what are universal credits ?

anonx_2

hi i dont mean to sound dumb but what are what are universal credits about ?

im married, hubby out of work - he gets no benefits what so every only his stamp, (they say he hasnt made enough contributions?)

i have 2 grown up kids still living at home and assessed to pay £35 a week each toward the rent (they work)

i work on an, as and when required basis but do have a 15 hour a week contract so i get a minimum of 15 hours work a week (for now) , i get no benefits what so ever, no WTC no CTC, no housing benefit, no council tax benefit, no nothing,

yes i struggle big time, infact iv just borrowed £30 to buy food,

am i entitled to anything? like i say what are universal credits about

Thank you

benefitbaby

For a good overview see
http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/f55.htm

anonx_2

hold on so universal credits take place of all other credits ? in my circumstances i could get -

joint claimants where either is aged 25 or over - £489.06 ???

so is this what we would live on a month and have to pay rent of £400 out of it ?? no council tax help ??

i seriously think this government is lining us up with other poorer EU countrys

ALIBOBSY

UC does NOT replace all other benefits, just a big chunk of them. Council tax benefit will still be available, but most councils have had their funds cut for this so its up to each council if they cut the amount allowed. Many are considering reducing it for ev1 or just for those on low pay and other options. My local council sent us a survey about this last year as to how we thought they should revise the system in this area.

OP surely you can get WTC (working tax credits), housing benefit and council tax benefits NOW not when the UC comes in.

Ali x

LydiaJ

anonx wrote: »

hold on so universal credits take place of all other credits ? in my circumstances i could get -

joint claimants where either is aged 25 or over - £489.06 ???

so is this what we would live on a month and have to pay rent of £400 out of it ?? no council tax help ??

i seriously think this government is lining us up with other poorer EU countrys

Council tax benefit and child benefit aren't included in the list of things that UC will replace, so if you were getting those, you'd still be able to get them on top of UC. However, if you don't qualify for them now, then that's not likely to change unless your circumstances change, I'm afraid.

Have you checked that you're already getting everything you're entitled to?

Edit - X-posted with Alibobsy

System

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

UC does NOT replace all other benefits, just a big chunk of them. Council tax benefit will still be available, but most councils have had their funds cut for this so its up to each council if they cut the amount allowed. Many are considering reducing it for ev1 or just for those on low pay and other options. My local council sent us a survey about this last year as to how we thought they should revise the system in this area.

OP surely you can get WTC (working tax credits), housing benefit and council tax benefits NOW not when the UC comes in.

Ali x

Don't you have to work 16/24 hours as part of a couple to get wtc now?

ALIBOBSY

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Don't you have to work 16/24 hours as part of a couple to get wtc now?

Well the op's post implied that she was on a min 15 hr contract so I assumed most weeks its 16 hrs or more and it only has to average 16 hrs over the year.

TBH thinking about it and reading the OP again as the OP works less than 21 hrs a week why isn't the partner signing on for JSA income based (think this is £140 ish a week for a couple). Unless the OP gets more than that in earnings they would get some payment and even if only £10 a week its a passport benefit to getting full council tax benefit and getting a chunk of housing benefit plus free prescriptions etc etc.

Ali x