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Original poster

Universal credit

22 replies

Leeann0091 · 28/04/2019 18:26

Hi. Not looking for no judgments just some advice. I'm currently on maternity leave which finishes in a few months. (I've had my first baby) when it does I'm not ready to go back to work. My partner works 12 hour days and I dont want to be leaving my baby with baby sitters or nurseries. I dont think we could afford it anyway. I've done the benefits calculator online and based on the rent we pay which is around £1000 and the fact my partner earns nearly £2000 a month. Its saying that I would be entitled to nearly £600 a month. Does this sound right? I've never been on benefits before. I am looking to go back to work eventually it just seems to soon after my mat leave finishes
Tia

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 28/04/2019 18:33

It seems high. It would depend partly on the LHA rate, ie the amount of rent which would be taken into account when awarding benefits.

You can calculate this here; lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

Original poster
Leeann0091 · 28/04/2019 18:41

Is that for council housing? Because I rent privately

OP posts:
TheQueef · 28/04/2019 18:43

No the LHA is for private rented.

ArnoldBee · 28/04/2019 18:47

Just for example your rent is £1000 per month. The LHA rate for your circumstances are £500 (not real figures) therefore you would be expected to find the other £500 yourself.

cocomelon23 · 28/04/2019 19:14

That seems very high.

gamerchick · 28/04/2019 19:19

I'd be surprised if you're entitled to anything like that figure if he's bringing in that amount. The only thing you can do is apply.

NoBaggyPants · 28/04/2019 19:29

You'd be entitled to the two bedroom LHA rate for your area. What is this? (Note that the rate is a maximum, not what you'll receive.)

Is your partner's income before or after tax?

GreenButBlueButRed · 28/04/2019 19:40

Hi OP, what breakdown did they give you?
How much ££ on housing benefit
How much ££ universal credit
How much ££ child benefit
It depends where you live I mean if your rent is 1k & DP gets paid 2k after bills as I bet your council tax is £200 a month it perhaps doesn’t leave an awful lot x

ItsAllGone19 · 28/04/2019 19:52

That sounds really high. I was earning similar a couple of years ago and we run the numbers for my husband to take a career break to care for our youngest.

It came back with the grand sum of £0 to help us out because I was above threshold. I really doubt the universal credit is that much more generous than the old system of tax credits etc.

Please double check before relying on it.

NGC2017 · 28/04/2019 20:05

Just an example from a single parent claim. I take home just over 1000 a month after tax and recieve under 300 a month help. That's tax credits so I appreciate it is different but I am under the impression universal credit is less than tax credits

Babyroobs · 28/04/2019 20:08

Some people are better off on tax credits and some are better off on UC, it just depends on circumstances really. Some people are significantly better off on UC but only the bad stories make it to the press !

Original poster
Leeann0091 · 28/04/2019 20:15

Thank you for your replies. I thought it was high. I did that benefit calculator a few times and based it on me not having any income and my partner getting what he does. How strange

OP posts:
RubberTreePlant · 28/04/2019 20:29

Universal Credit replaces both Housing Benefit & Tax Credits (and a few other things), so you can't do a direct comparison between UC & TC.

RubberTreePlant · 28/04/2019 20:30

Did you use the "entitled to" calculator, OP?

Mof3K · 28/04/2019 20:35

Id be very surprised you would be entitled to anything to be honest. Your husband takes home a good wage therefore would be expected to support you and your decision to stay at home. The earnings threshold for benefits is quite low and you have no reason to not work other than not wanting to. Which is fine but benefits can't be expected to support you.
As a pp suggested did you use " entitled to.com" ?

Babyroobs · 28/04/2019 21:04

I have just done a calculation. if they gave you your full rent element ( which would depend on the local housing allowance in your area), you would get £651.37 UC per month so the calculation may be pretty accurate. Ignore those saying you will get nothing - if your rent is very high like yours is then your rent element will be high. As I say though it does depend on the 2 bed LHA in yourr area which can be easily looked up online.

Babyroobs · 28/04/2019 21:05

My calculation also assumed that least one of you was over 25 by the way !

Original poster
Leeann0091 · 28/04/2019 21:10

Thank you for doing that I appreciate it. That's what I keep coming up with
Yes were both over 25
I've looked at that LHA thing and I'm confused. I might be being stupid here but when its saying what the bedroom entitlement is. I mean we rent a 2 bed. But that's because we chose too. If we wanted to rent a 3 bed I guess we could do that too. That's why I'm a little confused by 'entitlement'

OP posts:
RubberTreePlant · 28/04/2019 21:13

You have one child so your bedroom entitlement is two beds (although maybe not until the baby turns one- I can't quite remember).

You could rent three beds, as you say, but your housing calculation would still be based on a two bed LHA level, because that's the number of bedrooms you're deemed to need.

Original poster
Leeann0091 · 28/04/2019 21:16

Oh right I see. Thank you for explaining that

OP posts:
momomia · 28/04/2019 21:19

You won't know until you apply so just go for it!

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