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Original poster

Are you claiming UC as a single mum on £30,000 per year?

55 replies

CheapHouse · 21/10/2023 22:38

I've just done two benefit calculators (turn2us and entitled to) and it says that once I have divorced and I am living on my own with my 2 children, earning 30,000 per year, self employed I'd be able to claim £203.29 per week UC.

I just don't know if I can trust this. It seems like way too much. I didn't think I'd even be able to claim anything on my salary.

If you do this please let me know.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
RedHelenB · 21/10/2023 22:41

What are your childcare costs?

Original poster
CheapHouse · 21/10/2023 22:41

Around £200 per month

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 21/10/2023 22:44

Housing costs? Rent or mortgage?

UC is generous to working parents.

Original poster
CheapHouse · 21/10/2023 22:46

Mortgage

OP posts:
scrantonelectriccity · 21/10/2023 22:50

It's better to figure it out manually

So add up

Child elements
Standard allowance
Housing element (if renting and within LHA)

Deduct work allowance

SofiYol · 21/10/2023 22:53

I’m a single mum to two children, private rental and earn £25k, I receive £730 a month UC.

I don’t have childcare costs though.

You wouldn’t get the housing element cost with a mortgage so that does sound a lot, have you double checked that you have entered everything accurately?

DrCoconut · 21/10/2023 22:53

It sounds a lot based on my experience, however it depends on your circumstances. From what I know you are better off doing a manual calculation for accuracy.

Flanjango · 21/10/2023 22:53

Be careful. A lot of the online calculators for UC get the sums wrong.

daffodilandtulip · 21/10/2023 22:56

How old are your children? My calculation said £160 a month for similar circumstances, teen children. UC screws self employed over badly.

macandcheeses · 21/10/2023 22:57

I just don't know if I can trust this.

Apply and find out?

AnotherEmma · 21/10/2023 23:16

Standard amount. £368.74
Child element. £539.16
(I've assumed your oldest child was born after April 2017, but if they were born before that, you'd get slightly more.)
Childcare element. £170
(This is assuming you use a registered childcare provider and the actual cost is £200/month - not the amount you pay ie with deduction for TFC.)
Total maximum award £1077.90

Net earnings. £1900
(I've estimated this, exact amount depends on your expenses, pension contributions etc)
Minus work allowance (£631) = £1269
55% of £1269 = £697.95

UC entitlement:
£1077.90 - £697.95 = £379.95/month

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/check-how-much-universal-credit-youll-get/

Check how much Universal Credit you'll get

Work out how much Universal Credit you’ll get each month, including which elements you’re entitled to and how your income and savings affect your payment.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/on-universal-credit/check-how-much-universal-credit-youll-get/

autumn666 · 21/10/2023 23:30

Sounds about right to me. I earn a fair bit more than you, have no childcare costs but pay rent and get a few hundred a month.

Crikeyalmighty · 21/10/2023 23:32

The big difference is rent or mortgage- if it's mortgage , you don't get help towards housing for a very long time.

Babyroobs · 22/10/2023 00:31

Crikeyalmighty · 21/10/2023 23:32

The big difference is rent or mortgage- if it's mortgage , you don't get help towards housing for a very long time.

You don't get help with a mortgage but they do get a higher work allowance meaning a higher amount of earnings is disregarded before the deduction for earnings is calculated.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 22/10/2023 07:12

I suspect it is more like £230 a month rather than per week due to having a mortgage. Apply and find out.

Original poster
CheapHouse · 22/10/2023 07:32

@macandcheeses I still live with my husband. But I'm planning on divorcing and moving out in Sept next year once youngest goes to school. I'm just trying to understand my financal position before I start negotiations with working out how to split the equity from the marital home. He is buying me out though.

I don't think I'll count on getting UC when I do the negotiations. I'll probs just apply after I have moved and see what happens. Then anything I get will be an added bonus.

@daffodilandtulip When I move they will be 7 and 4, that's what I've done the calculation on.

OP posts:
Original poster
CheapHouse · 22/10/2023 07:58

@ginandtonicwithlimes I would be so pleased with £200 a month!

@AnotherEmma thanks for that I'm going to try to book an app with CAB. I don't trust it my own calculations

OP posts:
AnotherEmma · 22/10/2023 08:29

CheapHouse · 22/10/2023 07:32

@macandcheeses I still live with my husband. But I'm planning on divorcing and moving out in Sept next year once youngest goes to school. I'm just trying to understand my financal position before I start negotiations with working out how to split the equity from the marital home. He is buying me out though.

I don't think I'll count on getting UC when I do the negotiations. I'll probs just apply after I have moved and see what happens. Then anything I get will be an added bonus.

@daffodilandtulip When I move they will be 7 and 4, that's what I've done the calculation on.

If you have already separated, sleeping in separate bedrooms, separated finances, intend for it to be permanent, the benefit system will treat you as a single person now (ie before one of you moves out), which means you could claim UC straight away.

However, 11 months is a very long time to wait. Why are you waiting so long? You say your husband will buy you out and you will move out - any reason for that? If the children will live mainly with you, it might make more sense for you to stay in the family home, unless you want to move anyway for schools or to downsize. If you haven't yet done so, you should really consult a solicitor or two. Your local citizens advice should be able to tell you about any local law clinics or solicitors offering free or low cost initial consultation. See also https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/survival-guide-sorting-out-your-finances-when-you-get-divorced

If you don't claim UC until your youngest is at school, presumably your childcare costs will be less than £200/month, which would change the calculation I did last night. Basically, UC covers 85% of your childcare costs.

There will be child maintenance, too.

Sorting out your finances when you get divorced

This guide explains how to agree a financial settlement if you are getting divorced or ending a civil partnership. We help you understand more about what a judge might order in a case like yours to give you a better chance of making a fair agreement wi...

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/survival-guide-sorting-out-your-finances-when-you-get-divorced

AnotherEmma · 22/10/2023 08:32

CheapHouse · 22/10/2023 07:58

@ginandtonicwithlimes I would be so pleased with £200 a month!

@AnotherEmma thanks for that I'm going to try to book an app with CAB. I don't trust it my own calculations

Help to Claim don't do F2F appointments, only phone or webchat, but it's easy to get through to them (it's well resourced).

It's likely that your local citizens advice will be busier (less well resourced) but worth contacting them for general advice ie not just UC.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/#h-find-your-nearest-citizens-advice

Contact us

How you can contact Citizens Advice.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/#h-find-your-nearest-citizens-advice

Original poster
CheapHouse · 22/10/2023 08:47

@AnotherEmma we are waiting as it will be easier once youngest is in school. I'm still not counting on UC. But childcare costs are way more now. They will £200 once they are both in school, that's for after-school and breakfast club.

Husband won't consider a mesher order and since it's a big house I'm picking my battles and would rather a smaller house that's all mine anyway. I am not looking forward to the upheaval though.

I've chosen a solicitor and will get the ball rolling with that next month. They are going to act on my behalf and do the financal full disclosure thing.

OP posts:
cadburyegg · 22/10/2023 08:50

I'm a single mum earning 30k and I have 2 children and a mortgage. I get around £400 per month UC depending on how much my childcare costs are (after school club).

Sandalholidays12 · 22/10/2023 09:12

You may get help with childcare costs. You have a mortgage so UC won't help you pay so you will get a lot less than someone who rents. I would make sure you go through CMS don't do a private arrangement.

Original poster
CheapHouse · 22/10/2023 20:49

@Sandalholidays12 Yeah I can see how I wouldn't get anything for the mortgage as it puts it down as an optional loan which I wouldn't want.

Why do you say that about CMS? What about doing it through a solicitor?

OP posts:
PerfectYear321 · 22/10/2023 20:52

CheapHouse · 21/10/2023 22:41

Around £200 per month

So it sounds like it's your childcare costs. Which makes sense as you would have to give up work if you had to pay for childcare only earning £30k? Is the father contributing anything?