Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Universal credit & going back to work

5 replies

bluebunny123 · 14/01/2020 19:42

Hi I'm just after some advice because my head is scrambled trying to figure everything out. This will probably be a long one so sorry in advance I'm trying not to miss anything!

I'm a single parent to a 4 year old. Previously I was on income support and got a lot of benefit help- housing & council tax benefit etc. I started back at work in September part time 30 hours a week.

First two months were fine but by the third month I started receiving letters saying I owed money for benefits overpayments and my housing/council tax support was stopping.
In December I received a letter stating that I owed £885 for tax credit overpayment and universal credit overpayment. At the same time my universal credit claim has stopped because I earn too much.

After tax/NI/work car park I'm bringing home just under £1000 a month. My household bills come to £850 a month and now I've had a letter today stating they will be deducting money directly from my employer at 7% to pay back the overpayments. It's all just crippling me. I had no idea I would be in this much mess going back to work.

I reapplied for universal credit but my employer has reported I've been earning £2506 which I don't know where they've got that figure from.
I just don't know what to do from here. I'm stressed to the eyeballs so I might be completely missing an obvious point.

Please does anyone have any advice?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 14/01/2020 20:04

How often are you paid ?

Babyroobs · 14/01/2020 20:05

And how much is your rent and do you private rent?

bluebunny123 · 14/01/2020 21:22

Sorry should have added that in the original post. Paid monthly and I rent from the council. I know I'm in a better situation that a lot of people but I just feel so overwhelmed and like I'm getting into debt Sad

OP posts:
Lifeisabeach09 · 15/01/2020 18:21

Sounds like you got overpaid in TC and HB when you went back to work as they were paying you the same amounts as when you were unemployed.
I suggest you send your payslips to UC. Call them and tell them you want to upload them to your account and demand a review ASAP due to financial hardship.
Council tax support won't restart. UC take on the overpayment for TC (not sure about HB) and you repay a percentage back.

bluebunny123 · 15/01/2020 18:57

@Lifeisabeach09 thanks will give them a call and ask about sending my payslip in.
It's all so confusing.. so many letters Confused

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.