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Original poster

Advice for newbie universal credit claimant!!! Not sure how the whole process works

12 replies

Charlzzz1204 · 14/10/2019 11:20

Hiya,

Need some help.. could be a simple answer but I couldn't find anything online. I'm currently on maternity leave ( coming up to 7 months off) when I was in work I was full-time (37 hours), with having the baby and cost of childcare I dropped my hours to 25 hours, obviously with a pay drop of £300 a month. I do have a partner, and have completed numerous online calculators who say I will be eligible for universal credit. Not sure how true that is? And whether I can apply now or whether I have to apply when I am back in work next month??
Sorry if it's a simple answer. I'm just not sure!!

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

Babyroobs · 14/10/2019 22:26

Universal credit works by calculating the total Uc you are entitled to so you would get a couples element (£498 if one of you is over 25), a child element (£237) , a rent element if you rent depending on what rwnt you pay and the lical housing allowance for your area and a childcare element. These are all added up to make your total UC. Then they look at what wages you and your partner earned in your monthly assessment period. They disregard a certain amount of wages the amount depends whether you rent or not. Then each pound of wages earned reduces the UC amount by 63p.

Original poster

Charlzzz1204 · 14/10/2019 23:27

Thanks! Do you know if I can apply now? Or do I need to wait until I am back in work??

OP posts:

Zofloramummy · 14/10/2019 23:33

It takes 6 weeks to kick in so if you are going to need it ASAP I’d apply now. It’ll vary for a few months when you go back to work but at least you’ll be on the system.

Word of advice do not apply anywhere near your usual pay date. UC works on a monthly basis with an assessment period each month. Any changes in payday due to weekends could show as double wages and you’d get no UC so make sure the date you apply is a good week away from your usual pay date.

Original poster

Charlzzz1204 · 15/10/2019 11:41

Brilliant, thanks!! That's helpful to know. So I wont get in any sort of trouble for applying before I am back in work? As technically I'm not classed as part time until the 22nd of November!! So confusing!

OP posts:

Babyroobs · 15/10/2019 16:04

I think you would need to have a rough idea of whether you will qualify for anything. If you get a nil award aometimes they will close the claim then you need to re- open it.

Zofloramummy · 16/10/2019 21:21

It’ll be based on your SMP and partners wage for now and then adjust as your employer submits your wages monthly. I’d ring the helpline and ask for advice but bear in mind you may need an advance if you apply when you go back to work and then need to pay it back over a max of 12 months.

sall74 · 18/10/2019 07:15

You say you have a partner yet you only seem to be referring to yourself in the singular when it comes to making a claim?

Won't your partners income need to be taken into consideration when assessing your claim?

Perhaps you might be lucky and find that your joint income is high enough that you don't need to make a claim after all?

Original poster

Charlzzz1204 · 18/10/2019 07:53

Sorry, 'WE' have completed numerous calculators. Please don't treat me like I am stupid.

I know his pay is taken into consideration.

OP posts:

Original poster

Charlzzz1204 · 18/10/2019 07:58

And FYI. I would love to not claim anything, but if I am eligible why shouldn't I claim? If it will help with the cost of childcare.. (£550) a month for 25 hours childcare, then great. My partner is on a great wage, unfortunately I am not on anything special.

OP posts:

sall74 · 18/10/2019 09:37

Of course you should claim what you're entitled to (even if your partner is on a ''great wage'')

At least we're in agreement that we can only hope that the benefits system eventually gets reformed so that it's aimed at helping people who really need it most, rather than rewarding people who choose to have children they apparently can't afford because it's economically beneficial for them and used to enhance an already financially secure and comfortable lifestyle on a ''great wage''

Firsttimemum2019xxxx · 04/12/2019 11:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

carly2803 · 04/12/2019 21:27

if you rent, i think its something like after£268 a month you start getting 63p in every £1 taken off

mortgage is something like £500 work allowence?

In regards to when to claim, its backdated so just be careful
e.g assessment period from june 1st to the 29th - apply a week before

if your 4 weekly pay you will get possibly zero payment that month (2x paydays in whatever month) so account for that to save

hope that helps a bit!

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