Genuine UC query

[GenuineQuery1]

Ok no goady, not trying to start a fight etc just posting posting traffic and have name changed.

We've never been on any type of benefits before except receiving child benefit, I also don't know anyone on benefits who I can ask and I can't find anything clear online.

When I go back to work after mat leave due to childcare issues and cost I'll only be able to go back to work 2 or 3 days. I've always previously worked full time - this is baby number 2. I've used the entitled to calculator which says we'll be entitled to around £20 a week UC and no other benefits except child benefit.

I wanted to know does this then mean we benefit from other parts of the benefit system such as free dental care and free prescriptions? I genuinely don't know but when I pay for my dentist visits and prescriptions it always has a tick box to say exempt due to benefits etc but is this only for people on benefits solely and not working?? Thank you

I think the £20/ week must be the child benefit that almost everyone gets

An online calculator will show that benefit

You are not eligible for UC @GenuineQuery1
And no you won't get free dental or prescriptions

You might be able to claim for childcare costs though

@shakeitoffshakeacocktail same here. I'm going to be losing mine soon as I will be earning a couple of hundred over the threshold to be eligible. That will be an eye opener when I have to start paying, as its not like I'm earning a great wage anyway to really afford the costs of prescriptions, dental and eye tests. Cost of living is crippling enough as it is.

First child £282.50
Second child £237.08
Joint claimants: £509.92
Total UC entitlement = £1029.50

Sounds like you own your home and not rent, so I haven’t included the housing element for rent, but your work allowance would be higher, in that you can earn £557 a month between you before your UC amount is deducted.

With a combined income of £50K, your combined take home pay would be approx £3K after tax etc.

So your earnings are £3000 - £557 work allowance = £2443. But there’s a 55p taper where you can keep 55p of every £1 you earn from work, so you have to do £2443 x 0.55 = £1343. This amount is OVER your UC calculation of £1029, so no, you 100% won’t get any UC. If you have rent costs you might do, if you have childcare costs of over £300 a month you might do, otherwise nope.

I'm the poster above who earns £1.7K a month and gets £1.9K a month UC, but Im a single parent with rent of £1.4K and childcare costs of over £1.2K which is why. And whilst 3.6K sounds like an absolute fortune to receive a month in total, once rent, childcare and council tax are paid I have £850 a month for all bills, utilities, food, car insurance, petrol, school trips for 3 kids etc etc. Its not the lavish lifestyle some might think.