Child Tax Credits switch to Universal Credit

fiftyp

I'm a widowed parent of two young children.
I gave up work to look after my wife, just before she died of breast cancer.
Due to life assurance, I have savings over £16000.

I now have the opportunity to do some contract work for my ex employer - something I've never done before.

Am I right to assume that starting work will count as a "change of circumstances" - in which case, presumably I will be switched to Universal Credit, and get nothing due to it being means tested?

I worry that if the work ends, or I can't cope, due to trying to balance childcare and a stressful job, whilst still grieving, I won't be able to go back to my present situation, where I can just about get by financially.

In other words, I'm wary of trying it out, as I believe I'll forever lose my child tax credits. If I don't take the work, I'll be ok until it's rolled out for everyone, in another year or two. By which time, my children will be older, and everyone will be better able to cope with me not being around as much.

PS My wife and I worked, mostly full-time, for about 26 years before my life was devastated. So please don't tell me I'm a scrounger. I do want to go back to work, but I'm trying to balance many different factors.

nannytone_2

i wasn't aware that UC was replacing child tax credits in any area yet.
are you sure this is right or are you just assuming?

Icequeen99

nannytone wrote: »

i wasn't aware that UC was replacing child tax credits in any area yet.
are you sure this is right or are you just assuming?

It is if you partner up with someone on UC or if you are a new claimant in some areas.

OP - most likely this would be just a change of circumstances for tax credits.

IQ

pmlindyloo

https://www.gov.uk/jobcentres-where-you-can-claim-universal-credit

These are the latest areas which are accepting claimants with children.

I can find no information about whether this is for new claimants only or with a change of circumstances as regards tax credits.

If you are in one of these areas then I suggest you telephone them and ask.

fiftyp

Thanks for your replies.
From trying to google it, it's not clear to me when CTC claimants will get switched to UC.
But I assume people with a change of circumstances will be switched first.

NYM

This site says that it will most likely be sometime in 2016 cafamily.org

'The government says that by the end of 2017 it will accept no new claims for the benefits Universal Credit is replacing. It also says that it will start the process of moving existing claimants onto Universal Credit at some point during 2016'

sammyjammy

There is no requirement for you to be moved to UC wherever you live, as already stated the only time you would be moved to UC is if you were required to claim JSA in one of the areas already rolling out UC or if you partnered up with someone already claiming it.

I think you are mixing yourself up with someone not getting transitional protection once claiming UC if they have a change of circumstances.

Sam