Universal credit confusion

[pinkpixiepanda]

Does anybody know how this universal credit actually works?
My self and my husband are claiming this but I'm not use what we are getting it for. We applied for it and a month later there was money from them but no breakdown to say why.
We both work although I'm currently on maternity leave. I understand it's to top your wages up a bit but the amount is different every month, so I'm wondering as my maternity decreases will this keep increasing to cover the difference?
I know everybody is thinking it's probably just easier to call them and ask but I have bad anxiety and talking on a phone is a big no no for me and I'm sure I'll get more sense from you lovely people who actually have had some experience with this!
Thanks

Hi
I volunteer with citizens advice but still find Universal credit (UC) complicated. There is a lot of information on citizens advice website citizensadvice.org.uk under the benefits section.
Under UC they first work out a personal allowance you need to live on. This includes elements for the adults and any children to live on and others such as a housing element
www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get

That is the maximum. Then they defuct smy income to get to the amount you get paid.

For earnings they don't take off all your earnings - they deduct 63% ie for each £1 you earn 63p will be deducted from the universal credit you get. There are some allowances. The revenue and benefits website has a good summary

revenuebenefits.org.uk/universal-credit/guidance/entitlement-to-uc/calculating-universal-credit#Step%202

If you have an online account have a look in your journal for the calculation. It it isn't there we find the best way is generally to add a note to your journal. It is definitely worth checking.

Thank you for that, I've seen the workings out on my journal but it's might as well be written in another language sometimes I'm not even sure the people who give you Benifits even understand it themselves I'll have another read and see if I can work it out :)

Try a visit to CAB and hopefully they could help you figure it out. Oh BTW there might be other deductions apart from wages. For example to pay back a UC advance or previous debt. They aren't always good at specifying.