UC in a couple 1 working 1 not

biddogg1984
biddogg1984 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
in Universal Credit (UC)
Sorry if this has been posted before but I cannot find anything anywhere . 

I have been in a relationship with someone for a few months , she has been on UC for a few years as she has a clingy son so needs to spend time with him and I have always worked .

As I have moved into her home we have declared as "living as a couple " on UC  

So here is what happens before she used to get 1100 GBP a month in benefits and I earn 1800 GBP a month , so now she gets 300 GBP  a month in Benefits meaning I have to pay her 800 GBP a month from my salary. which is a big hit as I have car finance, and 4 other bills + food for 3 of us for a month coming out every month . 

My question is how does everyone else go about this just take the hit ?  would we get more if I took the rental payments off UC and I paid them direct from my wages ? 
It makes it really hard to save for anything 

Any advice anyone has would really help 

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    When you live together as a couple, you claim as a couple because UC is means tested. This means it takes into consideration both of your circumstances.
    You will have a maximum UC entitlement which would include standard couples element, child element and housing element. You will also have the work allowance of £337 per month because there's a child on the claim, it means you can earn this amount each month before the 55% deductions apply.
    I don't know what you mean by "if you took the rental payments off the UC" if you're renting your home, you claim for help with the rent. If you removed the rent then your maximum UC entitlement will reduce.
    The good thing is when living as a couple you don't have twice the amount of bills to pay. Saving isn't easy when you have a family.
  • biddogg1984
    biddogg1984 Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Yeah it's just strange as I earn 1700 a month but 55p for every pound of this is taken off 935 so its a big hit to take every month . Surely there is a better way? How will I ever save 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,000 Championing
    biddogg1984 said:.. I earn 1700 a month but 55p for every pound of this is taken off 935 ..

    If the son is a child who is included on the claim you should have a Work Allowance which means that the first £335 of your earnings is ignored and the 55% taper rate only applies to your earnings in excess of £335/month

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