Universal Credit help!

jigs

Hi

I have some questions on UC claims as a couple. 

My partner is on LCW and has been for many years. I currently work a 41 hour week on a reasonable wage (that wouldn’t entitle him to any claim from UC I believe). If we were to live together - would I still be expected to work full time (I wanted to drop hours in preparation for having a child and whilst it’s available at my workplace)? 

Once a child was born I would obviously be entitled to maternity. What would happen after that? Can I be named main carer for our child if he is at home due to LCW? Or would I be expected to go straight back into full time work and name him as main carer? I’d like to go back to work on reduced hours after maternity but wandered if this was possible.

any reply greatly appreciated! 

Thanks! 

poppy123456

Is your partner claiming either PIP daily living, DLA mid/high rate care or ADP daily living?

If so then you can claim carers element of UC for looking after them, this would mean you will have no work requirements at all. assuming no one else claims that or carers allowance for looking after them. So reducing your hours will not affect anything. 

If they are not and you reduce your hours and you don’t currently have any dependent children then you could be sanctioned if you reduce your earnings/hours without good reason. 

If you have children in the future then as a main carer you will not have any work requirements while your child is under 3. However once the child reaches 1 then your work coach may require you to attend appointments at your local job centre. To answer your question about reduced hours then yes you can do that as a main carer for a young child. 

jigs

Hi

Thanks for reply. He doesn’t need caring for - is just unable to work at the moment. 

Is this still the same if I’m already on those reduced hours before we apply for universal credit? They’d be expecting me to look for more full time? 

If I was say for example working 30 hours a week term time only - would this qualify as needing the additional support or would I still be expected to find something more full time? It’s confusing to as what full time is. 

poppy123456

I didn't ask if he needed caring, (caring can be a wide range of things, not just actually physically caring for someone) i asked if he claimed one of the disability benefits mentioned above.

As he has no work requirements your AET (Administrative Earnings Threshold) would be for a single person, which would be £677/month but this is expected to rise to £812/month from April 2024. This is expected to change again but not sure exactly when. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-relating-to-in-work-progression-equality-analysis/equality-analysis-raising-the-administrative-earnings-threshold-spring-budget-2023-announcement

If you have no earnings outside of term time then you would be expected to look for work.

jigs

I know what you meant - sorry, I just meant in regards to carers allowance. 

Even on term time only i would be working above that threshold (I’m on a fairly good wage - higher than the living wage) so would they still expect me to be looking for additional work? 

Thanks so much for replying and helping me try to wrap my head round things! 

Albus_Scope

Heya @jigs I can see you're already getting some help, but I just wanted to pop in and give you a warm welcome to the community.  

poppy123456

Providing your earnings are above the AET each month then you won't be asked to look for more work. However, reducing your hours without good reason and then claiming UC could still see a sanction.

jigs

Even if I earn over the threshold? Sorry. Just making sure I’ve got this correct. 

poppy123456

As it stands with the rules at the moment If you’re in the light touch regime you can’t be sanctioned for reducing your hours. Apologies, for giving incorrect information in my earlier comment. Please see link https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/sanctions/check-sanction/