Universal credit help.

[InCognitoZombie]

I'm currently on tax credits and my partner is moving in with me so I need to go onto UC. I get CB, CTC, WTC housing benefit and council tax benefit at the minute. When he moves in I will lose all but my CTC and CB. My question is does he have to start a claim for UC too if I only want to claim the child related benefits (they're not his kids) He works full time and it would just be a complete faff on him having to go to the "interview" when hes not claiming anything.

Oh also he pays around £300 child maintenance a month, do UC take this into account? Thanks.

Yes you need to make a joint claim together and no child maintenance isn’t taken into account.

So he will have to go to an interview? Do they do "out of hours" appointments?

I'm sure you can ask them for a telephone appointment if you absolutely can't get there.

I don't see why someone in full time work would need an interview, when all I'm claiming is for my kids. I could understand if we wanted the housing element too. So annoying.

There is no such thing as just claiming the child element. UC works in a completely different way to tax credits. You both make single claims then link them together with a linking code. He may be able to verify his identity online which would mean he wont have to go to the job centre or some job centres may open on a saturday. Either way your claim will not progress if it isn't done. With his wages are you sure you'll be entitled ? UC is worked out on various factors such as your age, your kids ages, your rent and then earnings reduce it.

You will need to make a joint claim. You might even get some working benefits as it pays to work more on UC. You won't keep your CTC though

You won't keep your CTC when he moves in.

I would get a proper benefit check before he moves in so you fully understand the financial implications. You also need to understand what will be involved with claiming UC. You have to interact with your claim a great deal more than with the older benefits. And it's more unstable, claims can get shut down automatically if you don't do something you are asked to do.

It's also not great for anyone who is paid mire frequently than monthly. You should also make sure you don't make your claims just before your partner is paid. Both these issues can mean you get no UC at all in a month.

And even if he completes an online ID check he will still need to attend a claimant commitment interview and this won't be able to be over the phone. Some Job Centres are offering out of hours appointments but not in all arenas yet although DWP are trying to bring this in.

If he earns at least the national average, chances are when you submit a joint income application with his earnings on it you will lose pritty much all benefits related income.