't like I am abusing the income we get into the house. It's doesn't help that my sons maintainence is so erratic and the CMS have basically admitted they have no powers to make the employer pay and will never issue proceedings
Thanks to everyone for your help and advice xx

This is the page with the triggers: www.entitledto.co.uk/help/changes_that_trigger_Universal_Credit

Don't feel bad that you need help to provide for your child. No one (with half a brain) wants to live in a world where children are going without. Do you know if there's a local Gingerbread group in your area? They're the single parents charity and a great way to connect with other lone parents and they have loads of advice on their website.