Universal Credit. Mmmm...

[meglet]

Just completed an interesting excersise. I’ve been a stay at home mum for 18 months since giving up work to look my family who are now a school age daughter and three year old twin boys. I’m starting work full time again in 2 weeks and come January my boys will be entitled to 24 hrs a week free childcare (30 hours p/w stretched over the year). Out of interest, I’ve just looked to see if I will be entitled to any help with childcare costs as, due to wraparound costs, I’ll still have to fork out £288 per week. One of my sons has special needs and should be getting disability living allowance any day now.

Under the existing working tax credits system I would be entitled to £83 per week, which is not to be sniffed at. However under Universal Credit my entitlement is a big fat £0.

No wonder there’s so many complaints about it.

[meglet]

Apologies this probably shouldn’t be in News

[SparklyKid]

My only complaint is that I am denied claiming anything.

[meglet]

Why’s that SparklyKid?

[SparklyKid]

I made the mistake of setting out to support myself and my family.

[wolf63]

Sparky- you can claim any benefit that you want. They will check that you meet the basic conditions of entitlement and tell you to pee off then.

Meglet - I can't get my head around universal credit. It seems too complicated and confusing.

[Mamyalynne]

That's a big discrepancy Meglet.

I never viewed not being able to claim help as a disappointment but a good thing, then when disability landed help was available.

[meglet]

I was of the understanding it was to simplify the system but clearly they’ve also moved the goalposts. I’ve never claimed anything and it blummin’ typical that the first time I do I’m no longer entitled!

[Mamyalynne]

The Childcare element does look complex.


Good luck for the new job.

[bednobs]

so you don't get child benefit?

[wolf63]

Meglet, if your son is to be awarded DLA should that not change the calculation?

As mamy says the difference in amounts is pretty severe. Are you really, really sure that you put the right info into the computer?

[meglet]

Bednobs, yes I do. But I would be entitled to that if I worked or not (unless I earned over £60k which I always did and this is the first year I’ve been able to keep it). The £83 amount is working tax credits as I won’t be earning that salary anymore sadly.

[meglet]

Wolf, I’ve entered the info on the basis that his DLA claim will succeed as it’s not an actual application, just a website to see what you could be entitled to.

The reason I know it’s correct is because you enter all the info and it gives you both figures for the old system and new UC at the same time.

[wolf63]

Meglet - ouch

I worked with DWP in the Supplementary Benefit and Income support years.

I thought that they could be confusing but universal credit seems to be much more confusing. 'It is supposed' to encourage people to work for a living.

I hope that you manage to get your finances sorted

[AuntLydia]

Are you sure you haven't gained the money somewhere else? ie DLA for your child?
Wow! over a 1000 quid a month for childcare.....and thats apart from the 90 hours free a month....blimey it would be cheaper to get a nanny!

[Rockrose]

My in'laws hired an aupair as it was cheaper for childcare than going to childcarers.

[meglet]

Def not AL. As I said the information is given once and then you are given two figures for both the current system and UC.

It’s actually worse than that. My husband is a reservist and I wasn’t sure what he earned and I was a bit out. I’ve put in the correct figure and I’d be entitled to £130 p/w under the current system and £0 under UC!

A nanny wouldn’t work 8.30-5.30 five days a week with no breaks for £1000 a month I fear....

[naomi24]

Au pairs live in. Other employees have to earn enough to pay their rent and feed themselves.

[SparklyKid]

Avatar Image Rockrose


My in'laws hired an aupair as it was cheaper for childcare than going to childcarers.

15:52 Tue 06th Nov 2018


Does that actually make sense.

[pastafreak]

^^^...yes, it does.

[meglet]

I’d love an au pair but we don’t have a spare bedroom unfortunately.

Childcare costs are ridiculous. I had three kids in 4 days a week at one point, the eldest getting 15 hours free, and I was paying out £2500 a month. Obviously that’s after tax. I signed a petition for twin parents to get access to the government funded childcare at two instead of three but their response was “we’re doing enough already”.