Universal credit and maternity pay

[elephantnel]

Hi looking to talk to someone who has been on universal credit whilst also working then received maternity pay.

Would anyone be able to answer a couple questions for me please?

No one?

I’m not in that situation bit didn’t want to read and run, maybe try posting your questions first, then people can answer if they know or have experience. Xx

What are the questions?

What questions do you have?

Hi I'm current on maternity leave and receiving universal credit. How can I help?

@firsttimemum2408 I’m not the OP but I saw this thread and I was wondering a few things myself. My mat leave started last week and I only get SMP. I probably won’t qualify for UC til after the first 6 weeks at 90%. Do I need to wait til that point to apply for UC or can you apply in advance, knowing that your circumstances/income will be changing? Or will they just dismiss my claim because at this very moment in time, I earn too much to qualify. I’m nervous about applying once I’m actually earning basic SMP and then for how long it takes my application to be approved and payments to begin.

@swiftt I'm wondering the same. Not on maternity pay yet but want to be prepared for when I am x

I’m not on universal credit but was planning on claiming it after the 90% SMP. One of my friends told me it takes 6 weeks before first payment so she advised me to try and set it up before the 90% was going to end

Oh, I forgot I started the application a few weeks ago and it asks for the name of DOB of baby, so I figured I wouldn’t be able to apply until they’re born.

I would advise applying the day after your last bigger pay day. So if you get 6 weeks 90%, apply the day after that pay day. Your assessment period runs from you day you apply for 1 month. Then it takes 7 days for the payment to go through.

Example
30th may paid smp higher rate.

31st may apply for UC.

30th June assessment period ends, counting in it your first payday of lower rate smp.

7th July receive payment.

Hope this helps

Dwp here . Claim the moment you can after babies arrival. UC automatically adjusts based on a live feed from HMRC payroll . So if you don't qualify you won't get anything but will as soon as you do.

Don't forget it's based on household income so partners wages need to be declared. It's quite generous though especially if you pay rent.

I am already claiming universal credit due to being on a 0 hour contract and more often than not receiving under 16 hours work a week. My work don't give out maternity pay therefor I will be getting the minimum amount off the government, I'm just wondering if my universal credit amount will be affected due to this?
Do I need to tell universal credit that I'm on maternity leave? (When I begin as still a few weeks yet)

Yea you do need to tell them and yes your UC will be affected.

Your mat pay will be £151 a week of 90% of your usual pay, whichever is lower. UC will calculate this as your earned income to give your UC amount.

It works as follows
For this example, we will say your partner gets £1000 a month. (Apologies if you don't have a partner on your claim)

Couples working amount £594
Child element £235
Housing (if claimed) eg £400

Add together is £1231

Your pay £600
Your partner's pay £1000

Add together is £1600
-292 work allowance
And times the remaining by 0.63 (as UC takes 63p of every pound)

Take this final number away from the UC allowance worked out above and you get your UC amount

[quote swiftt]@firsttimemum2408 I’m not the OP but I saw this thread and I was wondering a few things myself. My mat leave started last week and I only get SMP. I probably won’t qualify for UC til after the first 6 weeks at 90%. Do I need to wait til that point to apply for UC or can you apply in advance, knowing that your circumstances/income will be changing? Or will they just dismiss my claim because at this very moment in time, I earn too much to qualify. I’m nervous about applying once I’m actually earning basic SMP and then for how long it takes my application to be approved and payments to begin.[/quote]
My advice is let UC know after you SMP drops. I made the mistake of doing it before and my earnings were too 'high' I also receive SMP too. What they do is pay you according to however much you receive for every £1 you get from your SMP they'll take off 63p from your UC entitlement. I'm now in the last 12 weeks of my maternity leave so basically get £0 from work so I'm getting full UC until I return to work.