Universal credit for solo parent?

[Sam97x]

I currently have a 6 month old baby who I share with my partner. We live in our own home with a mortgage, however my partner only comes home once a month as he works down south in the Navy (we live in the north west). Because of this I am the sole carer of our baby pretty much 24/7. could i be entitled to UC once my maternity allowance stops after October? Does anyone else solo parent because their partner is in the armed forces and is entitled to anything?
Thank you

No, because you have a partner who lives with you when not working and is responsible for financially providing for your child.

You can apply and find out. Do you mean you can’t work because he works away and that’s why you need UC? You’re not a lone parent because you’re with the father of your child, he presumably pays towards the home you share.

Does he share his earnings or is he being financially abusive?

You are not a solo/ single parent.

Your partner works away, but he's coming home to your property and should be paying towards it .

You are not a solo parent. If one parent not being at home much was a reason to get money then everybody with a deadbeat partner who is always out through to people who work night shift so asleep while the child is awake would be getting extra money.
Do you live near family and friends who can help you? Moving house could be beneficial for you a baby?

As others have said- no. You’re not a lone parent for UC purposes, he works away but does live with you and presumably contributes.

No, you are both jointly responsible for the family home and your baby. You can't claim UC as a single parent.

Sorry. Maybe I meant primary carer because I am the only one that’s here to look after her, sometimes months at a time. I will speak to them and find out

So is he not contributing anything during that time?

yoy can claim as joint couple. I would assume partner is named on bills and council tax as his place of residency. And he supports his family financially. You can not claim as a single person because partner works away.

But you still have a partner who has a job. Does he provide financially for his child?

he pays the mortgage and house bills. I pay for the baby, my own little bills and the shopping. I will of course look for work if I’m not entitled to anything and arrange for her to go in a nursery. 8 months just seems so young to be separated. But I suppose that is the way it has to be and I’m not the only one.

The fact that your partner works away and you are the primary carer is a lifestyle choice you both made as a family, UC is based on household income. Your address is your partners sole and main residence so his income will be counted in any claim.

W ell I assume you're not entitled to anything because you share the costs of the house and all bills etc, because you benefit from his salary. A single parent has to exist on one source of income which is why they would normally be entitled to UC. Of course it's all (whether you're single or in a couple) subject to income limits and a requirement to look for work. I don't think there's any exceptions for armed forces wives who are lone parenting but still able to access their spouse's income

I would advise either going back to work full time or getting married if you want to continue to be a SAHM as there are no legal protections for you should you seperate.

Of course you’re not entitled to UC then.

Your household income is what is considered for UC, which includes him, so unless he is on a low wage you’re entitled to £0.

Hi OP, finicially there are 2 of you and your finances seemed joint. There's an online calculator you can Google for UC estimate.

Do you have any family/friends near by to help? It must be tough. I would be having a frank conversation about your partners job and if you both want more DC in the future? How will it work out?

Thank you this is the friendliest response so far. I feel a little bit attacked, it was just a question out of curiosity. I will of course speak to universal credit myself I was just wondering if anyone was in a similar position.

To be totally honest I would like to be working again for my mental health. I feel like people are assuming I just want to be lazy. But I am the only one here for our baby all the time so I would rather be home with her if I can, but of course everyone wants to be

Nobody thinks you're being lazy, it's more the suggestion that you should get state support because your husband works away in a decent career and you don't want to put her in childcare. I understand why you asked the question but I am sure you can see the reason people get prickly.

"I pay for the baby, my own little bills and the shopping."
So, he won't split the finances 50/50?

Well you have a partner who lives with you. They just happen to work away. It's different to being a sole parent. Your partner needs to pay equally towards your child and do whatever childcare he can. If it's not much then use his wages to contribute to childcare if you work or need help.

It's not for the UC to step in because your partner doesn't seem to be pulling his weight.

I thought that was 50/50 if he is paying the mortgage and all the other bills that come with owning a house. And then I cover myself and the baby

Do you have enough to cover your living costs and the baby costs?

He pays the mortgage and the house bills, which could well be over 50% of the costs.

But OP should have discussed with him how everything would be paid for while she’s on maternity leave / what the arrangements would be for her going back to work. I’d expect the father to be covering more of the costs while on leave, unless there were specific savings for that or OP has very generous maternity pay.