Universal credit

[Rachel516]

Hello everyone, I’m looking to see if anyone is in the same position or knows much about universal credit. I’m currently working full time but as my income has increased my tax credit payment has gone down to £600 a month which covers the £529 nursery bill. It also costs me on average £180 a month to commute to work. I’m a single parent and my child is autistic and receives dla at the highest care rate. I’ve been considering taking some time out of employment and focusing on my son as things are becoming very challenging at home and I’m struggling working full time. I’ve looked into universal credit and the online calculator has totalled up to £1366.56 and I’d also be able to claim carers allowance. Is anyone on here claiming as a carer and not working through universal credit. Does this calibration seem correct. Im also in a private rent which is £575 a month and it’s totally that it would pay the full rent. Thanks everyone

That, exactly.

Ah, that's what I'd forgotten. @Doogie191 I'm sorry you're in this situation.

@Doogie191 have you had a social services assessment? If your DS qualifies for social care, you might be able to work slightly more hours? They would assess his income though and expect him to pay towards it.

From this September (the September after their 19th birthday) the poster’s DS wouldn’t necessarily need to go down the credits only ESA route or wait to change course like they would need to if under 19. An application for UC can be done directly (either by him or her if appointee), which should only be refused if the course is not compatible with any work related requirements on his individual claim. Here is Contact’s booklet which explains more about the differences.

I think @LargeLegoHaul has it; the trick is to get attendance on the course, which presumably is intended to help OP's son into work, recognised as part of their commitment and therefore compatible with WRR.

Not sure the 'credits only ESA' trick is still available. DWP amendments to UC Reg 14(1)(b) in 2021 were, IIRC, intended to stop off that route.

Making credits only ESA application is still available to disabled young people needing to establish LCW/LCWRA - see Contact’s booklet I linked to, there is also information on their website. But, for that poster, it isn’t necessary come September.

Or rather than get the course included in the work related requirements the poster could aim for no requirements.

In that situation @LargeLegoHaul , would they still be best off establishing LCWRA so that they get the higher rate of UC though?

Yes, but you don’t necessarily need to do that via a credits only ESA claim. It can be done via UC. However, some people are still finding DWP staff either don’t know this or that they are just refusing - in this scenario Contact advise challenging them but to also make a credits only ESA claim (which some staff also try to refuse, frustratingly).

I should say some DWP staff, as it isn’t all.

Yes, they tried to refuse me an ESA application when I phoned because DD1 hadn't been in work. I had to be quite firm that I knew the eligibility and that I was only interested in a credits only claim to establish LCWRA. I then had a phonecall to tell me that she wouldn't be eligible for money, etc., but once I made it clear that I knew that, they did process it.

Thankyou all so much for your advice. So my first step would be to make a claim to ESA for credits only for him. Can I do this before my family tax credit finishes in August.

You don’t need to make a credits only ESA claim. From the September following the claimant’s 19th birthday it isn’t relevant as they (or their appointee) can apply for UC directly. See the bottom of page 4 in the Contact booklet I linked to.

Thankyou again. I’m finding it a bit confusing. I do appreciate your help

I've confused you. Sorry about that! I was thinking of the situation before 19. It's my fault!

You shouldn’t be working anyway if your son is eligible for highest rate care. That means he needs care through the day and night. How on earth do you cope ? Does he go to a special needs nursery?

I think you're missing something about how benefits work.

I was moved to uc before I started work , they do take the carers off your uc but you get the uplift which you should get on tax credits anyway

I'm working part time now and get about £1290 uc on top of my £1000 wage although some of that is rent if I'd gone full time I'd have been on about the same as you and uc was saying around £1000 a month and that was before it went up last month so if you have childcare element what it's saying may be correct. From my experience the entitled to Web site is pretty accurate

Your tax credits seem quite low taking into account you have a child on high rate dla , do they know about that? My dc is now on middle rate

I think having a child with a disability is getting on for an extra £200 a month so your tax credits seem quite low