Will I lose my universal credit

happyman
happyman Community Member Posts: 105 Empowering
in Universal Credit (UC)

I am not sure where to get advice from. I am on full pip and I receive lcwra, carer, but due to my wife being a state pension we get £230. it is a joint claim and I am a younger person.

My wife wants to get a part time job earning around £500 a month because we are struggling due to all the extra costs we have. I want to know if we will have our universal credit taken off us.

it is not just the money but it is the medication I am on. I have to take a lot of medication each month, and then there is the dentist, and other stuff that I am worried about losing. because I believe we could be worse off if she goes to work in the long run.

can anyone give me some advice or point me in the direction of what we would lose.

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,407 Championing
    edited May 11

    Hi,

    As you have LCWRA on a joint claim, you get a Work Allowance and can earn up to a specific amount each month without any deductions.

    That amount is either £427 if you get Housing Costs paid. Or £710 if you don't get Housing Costs paid.

    Any money earned above that allowance creates a deduction of 55p per £1 from your UC payment.

    So for example, if you have the £427 allowance, and earn £500, that would be only £73 extra. Meaning a deduction of £40 from your UC payment that month. You would still be better off overall.

    The only concern I'd have from your post is what you mean by 'carer'? If your wife gets Carers Element for you, her starting work could cause problems there.

  • happyman
    happyman Community Member Posts: 105 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1124786#Comment_1124786

    yes she gets carers element as she cares for me. we are struggling financially because of my condition.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,407 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1124788#Comment_1124788

    I understand. The problem is that the criteria for Carers Element is spending at least 35 hours a week caring for the other person.

    If she starts working, UC may question how she can do so many hours of work plus 35 hours of care as well.

  • NeuroEve
    NeuroEve Community Member Posts: 167 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1124789#Comment_1124789

    I work 14 hours a week and still look after 2 adult disabled children. I also get carers allowance for 1 of them and most weeks meet myself coming back. It’s hard but doable and £500 is within the allowance for claiming carers allowance.

  • jumiki388
    jumiki388 Community Member Posts: 5 Listener

    It’s a heavy burden to worry that your wife’s desire to help might actually put your health at risk. The fear of losing that medical safety net is a huge stressor when you're already managing a lot physically. You deserve to have a clear answer so she can work without that "cliff edge" anxiety hanging over both of you. See if a local advice center can run the numbers to give you some peace of mind.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,407 Championing
    edited May 12
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1124848#Comment_1124848

    That is admirable, and certainly allowed, I just wanted to make the OP aware that the DWP (and UC in particular) are likely to scrutinise these circumstances more than others.

    Just for reference, Carers Allowance is different to Carers Element. There isn't a maximum earnings allowance for Carers Element.

    In this case it is unlikely that the persons wife is claiming Carers Allowance as that would be effectively deducted from their State Pension meaning no financial gain to claiming both.

  • happyman
    happyman Community Member Posts: 105 Empowering

    We have an extra room built onto our house, but as far as I know we do not get a council tax discount for that. on our council tax form it shows a cts couple band which is 65% support. does that mean if she does work that we are going to lose that support. we are trying to work out if we are going to be better off or not.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,407 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1128784#Comment_1128784

    Unfortunately Council Tax Support rules vary across the country. That's not something we can advise on accurately from a national forum. You would need to check the rules for your council specifically.

  • justsaying2025
    justsaying2025 Community Member Posts: 83 Contributor

    Hi, many peoples receive the carers element and do some work without issue.

    I'm guessing the job is only 10 or less hours per week given the amount you mention. In that case I honesty don't think there should be any issue.

    xx

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