Universal credit child element only- info needed please

Tainted_love

Hi,

I wondered if anyone can make any sense of the upcoming universal credit system with regards to the child element only. I have a 6 year old and a 7 mth old and married. I am currently on maternity leave due to return in July this year.

However we have a problem in that my mum who usually provides childcare is unable to now do so due to illness and as I work shifts including early starts, lates, nights etc getting childcare to cover these is proving impossible. My husband works full time. I don't want to leave my job as i trained hard to achieve my job role but feel circumstances may force me to do so. I phoned the tax credit helpline and they said we were entitled to £77 per week child tax credits based on my husbands salary of £23352.

However on reading up on the complicated guidelines of universal credit, I have no idea how much we would be entitled to per month. I am very worried as assume it will be less and our claim might not be processed before the deadline meaning we won't get transitional protection however that also sounds v vague. Can anyone help please?

Also would I be exempt from conditionality ie not be forced to look for work as my husband earns just above the minimum wage at 70hours ( 35hrs x 2 adults) ?

Thanks for any helpful replies

Morlock

Tainted_love wrote: »

Also would I be exempt from conditionality ie not be forced to look for work as my husband earns just above the minimum wage at 70hours ( 35hrs x 2 adults)?

No, it doesn't work like that, your husband cannot fulfill your conditionality requirements. In a couple with children, one adult must be designated as the carer, and will have less severe conditionality requirements imposed on them than the designated non-carer.

HappyMJ

Morlock wrote: »

No, it doesn't work like that, your husband cannot take on your conditionality requirements. In a couple with children, one adult must be designated as the carer, and will have less severe conditionality requirements imposed on them than the designated non-carer.

I read that differently myself. I read the proposals that if one partner earns enough to cover 2 people working full time then that would exempt the other partner from seeking any work.

Tainted_love

I read it that the household has to earn over the threshold which is based on 35 hours on the minimum wage for each adult, if the threshold is met or exceeded the conditionality is not required. In terms of nominating a lead carer in the case of children I believe it is 16hours at minimum wage. In which case my particular household meets the threshold therefore I would be exemp from conditionality?

Morlock

HappyMJ wrote: »

I read that differently myself. I read the proposals that if one partner earns enough to cover 2 people working full time then that would exempt the other partner from seeking any work.

I think you could be right and I was wrong:

"e) Couples with combined earnings above their conditionality threshold would both be out of scope of conditionality, regardless of the composition of their earnings."

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/ucpbn-11-conditionality-threshold.pdf

Tainted_love

I was just reading that link too, it appears that I wouldn't be expected to look for work in that case. Although I actually would be anyway just don't like the idea of being made to apply for any old job when I am trained to do a specific role. Anyway does anyone have any idea how to calculate the child element aspect based on the salary given? It's a minefield!

Morlock

There is a calculator, although I'm not sure how accurate it is or whether it will give the answer you want.

http://policyinpractice.co.uk/universal-credit/universal-credit-calculator/

MissMoneypenny

I think UC is being claimed every month. If your husband can make your share too every month, then it seems you will be OK with the present rules. If not, then you have to fulfil the new conditions of UC.

Watch for any new rules and proposals. So far I have read that a limit on children may be brought in and that the benefit payment might be paid on a welfare card (instead of cash) and that the card will get topped up with the welfare payments. I think that welfare's Smart Card is already being used by some claimants.

As you work lates and nights; can't your husband take over the childcare when he comes in?

Tainted_love

Thanks for the calculator link, according to it we would get £187 child support per month and a base award of £183 per month. I did put £0 in housing costs as we have a mortgage and pretty sure we would not be entitled to the housing benefit or equivalent part of universal credit so not sure if this affects the calculation or not. The figures I have given are better than anticipated but worried about reliability.
In terms of childcare it is a problem as my husband doesn't get in until 7 pm and I can't find a childminder or nursery who work/open after 6 pm. If i do an early shift i have to leave at 615 and my husband at 715 and again i cant find a childminder who wirks before 8am. Also my working days have no pattern to them at all so in terms of childcare we would end up paying for it full time even though its only needed part time.