Better off after SSP ends or no.

Beserkernaut

New here to UC and finding it confusing. At the minute I am on SSP and UC only. I am waiting for word back about the carers allowance/carers element and have filled out the assessment form for caring for my elderly mother, roughly a month ago, for being sick and unable to work.

My wife is working and according to the journal she made £1,129.71 during the last pay period and I made £809.96 in SSP(I don't believe that figure to be correct but that's for another time.

My last monthly UC payment was £298.93 which is minus £48.46 from an advance payment and an old debt of £96.24 from who knows how many years ago? I have 2 kids and live in N.Ireland if that is relevant. So will I be better off after SSP ends or I leave work due to ongoing illness? 

I have used the various calculators but am unsure and worried how much I will get as a previous calculation was initially very different to the UC amount I am currently getting.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @Beserkernaut! Welcome to the Scope Online Community I understand the worry about finances. The benefits system has so many different categories inside itself that it can be confusing about what you are entitled to. That confusion leads to the uncertainty and worry you're feeling right now.

Since your situation is Northern Ireland, and I am not 100% confident yet on information regarding benefits and Northern Ireland, I'm going to take a bit of time to look up what information I can for you. I am also going to move this to our UC category, that way people more knowledgeable about UC will be able to see it more easily.

Can I ask what calculators you've already tried? 

Beserkernaut

I am thankful for any help you can give. As for calculators I have pretty much used them all.

Jimm_Scope

@Beserkernaut Does your UC claim help with housing costs at all? I found this information page about being employed while claiming UC, there are certain "allowances" which change depending on if your UC helps with housing.

Beserkernaut

Hi Jimm. No I am not paying housing, we are living/caring for my elderly mother who claims Pension credit/DLA. 

chiarieds

Hi @Beserkernaut - I just wrote out a lengthy reply, saved it, then managed to delete the bookmark instead of adding a little! Here goes, I'll try again:

Your UC payment seems correct, if we think your total would have been £298.93 + £48.46 + £96.24 if the deductions for your advance payment & debt were 'added' back in:

                                                                               298.93

                                                                                 48.46

                                                                                 96.24

                                                                              ------

                                                           total             443.63

You get the standard allowance for you both           578.82

+ for your eldest child b. before 6/4/17                  315.00

+ for your youngest b. after 6/4/17                        269.58  

                                                                                -------

                                             allowance total          1163.40           

Your wife's earnings were                                      1129.71 

+ your SSP                                                              809.96

                                                                             -------

                                                        total              1939.67       

then your work allowance is deducted                    631.00 

                                                                          --------

                                                       total              1308.67   

for every £1 over your work allowance 55p is then deducted, so 1308.67 x .55 which is 719.77    

this is therefore deducted from your allowances, so 

                                                                            1163.40

minus 1308.67 x .55                                             719.77

                                                                           -------

                                                    total due           443.63

About your SSP, I've read that one of the arguments about continuing with SSP is that it isn't deducted in full, which may explain the odd amount of SSP that has been deducted. Unfortunately, altho I've looked, I can't find a link to verify this. In general, it's always wise to seek expert advice such as can be found here: https://advicelocal.uk/  choosing 'Welfare benefits' from the drop down menu. If you can find a Welfare Rights Office you can contact, that may be preferable.

If you claim Carers Allowance, then this is deducted in full from UC, tho you can claim the carer element instead. However, if in the future you were found to have LCWRA due to your health problems, you couldn't claim both this LCWRA element & the carer element at the same time. If you did get the LCWRA element added, your wife could claim the carer element instead.

Some info on the above here: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-your-earnings-affect-your-payments

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Carers-with-limited-capability-for-work-Universal-Credit

& the better of the benefits calculators (but you need to know what to put in!): https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/survey/1/a523de89-1294-4360-a425-e643aae5febb

                

Beserkernaut

Thanks. That all makes sense. Do I need to claim ESA separately once SSP ends or I leave my work?

chiarieds

You can claim new style ESA whether you're working or not, but not at the same as SSP. You can however start a claim for ESA 3 months (or less) before your SSP ends, & ESA then starts when your SSP ends. You'll need a form SSP1 from your employer.

ESA is deducted in full from your UC so there's no financial gain, but you get class1 National Insurance credits rather than the class 3 with UC.

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility