Universal credit and 3 changes of circ

[ghostmous3]

I'm currently on the old system as a single person with 3 dc

However I have 3 big changes of circs coming up in the next 2 months

My partner is moving in with me beginning of august, I'm starting a new job at the end of august but I'm currently on furlough with redundancy looming and my daughter is leaving home to start university sometime in September but we dont know the start date yet.
So that's 3 big changes of circumstances and I presume my claim under the old system will end and I will have to claim universal credit.we both work full time minimum wage at the moment but I dont know whether we will get universal credit or whether or not my daughter going to uni will affect things.
I live in council accommodation but o wont quality for housing rent..

I think I'm just worried about claiming partner moving in which of course I intend to do then a month later I start my new job then 2 weeks or so after that another change and my dd will be leaving home. I'm worried this will mess up my claim and it will confuse the system as I've heard awful horror stories about universal credit..I dont even where to start claiming it

Can anyone offer any advice please

Moving your partner in will trigger a switch to Uc, you will need to make a joint claim. Forget the horror stories. You will both need to make separate Uc claims online via the Gov.uk site then you will be given a linking code to link them together. If you have no other dependent children living with you and a council rent then I really think you should prepare that you won't get anything. You will still get a rent element but earnings may well cancel out any UC entitlement.

Sorry just seen you have 3 kids. You need to be aware that making a Uc claim will mean tax credits will stop straight away. So on Uc you will get a couples element, 2 x childrens elements ( after eldest dd has gone to Uni) and a rent element. this makes your total UC. The first £292 of joint net wages is disregarded but after that each pound you earn reduces your total Uc by 63p.

Thank you very much for that. I didnt know about having to claim separately and then linking together. Can I get advance payment as well. How does that work

Once you have verified yourselves either online ( it will give you the option to verify through digidentity or Post office straight after submitting your application ) you can apply for an advance. Otherwise you will need to wait for them to ring you to verify your ID over the phone. I did my son's ID verification through the Post office option and it was very straightforward as long as you have passport, driving license and / or bank card.

Please do not make a UC claim before speaking to a benefits advisor.
Not all changes in circs mean you need to claim UC.
Contact tax credits first and ask about adding your partner to your claim.
You should also do a benefits calculator as you may be better off on legacy benefits or UC maybe better if you have rent costs.

@LastRoloIsMine

Please do not make a UC claim before speaking to a benefits advisor. Not all changes in circs mean you need to claim UC. Contact tax credits first and ask about adding your partner to your claim. You should also do a benefits calculator as you may be better off on legacy benefits or UC maybe better if you have rent costs.

You cannot add a new partner to a tax credit claim ! It would be a new claim for Uc.

Why won't you qualify for the housing element?

@MiddlesexGirl

Why won't you qualify for the housing element?

Everyone on Uc paying rent will get a rent element. The only ones who don't are people in emergency accommodation where the cost is still covered by housing benefit but everyone else gets a rent element.

Exactly. OP even says they rent from council.

I just assumed i wouldn't qualify for the housing rent as dp works full time on minimum wage and after end of august I will be on 29 hours a week.
Dd goes to uni on the 15th september so she will not be on my claim for tax credits then and I will have to be on universal credit as I will only have 2 dependant children

Sorry 20 hours a week

Hi, my husband and I work an average of 30 hours a week each, we have two children and rent a housing association property. He’s paid monthly and I’m paid weekly, both a little above minimum wage. On a ‘4 week’ month we get about £350 in UC and a ‘5 week’ month we get around £170. Our rent is around £400 pcm. Hope this helps you see what you could be entitled to.