Small work amount on LCWRA

ThirtySixteen

Hi guys, I’m trying to get a definitive answer for this but it’s proving really hard.

Basically, my wife get LCWRA and I’m her full time carer. She is very poorly most days but on some days she’s a little brighter and happier.
On these days I’d like to start her doing her own little thing to keep her brain ticking over.

She used to sell vintage dolls clothes as a little side hustle. Nothing much, maybe making up to £100-150 a month. I’d buy them for her on eBay and she’d smarten them up and resell them.
But it wasn’t about the money, she loved it and it kept her mind working.

I’ve asked UC via my journal if this is possible and if we would be able to earn this money whilst on LCWRA (with housing element) but both times I’ve asked them they’ve been really unhelpful and just replied that as I don’t have a work coach there’s no one to ask and can’t help me. Which is ridiculous really.

Anyone have ANY idea if what I’m asking is possible?

Thank you.

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

This is actually really simple, even the UC staff should have been able to answer it!

As you have a joint UC claim with LCWRA then you get a Work Allowance. As you also have Housing Element this allowance is £411 per month.

As long as the earnings are less than that, then UC payments stay the same.

For any earnings above that, there would be a reduction of 55%. (So if she earnt £450 one month, that's £39 over the allowance. 55% of £39 is £21.45. So there would be a deduction of £21.45 from your total UC amount, still well worth working in an addition to UC.)

She should tell UC that she has started working. And she will have to declare her earnings on the final day of each assessment period, even if she doesn't anything in that month. If you aren't sure of your AP dates, they are shown on the journal and the statement.