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Original poster

Just been told that won't be getting any UC

35 replies

AlwaysTheOneWaiting · 14/07/2024 09:33

I have separated from my husband and moving to a rental in a few weeks. He stays in the family home which is owned with a mortgage. He has severe health issues and is only able to work part-time. Based on the entitled to website he should be eligible to ~£1500 in UC and other benefits. However he has just seen that he will get paid £0 this month. So confused and feeling a bit panicky, don't understand how he's not getting anything?? What should he do?
I'm not familiar with the system, is there anywhere he can get help with the application?

OP posts:
Gingerkittykat · 14/07/2024 13:11

He can claim UC as a single person while you are in the house, the CB does not need to be in his name to claim child element.

UC are behind in verifying the child element right now meaning what is happening to your husband is happening to loads of people. Once the children are verified on his claim then they will add 2* child element and he will also have a work allowance meaning he will be able to earn around £400 before they take money off his claim for earnings. He needs to leave a note in his journal under payments to let them know this has happened.

If he can only work limited hours because of his illness then he needs to submit fit notes to trigger a work capability assessment otherwise he will be expected to work 35 hours a week.

Original poster
AlwaysTheOneWaiting · 14/07/2024 14:27

Thanks everyone. It's a very complex situation with his chronic illness which will only get worse. In fact he will probably get classified as disabled within a year as his illness progresses. His illness is also the main reason I am leaving the house and not him, and also because I can afford to pay rent which he can't. Luckily the mortgage is very small, but because the house has some equity he wouldn't be able to get any housing benefit if he rented, and the rental market is awful here so chances of him finding something are not great.

OP posts:
Miley1967 · 14/07/2024 14:34

AlwaysTheOneWaiting · 14/07/2024 10:23

I will try and see his application.
It's a new claim, I earn too much to be entitled to anything, have only ever received the child benefit and because of my income he has never claimed anything.
The children will split their time between us when I move out.

What income does he have ? Does he already get ESA or anything? Does he have any earnings ? It may be that if he isn't already claiming ESA or is only in the assessment stage that he won't get anything until he has been through the work capability process and been awarded LCWRA as this will add an extra element of £400+ pounds to his total UC. He will not get any help with housing as he has a mortgage. He could also look at claiming PIP if his illness affects his ability to carry out daily living activities and / or affects his mobility.

OnlyTheBravest · 14/07/2024 14:48

Has he made a child maintenance claim. If he has the children then he would be entitled to some of your income. Have a look at the CMS calculators and see how much you should be giving him.

Miley1967 · 14/07/2024 14:52

OnlyTheBravest · 14/07/2024 14:48

Has he made a child maintenance claim. If he has the children then he would be entitled to some of your income. Have a look at the CMS calculators and see how much you should be giving him.

Not if they stick to a 50: 50 arrangement, which is what op should do to avoid him claiming CM from her. Although not sure how he is going to provide for them. Might be better if op cannot claim UC, to let the kids live slightly more with him so that he can claim the UC and child benefit for the kids ?

DullFanFiction · 14/07/2024 14:56

AlwaysTheOneWaiting · 14/07/2024 14:27

Thanks everyone. It's a very complex situation with his chronic illness which will only get worse. In fact he will probably get classified as disabled within a year as his illness progresses. His illness is also the main reason I am leaving the house and not him, and also because I can afford to pay rent which he can't. Luckily the mortgage is very small, but because the house has some equity he wouldn't be able to get any housing benefit if he rented, and the rental market is awful here so chances of him finding something are not great.

Can I ask you to have a look together at the ESA?

Because it’s contribution based, he might miss on that if he is reducing his hours too much. The great thing about it is that it would be separate to UC and not linked to any capital he might have. (So I get it even though dh works)

Miley1967 · 14/07/2024 15:01

AlwaysTheOneWaiting · 14/07/2024 09:33

I have separated from my husband and moving to a rental in a few weeks. He stays in the family home which is owned with a mortgage. He has severe health issues and is only able to work part-time. Based on the entitled to website he should be eligible to ~£1500 in UC and other benefits. However he has just seen that he will get paid £0 this month. So confused and feeling a bit panicky, don't understand how he's not getting anything?? What should he do?
I'm not familiar with the system, is there anywhere he can get help with the application?

Without the children on his claim, he will not get the work allowance and children's elements and so it's likely his earnings are wiping out his standard element which is likely to be all that is on his statement. If his earnings equate to less than 16 x nmw or he is getting PIP, he can hand in sick notes and ask to be assessed for work capability. Whilst you are still living together it will be hard to seperate out who is the main carers for the children. There is no way he was ever going to get £1500 a month or anywhere near it without the children on his claim.

Original poster
AlwaysTheOneWaiting · 14/07/2024 15:07

Thanks again.
He hasn't claimed anything until now. I wasn't even aware of ESA, will tell him to look into that too.
The plan is to do 50:50 with the kids, but in reality he may have them slightly more often than me because I work full-time and have to also travel internationally for work. Trying to keep things amicable and I have been very reasonable with him, for instance by letting him stay in the family home instead of pushing for a sale. I therefore hope he will also be reasonable and not claim CM, I pay for most things for the kids anyway, and will continue to pay towards the mortgage too. But will check the CM calculator.

OP posts:
Indu29 · 14/07/2024 16:02

Why did you cancel your child benefit claim? As long as you contribute to your children's upbringing, you are entitled to the money. Even if you dont live with them

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