Am I wasting my time with universal credit?

[Maltay]

Hi, I'm hoping someone has some experience of UC and can give advice.
Just applied today after a benefits calculator said we should be eligible, did a couple more of these calulcators and they've said we aren't!
So the application process is pretty intense, we already have meetings booked/uploaded bank statement etc. Does this mean we will be eligible? Its taken hours applying -getting proof from nursery, bank statements, p60s, and ringing to sort out an appointment - surely there would be a system in place to say 'no you are not eligible' before you get to this point?

Brief summary of our situation: I work 20hours per week, gross earnings approx 1300pm Partner works 40hrs per week gross earnings approx 1400pm Nursery costs £230 pm So our gross pay for the year is approx £38/39k combined

Only applying because at the surestart centre we go to I was told to apply if household income is less than £40k you are eligible.

All I was really hoping for was a bit of help with nursery costs. Feel a bit deflated now I've spent quite some time doing this an we'll probably get nowhere :(

With one child on that income it very unlikely youare eligeable.
Try tax free childcare.

£230 a month nursery fees?!
That's so cheap, where are you?

Tbh with your joint income I doubt you'll be entitled to much.

They wont know whether you are eligible until they have calculated all your wages and childcare etc in your assessment period. Whether you are entitled all depends on rent/ earnings etc. There is no set figure at which everyone will get some UC as it's different for everyone. Some people in some parts of the country will be paying 1k a month rent and some paying £200. they could be earning the same but get vastly different amounts of UC.

If you tell me how old you are, what your rent is, how old your child/ children are I will do you a rough calculation .

I would need net earnings too - what you both come out with after tax/ NI/ pension/ student loans taken off.

Its worth the effort even if you don't get universal credit you may get a small council tax reduction out of the process so definitely finish your application process, you have nothing to loose after all

We hardly got any but we ended up with 10 pounds a month off our council tax, 120 pounds a year is something at least! Was worth it for that, I mean that's all your Christmas food for free or whatever so keep on

Sorry this may not be helpful but I was told by UC that I also wasnt entitled after many appointments, back and fourth soul destroying phone calls. Turned out I was entitled. Very stressful but got there in the end.

Thanks for all your replies. We went to the interview at the job centre in the end - I think that's what I was most worried about having not been before. But actually the guy there was really nice and not patronising at all.
We've done all the hard part now so just have to wait and see if we get it - I suspect we'll just be over the threshold.
I'm just so surprised that we had to go for interviews and get nursery involved before they even tell you if you'd be eligible!

@Maltay the thing is once its done if you both working , or one of you is and the other looking after a child under 3, then you never have to go back for another interview, you've literally done all that now and it just ticks over each month on the salary information that they get from their access to hmrc/childcare ect. So they have to have all that information in advance, it actually means you don't have to keep submitting statements and information every month/year...

As i said, if you dont get anything defiantly apply for council tax reduction when you receive your award online (you download it and attach it to an email to your local council).

The council will also need other information but because you have submitted this to universal credit including your identification then you can just attach those documents as well as I imagine they are still on your computer/email.

It took me 5 minutes because of my previous universal credit application so time was saved there

It depends on your ages-children and when they were born, your housing costs if you rent and childcare costs. I can do you a calculation if you like.

With UC, it’s not so much about being eligible. It’s what your award is after all deductions.