Universal credit does this sound right..

[laughingalltheay]

Making a new claim for universal credit since l and separated from husband. I have 2 children. Work full time early around 35,000 a year. It says I am entitled to around £600 a month. That seems too much to me

Depends.
It is higher if you rent and have childcare costs.

No one can answer without more detail.

Do you rent? How much is your rent.

Do you pay for childcare? How much is this.

Are either of your children disabled? What rate DLA do you receive.

No childcare no dla or other benefits. Rent £650 a month

If you didn't rent you probably wouldn't have got any.

You'll get a basic allowance of £424 and some housing costs as you rent, minus a percentage of your wages etc.

Thank you. Wasn’t expecting to get anything but that will be a great help

Yes that sounds right. Will you be able to manage on that?

The figures have to assume no child maintenance will be paid as so many NRPs fail to pay at all or pay sporadically.

My XH was absolutely useless with money so we were slightly better off after he left and I could manage finances without his “surprise purchases” which included a car.

Im not sure I will be able to manage. Husband was the main earner but he will pay maintenance he is good like that it’s going to be a struggle though

35k minus tax plus £600 a month should be around £2900 a month. How much is your rent or mortgage? I mean we live on roughly that with 2 adults, 2 kids inc a toddler, 2 cats and a £1000 mortgage. With some planning it's certainly doable. Not meaning to sound patronising just trying to put things into perspective.

You’ll manage. You just have to cut your cloth accordingly now, and you won’t have the same quality of life as with two incomes. But you will be fine. People manage on much less.

£35k salary plus £600 UC, CB and maintenance with £650 rent and no childcare costs sounds quite comfortable. You just need to set a budget with estimated annual/irregular costs and put money aside for these and also try to stick to affordable amounts for groceries, personal spending, DC activities etc.

MN likes to think everyone who's entitled to UC lives on a pittance and spends their time sitting in the dark eating cold beans but in many circumstances, they can afford a reasonable lifestyle, especially as it means you can access discounted days out, will be entitled to free school meals from the next academic year and will be entitled to set up a help to save account, which pays a 50% bonus on money saved (max £50 pm) after 2 and 4 years.

Of rent is £650 a month and you get £3k how on earth can you not manage that?

I think you will manage fine on your 3k plus maintenance if your rent is £650.

I have seen people on here in your situation get more (£800). It always seems a surprise to how much you can get if you work. The DWP say it pays to work.
Then you get people who have lost their job and find how little you get. It comes as a shock.

I hope the money helps.