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universal credit when living with parent question

36 replies

Upsidedownroundandround · 14/12/2021 12:45

im currently on the old system of tax credit and child tax credit and get a tiny bit of hb to top up my rent , currently on maternity leave from my 26 hour a week job. my mum loves alone and hates it. Is being made redundant but shy of 3 years from her pension . She wants to purchase somewhere we can live together so she is not alone and I can still work and cover the bills , she will have no income , can I still claim help from either universal credits or stay on the old system? As I will still need to support 4 children only difference is I wont have to pay rent ? Possibly a small mortgage if we would need to borrow ? Does anyone know if this is something we can do , dont want to take the plunge to find im.supporting 6 of us on my measly less then a grand wage. TIA

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gogohm · 14/12/2021 13:01

If you have a change in circumstances you usually have to change to uc. Use a calculator to see if you can get any help.

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TalkToTheHand123 · 14/12/2021 14:33

Why wouldn't your mam get any income?

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Danikm151 · 14/12/2021 14:41

best thing to do is a benefits calculator to see.
You wouldn't get help with a mortgage but the fact that you won't be paying rent means there would be no housing element to your universal credit so you total award will be less. Due to the taper rate a certain amount will be deducted from your UC based on your wage(after factoring in the £515 work allowance)
Will your mother not qualify for UC or the new style JSA so at least she has some income coming in?

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Upsidedownroundandround · 14/12/2021 15:08

She will have no income as she is 3 years too early to get her pension, she probably could claim UC , but would i be able to also claim as hers and mine wont be enough on my part time earning to pay for 6 of us , im not bothered about the housing side as I only get about 100 pm help anyway

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Hoppinggreen · 14/12/2021 15:09

Is your Mum able to work?

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Summertime16 · 14/12/2021 15:16

only change to UC if you rent - the job centre advised me of that after being made redundant this year. Could your mother work in a local supermarket? or something similar

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JustWonderingIfYou · 14/12/2021 15:23

Why couldn't your mother get a job? Or could she provide childcare for you to go full time? That would make the most sense.

It would make sense for you to go on the deeds to protect the house if she needed care into the future but then that might effect your benefits as you'd have a large asset.

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Upsidedownroundandround · 14/12/2021 15:37

I can ask to go full-time its no problem but obvs I dont know until.i ask my manager

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JSL52 · 14/12/2021 15:43

Why wouldn't your mum work ? She can't just have no income for three years.

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Upsidedownroundandround · 14/12/2021 15:46

Well she was going to have my son for me

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DrCoconut · 14/12/2021 15:57

DS lives with me and gets UC. I get CTC/WTC (also have younger DC). I don't plan to change over until I have to as I will be worse off (disabled child and mortgage). We are treated as independent of each other in terms of means testing, so I'd have thought that if both you and your mum qualify you should both get UC. If your mum is below pension age there would be work search requirements I think? So I can see why she may end up with no income under the scenario you're describing.

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MarmitesMyMate · 16/12/2021 16:42

I think she would have to be come your landlord and a contract with you. If I remember correctly from when a friend did it.

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Viviennemary · 16/12/2021 16:51

I think it would be quite a risky move if you are covering your bills now. Why can't your mum get a part-time job. I don't think its an option for her not to work and claim uc if she is under pension age. Unless she has a disability.

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TalkToTheHand123 · 16/12/2021 16:55

I'm not sure you can claim housing benefit if a family member is the landlord. (Hope I'm wrong).

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ThreeFeetTall · 16/12/2021 17:00

I might have missed something but where is the money coming from to purchase the house? Has your mum got somewhere else she will sell?

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CorrBlimeyGG · 16/12/2021 17:05

OP has said she doesn't intend to claim for housing costs.

It's fine to claim UC while living with a parent. Your mum will not affect your claim. However if she claims for help with housing costs (it's not clear whether she would be renting or who would be purchasing a property?) then she would be subject to a non dependent deduction because you live there.

You'd be best to speak to CAB and ask them to do a theoretical calculation for if you did move in with her.

(Your mum could claim JSA or UC if seeking work. Given her age, it's unlikely that the Jobcentre will be particularly strict with her.)

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NeedsCharging · 16/12/2021 17:09

OP you would not be able to claim HB in the new property.
The change would most likely mean you move on to UC.
You can claim that independently of your mum and your mum could also claim it but unless she is ill/disabled she will be expected to look for work. So that may affect your childcare arrangements if you are not paying her a wage.

You would not get the housing element for UC and you can only claim the child element for children born before April 2017.
Your mum would not get the housing element of UC but if she has a mortgage she could possibly claim support for mortgage interest (SMI) which is a loan which you pay back with interest once the property is sold.

I dont know your full situation but it sounds like you are better staying on CT/WTC and receiving HB.

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Upsidedownroundandround · 16/12/2021 17:34

Thanks all for your replies, yes her house will be sold and then we are purchasing a larger house as cash buyers. I will then not need to pay rent anymore therefore I would like to pay all the bills and my mum care for my son whilst I go back to work , she said she would look for work of needed but if im able to claim for top up of my wages as im responsible for all 4 children (not my mum) and she is no longer living alone which she hates ,im not needing any housing benefit as there will be no mortgage on the property. Hope that helps

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NeedsCharging · 16/12/2021 17:44

but if im able to claim for top up of my wages as im responsible for all 4 children

You will not be able to claim UC for any 3rd, 4th Children born after April 2017.
So you will get the personal allowance £324.84
1st child £282.50
2nd and 3rd child if born before April 2017 £237.08 per child.
You will receive nothing for the child you have recently had.
You are allowed to earn £557 per month if not claiming housing costs before they will deduct 55p for every pound you earn from your UC.

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NeedsCharging · 16/12/2021 17:45

Those amounts are all per month by the way sorry if that wasn't clear.

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Duxiejhrhrvjz · 16/12/2021 17:57

What is your mum planning on living on for 3 years?
Lunch with her friends? Bus tickets or petrol? Christmas presents? Haircuts?

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Upsidedownroundandround · 16/12/2021 18:09

Yes I can only claim for 3 of my children , I understand that, mum can start claiming 2 small pensions now but not her state one for another 3 years , i will buy all food and cover bills

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Hoppinggreen · 16/12/2021 18:11

@TalkToTheHand123

I'm not sure you can claim housing benefit if a family member is the landlord. (Hope I'm wrong).

You can
A family member has bought a flat for her sister (she lives hundreds of miles away) and her mortgage is basically paid by benefits
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ALightThatNeverGoesOut · 16/12/2021 18:15

Lol at all the mumsnetters horrified at the thought of a 65 year old not working.

Speak to a benefits advisor OP. There will be one at the council.

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notapizzaeater · 16/12/2021 18:19

My dad is at state retirement age in early feb and has just been made redundant- he's claimed UC and JSA for the first time every and thought he'd be left alone till feb or light touch but they are pushing him to apply for jobs and do courses.

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