CTC to UC can I go back?

[Hayley834]

If I cancel universal claim I initiated within 5 days of applying will child tax credits still stop, I thought I’d be better of yet I don’t think I will be and they are trying to make me work more hours than currently or possible with 3 children alone with no help or support
many advice would be hugely appreciated

I sorry, there is no option to go back. Tax credits are cancelled immediately when you apply and you can no longer make new claims. Same goes for housing benefit.

*No, sorry not I

No. Sadly not.
I'm waiting until I'm forced to go over as I'll probably be worse off.

Thank you for replying, Even though I’ve still received the payments?
I wasn’t sure if it took awhile to notify them and could prevent it before hand

I signed a new tenancy and kind of feel I was forced by the lady to, even though I said I think it will make me worse of but she advised me to and now I’ve had my first commitment meeting this week and even by working more hours I’m going to worse off

Be careful if you are receiving tc payments still as you may end up with an over payment on top. Are you sure the claim went through?

I had thought this and not touched it
yes it’s going through not fully been processed I won’t find out what I’ll get till mid July
I just wondered if I stopped it now would they lol still end or if it’s to late I have read online it takes upto two weeks to notify them but don’t want to cancel the uc claim for then the child tax credits also to stop

Actually- there may be a run on for working tax credits which is why you are still getting payments but if you've had confirmation of your UC claim and have a meeting booked then you definitely can't go back. Why was someone responsible for your tenancy giving you benefit advice. How much do you earn currently? If you're in the light touch income bracket they'll ask you to find more work but your claim won't be dependent on it ie they might hassle you but you don't actually have to do it in order to be paid each month.

My tenancy had changed from one housing association to another i was then advised they’d rather I be on universal credit and our encouraging all to make the move and was urged to go apply

I then kind of panicked and just done it not wanting to cause any issues with them

I fall into the lowest income amount I have a 3 year old so can not work more than 16 hours

She has told me if I do not comply I will not be paid also that I have to attend weekly work coach meetings and they want me my working hours to increase to 35hrs per week

If you're earning over £355 they should leave you alone after your first interview. UC works on earnings rather than hours.

I don’t earn that weekly I get £157

That figure is per month! Your monthly wage will be over £300 in excess of that so don't worry too much.

So why is she making me come in weekly and look for over 35 hours?

I don't think she will make you come in. Even if she does that's as far as it goes. You cannot be forced at this stage to look for work or to work more than you do as you are more than meeting the minimum income.

www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation/Bringing-up-a-child/Single-parents-and-Universal-Credit

Here is something that probably explains it better than me

You will need weekly appointments for the first 13 weeks unless your wages are over the earnings trigger to change work group which they may going forward. If you do attend you are expected to find work of 16 hours a week or more or the equivalent x min wage. There is no limit on how much you can work.

To add the work coaches will tell you anything to meet their targets (at least I assume that's why they do it) best thing you can do is research and arm yourself with all the information yourself. I was in a similar situation myself when I first started work. Job centre work coach was absolutely adamant I'd have to change to UC as soon as I started work which simply wasn't the case. I kept repeating correct information to her, that I could simply update my tax credit claim as it was an update not a new claim. She disagreed and said WTC is a new claim - she was wrong! Here I am 2.5 years later still on tax credits. If I hadn't done the research myself id have changed over. The universal credit essentials website is super helpful for that and will also help you calculate exactly what you will receive so you can check it against their award. Sometimes they'll miss out a child element for example.

You cannot change back. Everyone will be switching soo anyway. As previous poster said as long as you're earning over around £335 a month they won't make you look for more hours.

You can't change back and there is no run on for Tax Credits. The UC claim is completed as soon as you hit that green "submit claim" button. And a stop notice is sent to Tax Credits almost immediately.

I wouldn't assume you will be worse off. Most people who are working are now better off on UC. Have you tried an online benefit calculator?

I think you said your youngest is 3? Therefore as your youngest is under school age you should not be asked to work more than 16 hours per week. This usually increases to 25 when they are school age. You can't be asked to work full time hours until they are over 12.

As others have said though as long as you are earning over about £355 per month you should be placed in the light touch regime. In this you can't be asked to look for or be available for more work but you can still be asked to attend interviews at the job centre or complete work preparation requirements. There are some areas where the light touch regime doesn't apply though BUT either way. you still can't be asked to do more than work 16 hours per week while your youngest is under school age.

Work coaches also have some discretion over that amount too. They can reduce it if you have health issues or caring responsibilities that mean that isn't possible for you.

If you are worse off and you moved home but stayed in the same local authority area you should consider making a complaint to your housing association as they've given you poor advice. Organisations like Citizens Advice can help you draft a complaint if you want to do this.

All I say is I carnt make the meeting I’m working or I don’t have child care that day
when u work it doesn’t matter what hours you do on if I’d you work u work and ur same as me, and they don’t hassle me
u may have had a cow bag of a work coach but explain to next person you speak with
they won’t hassle you if you earn £150 a week and have 3 kids and yet 1 is 3 y… don’t worry

I think that's really bad form of the HA, unless they'd done a calculation that shows that you'd be better off on UC.

If it turns out that you are worse off, I'd advise you to put in a complaint.

For people working though, they are often better off on UC because the amount disregarded can be higher and the rate at which earnings reduce benefit is lower.

I don't see the point in complaining. The HA asked OP to switch for their benefit as they preferred it. Obviously DWP are more efficient at paying them than the local council (if you'd moved council areas you'd have no choice but to switch too). Nothing will change - they will still continue to push what suits them better and OP still won't be able to change back. As a pp said we'll all be charged over soon anyway