Advice about universal credit

[Catlover19]

Hi I'm hoping for some advice about claiming universal credit. I'm going through a divorce and looking at claiming universal credit when my husband moves out. My son has just started college, I work 30 hours a week but I'm worried that it states you are expected to do 35 hours. I will do overtime when available but this isn't guaranteed, will I expected to find a second job to make up my hours. Thanks x

You're probably best off using an online benefits calculator, as you can change your details to see what would happen with different hours you work. I think though that if you're income is equal to or more than 35hrs at minimum wage, you should be okay working 30 hrs.

I used stepchange and it was fairly accurate.

@Catlover19 as above Universal Credit is about earnings and multiples of the Living Wage.

In terms of being 'leant on' to do more the key is the Administrative Earnings Limit. As long as you hit that you'll only be subject to a 'light touch' regime.

How much are you taking home each month?

It's minimum wage equivalent, so if you earn more than £952 per month, you'll be ok.

Edited for accuracy

Thanks for the responses I earn £1517 every 4 weeks so will hopefully be ok x

Yes, they won't be asking you to look for more work.

As above that's ample.

I've heard of people paid on week based intervals rather than calendar months having problems with the threshold. Their pay for 4 weeks is under the threshold whereas same hours paid monthly would be over.

However you'll be fine either way.

@Catlover19 the other thing to watch out for might be the month where effectively you'll get 2 x 4 weekly salaries fall within one calendar monthly assessment period. Not 100% sure, but the system might view this as double income for that month and you'll get no UC that month, but it start up again the one after. The system is clunky like that unfortunately. There may be a way round it somehow, but you definitely need to check this out with your work coach and budget accordingly if likely to happen.

I you're paid 4 weekly then your salary will be in 13 installments rather than 12 so there will certainly, and correctly, be one Assessment Period in which you have two pay days. I've not got the patience to do the number on the effect of that but I think loss of the Work Allowance might be significant.

If you're monthly paid and get two salaries in one AP due to banking day shift or the practice in some professions of paying early at Christmas UC will untangle that for you. Although that was only put in place after claimants went to court and the Judge was was very strongly critical of DWP's 'computer says no' defence.

That doesn't help people paid by the week where pay fluctuates as a direct consequence.

This has been a long time problem, you’d think 🤔 they’d have found a solution by now 🤦‍♀️

I guess the solution is for employers to offer salaried staff a choice of 12 installments or 13.

I doubt very much that any company will want to run two patrons and why should the onus fall on wage departments and not UC to sort out the issue

Hi benefits adviser here. You should be fine on those earnings- also ensure you check for any entitlement to council tax reduction (25% obviously straight away if you are only adult in household)

Good of you to post @Catsknowbest. Do you have any insight for the op @Catlover19 on effectively having 13 rather than 12 pay installments over a year? I too had thought dwp had been taken to task over this to minimise the impact?

Yes Citizens Advice did a big analysis and impact report on this earlier this year- there is lobbying going on for something to be done, and it needs to be. At the moment the issue remains. Individuals affected by this should also contact their MP. It may seem like a waste of time but believe me it all adds up.

Thank you for everyone's replies xx