Can someone explain what happens to UC when child turns 5?

[CrankyCoffee]

My DS is 5 next January. Currently he is receiving medium rate DLA and I am his registered carer so do not have to look for work but this DLA stops/is up for review next January so he may not receive medium rate after then. He will be starting school this September so providing there are no issues there (he has ASD) I was hoping to start part time work within his school hours. However I'm confused as to whether I will need to work exactly 25 hours a week to still be able to claim UC or if I can work under that but more than 16 hours a week? I have a partner who is in full time work if that makes a difference?

if the DLA continues you cannot earn more than £128 a week and continue to claim carers. However you can continue to claim Uc carers element irrespective of how much you earn. As your husband is likely to be earning a decent amount they are unlikely to make you look for any work or you will be in the light touch group. you will be better off by working obviously unless your joint earnings are too much to receive any UC.

If you were an lp you'd have to be working 25 hours per week to avoid UC sanction when the youngest is 5.

@Eyevorbig0ne

If you were an lp you'd have to be working 25 hours per week to avoid UC sanction when the youngest is 5.

I'm an lp and started claiming uc last year when dd was 5. I only work 20 hours a week and have never been sanctioned and was told at the appointment to confirm my identity that I was working enough so I wouldn't have a job coach or have to look for other employment.

It's not about working 25 hours , more that they expect you to be aiming to earn 25 x nmw. So if you have a job which pays a bit more than NMW you can get away with working less hours. To be honest they aren't really pushing anyone very much at the moment due to covid.

@Eyevorbig0ne

If you were an lp you'd have to be working 25 hours per week to avoid UC sanction when the youngest is 5.

Op isn't a lone parent though so as long as her partner is meeting the AET of £552, op would be in the light touch group even if DLA and therefore carers allowance didn't continue. I do find it odd how lone parents are expected to work a certain number of hours to claim Uc yet one of a couple doesn't if their partner earns a certain amount, and the amount is really set quite low.