Universal Credit on Mat Leave

[sprinkledcream]

Has anyone claimed universal credit for the 3 months unpaid leave?
I didn't think we would be eligible but I've just done the eligibility questionnaire and it's showing as £460 per month - which isn't far off SMP!

Yep got UC only for 2 months.
I was able to claim UC during my maternity pay as well. Went back to work and use UC claim towards childcare costs.

Yes I have. Started a claim as soon as my money reduced to SMP. Its pretty easy to set up so worth it even if only for small amount! Will close it and get the tax free childcare when I go back to work through, as my wage will wipe any entitlement

Yep I got universal credit as soon as I dropped down to half pay. I was a single mother so didn't have anyone else contributing to cost of living.

Yes I did and actually just kept on getting it when I returned to work.

Hi I know these posts were a couple of months ago but im just looking for a thread like this! My baby is due in 4 weeks and this is when my wage will be dropping to SMP, should I apply for the UC now? And explain my situation to them? Or do I just apply for it the week my wage drops? Thank you in advance & i hope you are all well xx

Hi I'm hoping you see this just after a bit of help! Did you apply after your pay dropped or before? My wage is due to drop to SMP in 4 weeks! Thanks in advance xxx

apply for it now! i’m on smp and uc at the same time it’s defo worth it x

@ndwu thank you!! Do you think I should apply even though my moneys not dropped yet and I'm still on basically full wage should I not wait til I'm getting the basic maternity rate (the new one is £172 a week?) Thank you in advance! Xx

@ndwu I just keep thinking how will they know it's dropping when I send my wage slips they want its not dropped yet? So will they not cancel me off there system as not eligible until my money has dropped? Xx

@Freespirit98 apply for uc the day after you receive your last high wage (if that high wage would nil qual you for uc). The way uc works is the day you apply you get a months assessment period. Everything you earn in that assessment period will be counted as earnings. If you don’t qualify that assessment period your claim will be open for another 5 months and your earnings will be checked again (if your employer reports to HMRC if not you’ll have to provide payslips).

@Hwory thank you so much for your advice! My employer does report to HMRC I think, so I'll just apply the day after I get my wage, (does this apply for weekly payments though?) I've just read on another thread she suggested I supply on the 1st of whatever month I choose to apply because the assessment period being 30 days?

We are claiming universal credit with my partner who is self employed
We have an older child who we get DLA for-disabled child on universal cred and carers element.
We are due our 3rd child, I will go on maternity soon. Is there anything I need to know or change on our claim? Will our universal credit go down as I'm earning less?

If earnings go down then Uc will likely go up. There is no child element for a third child though although I'm guessing you already know this. you should add the baby when it is born though.