Universal credit

[Lockdownsucks]

Hey everyone

my partner has just lost his permanent job and is about to start agency work, we currently receive tax credits but im wondering if it would be better to switch over to universal credit? I dont work we have 4 children 1 of which is 2 years old and i receive carers allowance and dla (high rate care and low rate mobility) for our son. Im torn whether to mske the jump or not

are you able claim carer's allowance.

@stickerqueen

Yes i already receive carers allowance

Do you rent? And have you done the calculators to see if you are better off?
benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/AboutYou
Renters seem to be better off on UC.

Yeah we rent, ive done a calculation and we'd be better off apparently, im just worried that i apply and dont get what the calculator said we'll get

I wouldn't. Once you move you won't go back. The calculator may be wrong. Can you cope as you are?

@gluteustothemaximus Do you have personal experience of it? Yeah we probably could cope as we are but it will be a struggle, oh wages have dropped drastically. And my thoughts were because hes doing agency work if 1 week he doesnt get any work then we'll still be able to cover rent etc, we couldnt do that staying on tax credits

Also with the advance, can i apply as soon as ive applied for uc or do i need to wait a few days? Also is there a chance of the advance being declined? I need all the facts before i do it as i know tax credits will stop and im due a payment on thursday

I've just read an awful lot about it, and have been following it for years now. I've read about people who got told they'd be better off and then they're not. It's very different to tax credits (and although tax credits weren't perfect) there's a lot more complications to UC.

Firstly, you tax credits would stop straight away and there would be a delay of possibly 5 weeks at least with your first payment. With the amount of things going on right now, this could be longer. Could you manage without any money for those 5 weeks?

Just wondering actually if your OH losing his job, might actually trigger UC anyway? If he picks up work straight away though, that might actually be fine, and if an income drops, then TC's might go up?

I went from self employed to employed, and it didn't trigger UC and it was fine.

I just don't want to see anyone make a mistake and be worse off. UC has so many problems.

If you need to claim housing benefit to help with rent then you will have to switch to UC. The advance is paid the same day you present your ID and is never declined, you are offered the full amount of your full entitlement before deductions as your advance but can choose to take less if you wish. It is then paid back over 12 instalments which they take off your payment automatically.

My DH is an agency worker and UC has been great for us, it is based on real time information so if one month he is out of work then we receive more UC. I don't know what would happen to your other benefits however as I don't claim those.

If you go to Citizens Advice Public site, and click on the Benefits Tab on the Blue menu bar at the top, this will take you to a page with three different calculators (includes Turn2Us). You can then compare the outcomes using all three.
The vital advice that we give to all clients is to be sure you enter the correct figures; don't guess anything, always check.
You can then compare the results which may help your decision making.

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice im taking it all onboard. Does any of you know if i apply for uc tomorrow will i still be paid my tax credits the next day or will the recall that payment?