Benefits.. UC is confusing me!

[thepurgebegins]

I am very new to all this UC stuff and don't have a clue. I'm on maternity still ( 1st child currently 8 months) and going back in December to work. I have a husband and i have a mortgage on my name. My partner is self employed and earns around 10 12 grand on the books, rest is bits of work here and there but off books. My annual salary is roughly between 25,500 and 25,900 which is working 2 day shifts 2 night shifts (4 on 4 off). Not sure of my hourly wage
I am looking to go back part time 2 days a week midweek doing morning shift.. A lot of people have said go back part time do the 16 hours or possibly 12 and then claim UC so you can spend time at home with baby. Child care is an issue being one of the reasons plus would love to be with my baby as much as I can. I don't think I would actually get much UC with the wage I would be earning doing 16 hours a week Or am I wrong? There's a strong chance I'm getting a 7% pay in September coming which would take me over 27,000 so even doing the bare minimum hours I feel like I would not be able to claim UC. I'm not saying I want alot of UC even getting a few pennies will still allow me to get benefits such as free nursery time etc. Im not trying to suck money out of the government i just want to work less and still get money im entitled to as I have a house to run. Somebody help please it's driving me crazy or correct me! Thank you so much

UC is worked out on any elements you are eligible for. So in your situation you would get a couples element and 2 child elements and childcare element when you start to pay childcare. Then they look at wages earned by both of you and that reduces your toatl Uc , although as you have kids you get what is called a work allowance which means a proportion of your earnings is disregarded before earnings reduce your Uc amount.
Self employment on Uc can be tricky. Your partner would need to undergo an assessment to check he is gainfully self employed and needs to declare earnings ( all of them ) and expenses monthly so they could calculate your UC.
No idea what people are on about 16 hours, you have no work commitments really until your youngest child is aged 3.
I doubt you would get much Uc really and I doubt they would believe your dh's earnings are only 10- 12k - is that full time ??
Perhaps try one of the online calculators to see if you would qualify, you may do with childcare costs included. UC is pretty generous for working parents although you won't get a rent element because you have a mortgage, you would get the higher work allowance meaning £631 of your joint earnings is disregarded.

Sorry just seen you only have one child, so very unlikely you would get any UC unless significant childcare costs.

Sorry ignore this. You would get a bit of UC, it's not possible to calculate without really knowing net earnings figures for you both and how much you would be paying in childcare.

You can't afford for your partner to earn so little, he earns less than nursery fees! So he needs to cut back on work, not you, and do the childcare to allow you to prioritise your career as the breadwinner.

It really isn't the state's job to subsidise your partner, unless there are health or well being reasons for him not having a job, in which case I withdraw my comment

Totally agree with this but it doesn't matter to UC. If op declares herself as the main carer for the baby she would not be asked to work full time and her partner to work more. I think they would query the low wage though and he may have work coach appointments. Being self employed on UC is a bit of a faff, I think they make it that way as so many self employed on the old tax credits system took the absolute pee !

How much does he earn that he doesn’t declare ? 🙄

You possibly will be entitled but it will be very little. Probably not enough to be able to be able to spend most of the time with your child and be comfortable. We have two children. I work two days a week minimum wage and my DH earns about 25k a year plus we have a mortgage. We get roughly £300 a month but that is with two children. I reckon it won't be enough to replace the days of work you will be giving up.

Oooh wants to claim benefits yet her partner is possibly doing a bit of sneaky cash in hand... Might be best OP if you don't claim UC. They will quickly find out what your partner is doing! (Hopefully).

@ginandtonicwithlimes if you have nothing helpful to say kindly fuck off thankyou 🙂 it's nothing sneaky at all it's a very minor selling thing he does on the side which is about an extra grand. Wow so much money. And he isn't a uk citizen so can't get UC only I can.

It still needs to be a joint claim and his earnings will still be counted even though you would get the single standard element.

@BorgQueen about a grand or 2. Calm down

Yet my DH does an extra job on the side which is only £165 a month and has to pay tax on it so why shouldn't yours? UC won't see it as only a grand though which btw is quite a lot! I would be careful if I was him. They do find out.

His tax free allowance is 12750 so actually a couple of grand extra means he should be paying some tax on these earnings

is this a joke post? - you want to claim benefits so your partner cqn do his hobby business and work on the side over his tax free allowance and you want to reduce your much better salary and work less as you have a house to run???? And the state picks up the tab for this arrangement?

Calm down?
My DH is self employed and pays tax on all his taxable income, even though he gets plenty of cash payments I put them all through the books. You know, like a proper business should.

Your dh won't get away with doing so little work on uc...he would be subject to the minimum income floor so treated as earning a full time wage and your uc deducted accordingly.

Unfortunately most families can't afford for both parents to work part time.

So does mine

Also on a joint claim he will be expected to work as well, 28 hours minimum between you

Sorry... your partner is committing fraud and only earning £12k a year and you think that's ok?

I earned more than that as a first year apprentice and he's committing a crime and stealing from taxpayers.

My fiancé pays 40% of his earnings in tax to support this country and those who are less fortunate. Your husband could work a full time minimum wage job and earn more than his pocket money business.

He has a child to support. How are you looking for more money from the state and not from your husband??

Tax dodging and benefit fraud... wow.

Incredible.

And we are meant to be kind. 🤣