Can a NHS band 2 admin in London apply for universal credit

[Pleasecaniaskyou]

Hi, I am not sure how it works but would band 2 NHS admin be able to apply for benefits. She is 57 , works full time and lives in a one bed council flat. I don’t remember her rent but it’s Hackney council.

She lives alone so is struggling with the cost of living and wanted to know how she can cancel her UNISON membership.
thanks for your advice.

On the plus side she’s about to get a bonus £1,125 take home for a band 2 and pay rise. Entitled.co.uk will give her an idea what she’s able to claim.

Depends on how much the rent is I think. As already mentioned EntitledTo is one tool to check. Turn2Us is another.

Citizens Advice offer a service called Help to Claim 0800 144 8 444 who could offer advice too.

Thank you very much I will pass on the information.

It's always worth trying Turn2us to see, especially as even small UC entitlements have previously been a gateway to extra Cost of Living payments and other help like the social broadband tariff.

Also is she paying the right rate of Unison membership? Union membership is banded according to salary so lower earners pay less, so she should check this.

But things might get a little easier now the pay rise will start to come through and the percentage rise for the lowest earners is quite substantial, as it has to be because bands 1 and 2 have been overtaken by the NMW.

Can she get a different job? Either elsewhere in the NHS or civil service etc? Band 2 is very low, civil service admin jobs tend to be the equivalent of band 4 as a minimum.

BarbaraofSeville thanks for the reply. She has been with the NHS for over 25years and as band 2 for at least 10+ . She told me she was band 3 but during the 2008 crash due to the cost cutting she was demoted to band 2. It was so sad to hear her struggle at this age and felt like exploitation of unskilled workers. I will pass on the details to my mum and hopefully she’ll get some help.

Looks like a band 2 takes home about 1500. UC rates are 368.74 for a single adult over 35. Add this to her rent and that's her entitlement before earnings deductions. 1500 x 0.55 means 825 deducted so there is possible entitlement depending on how much her rent is.this is very rough remember as guessing earnings.