Universal Credit... concerned

dori2o

I understand that part of the UC criteria will be having to attend work based interviews if you work part time hours (I have also read that you will have to attend if you earn low amounts but work full time, but I may have misunderstood)

I work part time hours due to disability. I work more than 30 hours but less than what is considered full time.

The part time arrangement was agreed with my employer to help facilitate a better balance between work and managing my condition.

Are those with disabilities exempt from this condition of the criteria?

What is considered as a disabled person? If I was to lose DLA or be turned down for PIP would I be considered able bodied for the purposes of UC?

Any advice appreciated.

benefitbaby

Hi, this may assist http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/universal-credit-uc

As a worker most people are expected to look for work of 35 hours a week however this can be reduced if you have health problems, caring responsibilities etc.

baffledmom

I too am concerned, I had the same understanding.

I worked 16hrs pw due to shared care residence and have 2 children but 1 child benefit. I dont get, WTC, CTC, CCTC for that child and childcare is out of my pocket and holidays is a nightmare as I cant afford it, im in debt £190pw. So I have left a child playing out in the area for upto 8hrs or homealone. (which turns my stomach everytime and im constant texting to see all ok, which boss has told me off for, but nobody understands).
I live in a small town countryside and once upon a time worked for in a big city, big company, but CAFCASS stated that children had a right to a relationship with their father regardless that I had a career?? career it was a job. I could live where I wanted to but not the children. So I had to stay put and loose 18k a year differance, which does not bother me because my children come first, their happiness and I couldnt do that, their my babies. Ok I cant whisk them away on lavish holidays like their dad does, everything is a struggle. So i took part time, which is on brink as everyone has to shuffle their shifts for me, I was let go due to cut backs.
I am looking elsewhere but very slim on the ground.

I get JSA IB but I am nowhere getting what ive read and heard on the news. I still have to pay towards my rent and council tax the same amount but I am no longer paying childcare at present but I am £27pw worse off. I dont get any csa due to shared care.
And I have a teen daughter and a 7yo son, who share a room, due to only getting 1 child benefit in eyes of housing allowance 7yo does not exist. Majority of the time 7yo son sleeps in my room.

How will universal credit effect me? nobody knows when I ask.
seen few jobs for 12hrs and 8hrs it seems alot of part time now is u16hrs pw.
or should I go full time. It's stressing me know end and very panic'd by it all.
I have even thought about leaving my children, so I can go back and earn a living, but then I wont see my kids???

benefitbaby

I understand there is a lot of concern and confusion and my best advice is... read everything you can (another useful link below), keep reminding yourself that this does not roll out until October and then for limited claims.
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/universalcredit

Baffledmom, why are you not claiming CTC for the child who you get CB for? You should be entitled to claim this based on your JSA income and you are responsible for this child. Is the dad claiming?

baffledmom

[QUOTE=

Baffledmom, why are you not claiming CTC for the child who you get CB for? You should be entitled to claim this based on your JSA income and you are responsible for this child. Is the dad claiming?[/QUOTE]

I do get the CTC for the 1 child benefit I get, not the other. Dad earns £30k+ per year he privately took me to court £45k it cost him and he then applied for child benefit. Child benefit when I contested due to earnings at the time, they replied that it was not means tested. (is it not)
I have to put £55pw towards my rent from the CTC and now pay 40% council tax.

benefitbaby

If the dad is not claiming CTC for the other one you could... you do not have to receive CB to get CTC.

baffledmom

father is claiming it, I have already legaly challenged this due to the differance in earnings, but there is no law.

Like I originally said, I get 1 child benefit and 1 ctc. Unless my children tell me differently and they no longer wish to live within a 50/50. I can not change it, which their father just buys them what they want.

It has been very hard for me, I tried to amicably with their dad, to do this in a mature way for the kids. But as we was not married, legally I can not be told where to live, so I could leave with the kids, so he took me to court, he paid £40+k for that privalege and also took the child benefit.
Cafcass and judge not once asked what the financial set up would be.
Like I said, I was told Career or Children!!

benefitbaby

baffledmom wrote: »

father is claiming it, I have already legaly challenged this due to the differance in earnings, but there is no law.

Like I originally said, I get 1 child benefit.

Actually there is law but I suspect this was not of much use to you as CTC can only be awarded to the parent who is 'responsible' for the child, this is why there are so many problems in shared care arrangements.

baffledmom

Believe me I have argued under the sun and aware of the law, but the govn ignored that parlimentary bill regarding parents who earns a low income with a shared care order, it looks like latchkey children is back.
And from what I was told before, even if I was awarded CTC on responsibility my ex is still entitled to claim the wtc & cctc eliment.
Gingerbread have been campaigning for a long time. But nobody can tell me where I stand with this universal credit?

benefitbaby

The law for CTC is quite clear the parent who is responsible for the child gets CTC, if both parents claim then CTC determine who is responsible by looking at a number of factors individual to each case. There is no law regarding splitting payments or both getting half CTC each this is not possible under the current legislation.

In your case each parent claims for 1 child each and neither pay child maintenance, this seems quite fair to me.

baffledmom

fair? when one parent earns £30k+ a year and the other £8k??
It isnt from where I stand it is not, it has a huge emotional impact on the children.