How does UC work?

[Rosemariex]

So i currently get a small amount of CTC as i work 30 hours a week and earn £1600 ish a month

looking into getting my own place with daughter (currently living at parents)

just been looking into UC and its saying i will need to attend the job centre for interviews?? Will have to notify them if i plan on going abroad to make sure i stick to commitments

im confused ive not had to do this with TC and i work 5 days a week anyway so how am i going to attend interviews whilst then getting daughter from school etc

am i reading this wrong can somebody who works and gets a UC explain the process please?

thank you!

You will need an initial face to face interview to verify your identity when you set your claim up. As you are working for 30 hours a week it is unlikely they will want you to go in very often.

I think you are allowed to go abroad for up to 28 days without it affecting your UC. You are meant to inform your work coach on your journal if you go abroad at all but a holiday won't stop your UC.

Child Tax Credit is purely awarded on the basis of your income, and the fact you have a child.

UC is also based on your income, but in order to claim it, there are conditions attached (known as conditionality). It is much more stringent than CTC.

These are work-related activities claimants must do to get full entitlement to UC. You will be assigned to one of six conditionality regimes, based on an assessment of capability and circumstances.

DWP will decide which group you fit into, and therefore what commitments you must undertake to continue to receive the benefit,

1.Searching for work, not working or with very low earnings.-
Claimants must take action to secure work, or more or better paid work. The Work Coach supports them to plan their work search and preparation activity.

2.Working with requirements -
In work but could earn more, or not working but has a partner with low earnings

3.No work requirements -
Not expected to work at present. Health or caring responsibility prevents claimants from working or preparing for work.

4.Working, no requirements, -
Individual or household earnings are above the level at which conditionality applies. Claimants are required to inform DWP of changes of circumstances, particularly if they are at risk of decreasing earnings or losing job.

5.Planning for work -
Expected to work in the future. Lone parent or lead carer of child aged 1. Claimants are required to attend periodic interviews to plan for their return to work.

6.Preparing for work -
Claimants are expected to start preparing for future, even with limited capability for work at the present time or a child aged 2, the claimant is expected to take reasonable steps to prepare for work including Work Focused Interview.

You will probably have a face to face interview initially to start your claim and verify your identity and circumstances.

Usually, if your child is between 5 and 12 years old, you will be required to work (or search for work) of at least 25 hours a week.

If your child is over 12, you will be required to work full time (35 hours a week).

There are also other rules related to UC, such as how much savings you can hold before your benefit is restricted.

Earning £1600, having no rent costs and just one child, then realistically the amount of Uc you are going to be eligible for is going to be small unless you have childcare costs to pay. they are unlikely to make you attend work commitments when already working 30 hours. As others have said you may need an initial ID interview unless you can verify online. Why are you actually switching to UC, you do not need to and may be better off staying on tax credits until asked to move.

The requirement is to be earning 35 x nmw per week. If op earns more than nmw then it's very unlikely they will make her look for more hours.

Sorry I read your original post as you buying your own home but if renting then yes you may get a significant amount more of UC. If buying and having a mortgage it would only be around £60 a month unless claiming for childcare costs.

I earn around the same amount as you and have never had to go to the job centre.
I have to upload my childcare receipts each month and then once a year update my new rent amount.

Hi thanks for replying.. do you have to tell them if your going on holiday even if working and my holiday is paid for from my wages wouldn't be from UC top up

i hate the sound of that like its a crime to go away!

@Rosemariex no you’d only have to tell them if you are going to be out of the country for 28 days or more.

the telling If you’re going to be on holiday is more for those with job seeker style commitments.

Ah right i understand thank you!

@Babyroobs Well-spotted! You're right. Thanks for the clarification.

Does anyone know how often uc appointments are meant to be? I'm being made to go every 2 weeks I wouldn't mind but it's a hour trip there and back, sometimes a whole day out for a 5 minute chat! I've told them many times about my situation but no one is listening

It is at the discretion of your work coach how often they should be and whether you need to go into the job centre for them. It will be different for everyone, but if in the group where you are needing to look for work then two weekly sounds about right.