Minimum Income Floor for UC

[Lucybeary]

I'm currently self employed and have disability. I was on working tax credits disability element and working up to 16 hours a week and with a huge struggle to maintain it but I did and was determined.

With the migration I now have all these forms to prove my illness, which is in fact making it all worse as I don't have the energy for it all and don't cope well with change. But it has to be done.

Now though I've been told what my minimum income floor would be expected to be by 0ctober 2025 and it's over £1000 more than I currently earn. The healthy part of me likes the idea of the challenge but it's not realistic with my health and I just wished it was something a little more attainable, at least at the start of the process.

I'm not complaining here, I'm not work shy and work hard and have done a lot of full time work and overtime over the years so I hope people are kind. I really do want to be in a position to go for earning that extra £1000 per month and have 9 months to try. I just hoped while I was unable, due to illness, they wouldn't have started counting that start up period? As I am not getting a fair go at it if ill?

And if I don't manage it, or fall short, do they stop your UC or stop your self employment? Aside from my disabilities I'm very organised and contributing to our society with my work.

Thanks for any advice or thoughts.

Do you receive, or might you qualify for, PIP?

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-self-test

I'm sorry @Lucybeary this sounds stressful!

I second checking if you're eligible for PIP. Honestly, I'd be pursuing the 'limited capability for work and work-related activity' element of UC if you are eligible - it looks like you can be self-employed/working to a certain extent whilst claiming, however you need to prove you couldn't work in another role. Then if you do well and earnings go up without effecting your health, you can always come off that element of UC - but there's no immediate pressure to do so, or 'ticking clock' as it were.

Contact Citizens Advice to fill in the UC50 for you. If you are assessed as having LCWRA then you won’t have work commitment. You can work as much as you are able.

Agree with @TwilightSkies. If you've got a UC50 form seek help from CA or another advice agency. There's plenty of guidance on the web too including CA's site and Benefits and Work.

The point about PIP is that it passports claimants through a restriction on having a Work Capability Assessment based on earnings of more than a multiple of the NLW.

I'm sorry I'm not understanding the PIP thing? thanks but could you say again, as I'm not getting it. sorry, bad day.

Thanks for all the comments. I did qualify for PIP but immediately after my first interview for UC I got a PIP renewal form, a phone assessment, a woman on the phone that seemed to have her mind made up and didn't ask any relevant questions (really) and she's given me zeros across the board so I've asked for a reconsideration. I'm not really bothered about pip though if I can just keep my part time self employed work, with a view to getting better and building on it. But if they stop you doing it, that worries me as I really don't cope with change.

What people are saying are that if you earn under the threshold for LCWRA assessment try and complete that. Have you submitted fit notes to your claim as these need to be current until a decision is made.

If you are found to be LCWRA then the minimum income won't apply. How much do you currently earn after expenses each month?

@Lucybeary i think gohomeroger has answered your question.

Basically, if you earn more than 16* the National Living Wage every week you cannot normally be referred for a Work Capability Assessment unless you receive PIP or are receiving certain treatments, the main ones are chemo/radiotherapy for cancer.

thanks on average about £400 a month when not well and that's been most of the time the last year, there's a lot of opportunity when well to increase that, double it, maybe more but not an extra £1000 or £1200

thanks 16*? sorry not sure what that means and it's not a good day for some reason today. sorry, really appreciate your reply.

Ok if it stays at £400 and you have a current fit note you should be referred for a Work Capability assessment.

thanks, I have been I've got the forms.

If I'm on LCW, if they find that, I don't expect to be LCWRA, then would they stop the start up period? It just seems a waste of that period when I cannot really go at it as I'd like atm.

Sorry, 16 times the National Living Wage.

The £400/month you mention is way under that so you qualify for a Work Capability Assessment.

thanks Bromptotoo and everyone for walking me through it, not my sharpest of days x

Is it a joint claim OP or single?
if one or both of you (either someone caring for you or you caring for someone else IE a disabled child or another disabled adult) then you won’t have a minimum earnings floor

If you are awarded LCW you will be exempt from the minimum income floor.

Single. I'm unofficially caring for someone but not ready to take it on officially. They don't need physical care just have a lot of mental health needs, but I have my own health needs so I'm not rushing into it. Working too. Thanks

Thanks.

As above definitely do the LCW. My assessor for it was lovely. It was obviously scary having to go to an assessment centre thing but it was fine.
also PIP, I applied 4 years ago got zero on everything. Reapplied 2 years ago and got high rate for both, without any assessment. Sometimes it’s luck of the drawer with who looks at it x