Help me understand Universal Credit & other changes

Icequeen99

nannytone wrote: »

as i said in a previous post ... it only affects children born after april 2017

The changes for tax credits only affect children born after April 2017, but the legislation for the UC 2 child limit is different and can affect new claimants of UC even if the children are born before April 2017. At least that is my understanding. Anyone making a new UC claim after April 2017 would only get paid for 2 children regardless of when they were born.

It depends what change happens and when to the OP's family member as to how he ends up on UC.

IQ

nannytone_2

OP ... there're are plenty of universal credit calculators ... google it

Tigsteroonie

mortgagewannabe wrote: »

Is there a calculator that could show what income one could expect when universal credit does start??

Yes - use the Entitled To website calculator, but pretend that you live in an area where UC is already introduced so that the calculator provides you with a UC figure.

helptips

Icequeen99 wrote: »

The changes for tax credits only affect children born after April 2017, but the legislation for the UC 2 child limit is different and can affect new claimants of UC even if the children are born before April 2017. At least that is my understanding. Anyone making a new UC claim after April 2017 would only get paid for 2 children regardless of when they were born.

It depends what change happens and when to the OP's family member as to how he ends up on UC.

IQ

You said that this is the way you are understanding it, but how can I be 100% sure that UC possibly affects both children born before and born after 2017???

You said that it depends on when the changes happen, but lets just assume in MAY 2017 he loses his job, then how would this change affect him?

nannytone wrote: »

OP ... there're are plenty of universal credit calculators ... google it

Sorry nannytone but, I didn't ask about any calculators.

Teahfc

Man you are stressing me out reading about it, worry about if it's introduced, at this rate you will worry yourself into a early grave.
Relax ...

mortgagewannabe_2

nannytone wrote: »

OP ... there're are plenty of universal credit calculators ... google it

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Yes - use the Entitled To website calculator, but pretend that you live in an area where UC is already introduced so that the calculator provides you with a UC figure.

Thanks and btw nannytone it was me who asked for the uc calculators and not helptips. Since I'm asking about calculators, do these calculators reflect the 2017 changes...i.e 2 children?

nannytone_2

i knew someone asked

i doubt the calculators reflect the changes as they deal with present benefit amounts

Icequeen99

helptips wrote: »

You said that this is the way you are understanding it, but how can I be 100% sure that UC possibly affects both children born before and born after 2017???

You said that it depends on when the changes happen, but lets just assume in MAY 2017 he loses his job, then how would this change affect him?



Sorry nannytone but, I didn't ask about any calculators.

You can be sure by reading Clause 12 of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill and confirmed on page 21 of this briefing by Child Poverty Action Group who are leaders in this field.

If it happened in May 2017 then yes it would probably apply to him. If he stayed in tax credits until he is moved by DWP to UC then he would get some transitional protection to protect his amounts - but again no published details on it yet.

I think you are looking at a lot of what ifs that no-one can really answer with any certainty

IQ

helptips

Clause 12: Changes to child element of universal credit

128. This clause amends section 10 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 in relation to the calculation of an award of Universal Credit to provide that the child element will only include amounts in respect of a maximum of two children or qualifying young persons for whom a claimant is responsible.

132. The clause also contains provision to make regulations providing for transitional provisions. For example, it is intended that savings will be made so that existing claimants who are already responsible for more than two children or qualifying young persons at the point the clause comes into force will not see a reduction in the child element of their award and they will continue to receive a higher rate of child element for their first child or qualifying young person.However, such claimants will not be entitled to any further amounts for new children or qualifying young persons who enter the household after the implementation date where this would cause the limit of two to be exceeded, and the higher rate will cease to be payable once the first child or qualifying young person leaves the household.[/B]

From reading the above, I feel it's saying that unless you have new children after april 2017, the clause doesn't affect you? However if the first child leaves the household then this rate would cease?

Icequeen99

helptips wrote: »

From reading the above, I feel it's saying that unless you have new children after april 2017, the clause doesn't affect you? However if the first child leaves the household then this rate would cease?

For existing claimants. I was referring to new claimants - which is what your family member would be in the scenario you describe.

iQ