Universal credit and tax credits.

[Lbw1997]

I’ve had to apply for universal credits due to not applying for child benefits for my two youngest children as I thought they weren’t entitled because of the benefit cap, so my income support got stopped because my second child turned 5 in January. I know UC replaces child tax credits but I was wondering if I’ll still receive them until I get my first UC payment. I’ve looked everywhere online and haven’t found an answer.

Hi OP, it says that as soon as you apply for UC that any tax credits will stop.

So before you receive any UC they will stop. And they will remain stopped even if you end up not qualifying for UC. It's a bit of a nightmare but apparently you can apply for an advance loan

You will receive tax credits up until the day before you started your UC claim. There is an assessment period of a month on Universal Credit and you get your first payment 7 days after the last day of the assessment period. You can apply for an advance payment to help tide you over until your first payment but this will be deducted from your award in instalments.

You need to apply for child benefit for all 3 children.

@CiderJolly I spoke with my housing benefit adviser today about this as I need to switch to UC. She said the tax credits stop immediately. Can you please link to where this information is as it goes against everything I have read about switching from TC to UC?

"If you are an existing tax credit claimant, this does not mean you will be automatically eligible to receive Universal Credit. If you submit a Universal Credit claim your tax credit award will be closed immediately, even if you are not eligible for Universal Credit."

www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/is-it-for-me/

Thank you @PearlescentIridescent I applied for a small advance because I was unsure if I’d be getting my tax credits. The amount I applied for definitely isn’t going to last 1 month so I think I’ll have to apply again. @CiderJolly I have 4 children my first 2 I get child benefit for but because my 3rd was born a few months after April 2017 I was told he wasn’t entitled because of the cap so I didn’t bother applying for him or his little sister. I’ve asked child benefit department to send me out some forms for them both but I’ve been waiting 2 and a half weeks.

Child tax credits stop as soon as you make a claim for Uc. Income support should run on for 2 weeks after you make the claim and so should housing benefit.

I think you’re mixing up child benefit with the child element on UC. All this info is on gov.uk

Tax credits do stop when you start UC- that is what I said, it runs until the day BEFORE your start date on UC. UC is then paid in arrears but you can have a benefit transfer or new claim advance.

I know it can be confusing. You’ve done the right thing getting a benefits advisor.

The cap might apply but that shouldn’t stop you claiming the child benefit. If you work and earn a certain amount (can’t remember exactly) the cap would no longer apply so you would be doing yourself a disservice by not applying for the child benefit for each child.

Lbw1997

You will not be able to claim child benefit for your 3rd and 4th child if born after April 2017. Same for UC.
Your award will only be made up of your personal allowance, 1st child element, 2nd child element and housing costs.
You seem to be confusing the benefit cap and the 2 child limit. Two very different things.

@LastRoloIsMine Nope - not right. OP - You can (and should) claim Child Benefit for all your Children. If you have an existing claim for the first few I think you may be able to add the others over the phone?

Child Tax Credits and the Child Element of UC pays for all Children born prior to 06/04/2017. Any Children born after only attract an award if they are the first or second child. All Children should be notified to Tax Credits and should certainly be on any UC claim regardless of whether you'll be "paid" for them as they factor into the Housing Element calculation and Childcare Element etc (also as the older ones drop off the claim the younger ones then qualify).

Ages of all the children are also relevant to work related activity groups and claimant commitment.