Universal Credit - Wanting to start work again

[OwlBeThereForYouTwitTwoo]

I am currently on Universal Credit and I want to get back to work as soon as I can. Is it possible to work so many hours / earn so much money before the UC starts going down?

I’m not sure how I will find being back at work with my health as it is so I’m thinking I’d like to start fairly small and if all goes well build up to working more hours.

I could try asking these questions on my UC journal but I am concerned that they might start pressuring me before I am ready to find work straight away. BTW I hope that doesn’t come across wrong, I am just worried about the next steps.

It doesn't come across badly and I've been in your shoes. My work coach was very supportive when I discussed it with them and I've been able to stick at my job. UC still supplements my income, which is meagre!

I recorded in my journal that I was starting a job and didn't know if my health would be up to it.

I think if you have time give up work because of health again then follow the employers procedure for sickness absence and don't just resign, which should protect you but there's nothing wrong in asking your work coach.

Have you had a work capability assessment. If you have and were awarded LCW or LCWRA, you have a work allowance which means you can earn a fair bit before the 55 percent deductions start.

There’s a taper on UC. It will reduce by 55p for each £1 you earn. So you will be better off.
There’s also work allowances if you have children, disability etc. So they deduct the allowance from your wage calculation before they start deducting the 55p.

@OwlBeThereForYouTwitTwoo there is a taper whereby you lose 55p of UC for every £1 of net earnings. If you have dependant children, or have been found to have Limited Capability for Work there is a Work Allowance, money you keep before the taper starts. There are two levels of Work Allowance depending on whether you UC includes housing costs.

Thank you for the replies.

I have been assessed as having ‘Limited capability for work and work-related activity’.
I have a young child.
Does anyone know if my ‘work allowance’ would show somewhere in my UC account?

Just to add I have tried looking for my work allowance on my UC account but couldn’t find anything.

If you have a child then you already have the work allowance anyway. There are two different allowances depending on housing element. 411 pounds before deductions if you receive housing element and 684 if not.

You won't see it on the statement unless you have earnings. Hopefully you can see how much better of you would be in even very part time work.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-your-wages-affect-your-payments
as a pp said, you can earn £411 per month if you get help with housing costs or £684 if you don’t, without losing any of your UC. After that it tapers at 55p in every pound that you earn over the allowance. So you are always better off in work.

Thank you, this has been so helpful.

I’ve put a message on my journal asking about my work allowance, so I’ll see what they come back with. Replies can be quite slow I’ve found.

If you rent and get money towards housing it’s £411 if you you don’t it’s £684

entitledto.co.uk

pretty accurate this - put details in and have a play with amount earned etc