Universal credit eligibility

[remiandro]

Hello,

I've recently become a single mum and moved back in with my parents with my 8 month old. I was under the impression it would be working tax credits / child tax credits that I may be entitled to but after speaking to an advisor, I've been informed it's just UC now. Before going on maternity leave (maternity leave commenced Oct 2018) I was working full time. I then received maternity allowance (not statutory) from October 2018 - June 2019. I am returning back to work part time in August, working 22.5 hrs a week. I have completed the application form for UC but unsure how they will calculate. Is the fact that the last 9 months I've been on MA come into consideration? Or will they calculate using my new part time hours?

Hope I make sense! x

Are you still on MA now ? if so then that will be deducted pound for pound from any UC entitlement. You may not get any UC because of the maternity allowance. You would get child element of £231and standard/ personal element for yourself of £317 if you are over 25. So added together these come to £548. If your maternity allowance averaged out come s to more than that then you wont get any UC until you start work.

Sorry just re-read - if your MA has stopped then you would get £548 UC, however if any remaining MA falls in your first Uc assessment period then it may reduce your Uc a little. Did you make your application well after the MA had stopped?

Once you start work you will start off with UC of £548 ( assuming you are over 25), then they take your wages and take £503 off your wages which is disregarded ( work allowance), then anything above that amount earned reduces your Uc by 63p for every pound you earn.

Are you receiving child maintenance from your ex too ?

Thank you - you know so much, I find it all so confusing! So my take home pay a month is £944 for working 22.5 hrs a week and I’m 25 years old. I am not receiving child maintenance. My last MA payment went in June 27th and I applied for UC today? X