Voluntarily move to UC?

[NatashaAlianovaRomanova]

Currently receive WTC & CTC of around £60pw. Just checked entitied to & it says I'd receive approx £99pw UC.

I'm due a tax refund of around £700 & was thinking I could use some of this to see me through the waiting period & swap my claim to UC before I'm migrated over anyway - no idea as to when this will happen.

Anyone think this is a good idea?

I would be cautious of the calculator being correct tbh, i thought most people are worse off on UC

I did wonder about that but thought it would be due to my income dropping by £2,000 this year due to a new job.

Some people are better off on UC. You would need to be careful your tax refund doesn't fall during your first assessment period or it would be counted as wages and reduce your Uc.

I'm thinking I'd apply in the first week of August - paid monthly on last working day of the month - tax refund should be in my bank next week.

I get some housing element on UC whereas I'm not getting HB just now which may account for the increase.

I would check with someone first and make absolutely sure that you’d be better off on uc before you switch. I know I wouldn’t be, but I will be entitled to some protection so I don’t lose out unless my circumstances change.

If I were you I’d just put the £700 in a savings account and keep it ready for when you get switched.

If you want to be completely sure you could contact Citizens Advice and ask them to do a "better off" calculation.

However, if you're confident that you've done the calculation correctly, you should go for it. The sums don't lie. Some people are indeed better off on UC. In fact most people who are entitled to Housing Benefit but not currently getting it will be better off by claiming Universal Credit as they will get the housing element (as you said).

Wait until you have received the tax refund before you claim. You can request an advance payment if necessary - but with the tax refund it shouldn't be.

You may well be better off. The only other thing to consider is the conditionality that you'll be subject you. You may well be expected to look for additional hours and/or attend the jobcentre. Citizens advice will tell you which group you'll be in.

I work full time so I won't be expected to look for more hours, I'm not sure about how it works for attending the jobcentre for people who work full time as I can't see employers agreeing I the time off - my jobcentre is 20 miles away from where I work so it'd be an afternoon off for that!

You would need to attend the first appointment to start your claim and that's it.

Have you received your tax refund yet?

If you decide to make a claim and book your first appointment- Take in all your ID docs, if you rent privately take in tenancy agreement, utility& council tax bill and recent bank statement, plus the children’s passports/birth certificates. This will save repeat trips

Also this might not apply to you but if you have savings or a property in your name that you don’t live in then it’s a bad idea to move to uc. I think the limit for savings is £6k, so if you have more than that or expecting to receive that in near future eg through sale of family home or inheritance then stay on tax credits.

^ this is wrong