Universal credit instead of tax credits

Emma300

Hi
Can anyone give me some advice please?
Me and partner have just moved in together. We have never lived together before and we don’t claim any help in benefits at the moment. My partner works full time self employed and I am on maternity leave having recently had a baby. As my partner is on a low income, I wanted to try to claim tax credits as he has no money left once the rent and bills have been paid for and my maternity money is going to be stopping soon.
However, as universal credit is now in our area we have been told to claim that instead as tax credits are no longer available to us. I have therefore started making an online claim for universal credit and have to make a joint claim.
However on completing the claim it states that my partner must attend the job centre with me for an interview and that he must agree to be looking for work
He’s not going to be able to attend the job centre with me as he works full time, does anyone know if we can still claim if he does not attend the job centre? Very soon I am going to have no money to live on apart from the £80 child benefit a month as my partner can’t afford to give me any money get so I am worrying a bit. Any advice at all about this would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Ames

If he's earning less than he would in a full time minimum wage job then yes he has to attend the job centre and look for work to take him up to that level of income.

I'm not sure how you working would affect the calculations, if you look at entitled to.com (there shouldn't be a gap there, I can't make autocorrect take it out) and put different scenarios in it'll show you.

Emma300

Ok thank you

He is earning above minimum wage but as he’s self employed most of his wage goes on fuel to get to work and things he needs for his job tools etc. And once the bills and rent is paid he has nothing left. I have no job to go back to but I would work if I could get help with childcare costs but all that now comes under universal credit as well which we may not be able to get if he can’t come to the job centre with me and they think he is earning enough to support us.

Thanks for your help.

Ames

If business costs are coming out of his wage then he's earning less than minimum wage. For it to be a viable business it needs to cover costs and his wage.

Can't he take any time off to go to the job centre? If he's self-employed then surely he can arrange his time to free up a couple of hours?

Emma300

It’s a bit complicated because he works as a self employed sub contracter for his boss so his boss sorts the work out for him basically and he’s not in a position to turn it down. It’s quite hard to explain because he works for someone but as self employed so he’s not his own boss.

Mersey_2

Emma300 wrote: »

Ok thank you

He is earning above minimum wage but as he’s self employed most of his wage goes on fuel to get to work and things he needs for his job tools etc. And once the bills and rent is paid he has nothing left.

Thanks for your help.

As he's self-employed, the advice from the JobCentre Plus office was incorrect. He is not eligible to claim UC as he does not satisfy the gateway requirements.


He should therefore claim Working Tax Credits.

pmlindyloo

Mersey wrote: »

As he's self-employed, the advice from the JobCentre Plus office was incorrect. He is not eligible to claim UC as he does not satisfy the gateway requirements.


He should therefore claim Working Tax Credits.

Depends on whether this is a live or full service area.

If it is a full service area then it would be a claim for UC.

https://www.welfare-benefits-unit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/What-triggers-a-claim-for-Universal-Credit-in-a-full-service-area.pdf

The OP's partner would have to attend the Job Centre appointment as making a Claimant Commitment is part of the process for claiming.

The OP's partner would need to be earning 35 x £7.50 per week to meet the Minimum Earnings Threshold. So, the question is does he earn this?

pmlindyloo

I should add that if your partner is not earning the Minimum Earnings Threshold then that does not mean that you cannot apply for UC. You would still be eligible but they would use the Minimum Earnings Amount as his income.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide/universal-credit-and-self-employment-quick-guide

pmlindyloo

But first check and see if you have been advised correctly.

Put your post code in the link here:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/before-you-apply/Check-if-youre-eligible-for-Universal-Credit/

Icequeen99

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Depends on whether this is a live or full service area.

If it is a full service area then it would be a claim for UC.

https://www.welfare-benefits-unit.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/What-triggers-a-claim-for-Universal-Credit-in-a-full-service-area.pdf

The OP's partner would have to attend the Job Centre appointment as making a Claimant Commitment is part of the process for claiming.

The OP's partner would need to be earning 35 x £7.50 per week to meet the Minimum Earnings Threshold. So, the question is does he earn this?

PMLindyloo is right - it depends on what type of area you use. You can check at https://www.universalcreditinfo.net

I also think you will need some advice - it sounds like your partner may not be really self-employed. You need to use the HMRC status checker to find out.

Does he fill in a tax return? Does he pay class 2 national insurance?

IQ

Icequeen99

Mersey wrote: »

As he's self-employed, the advice from the JobCentre Plus office was incorrect. He is not eligible to claim UC as he does not satisfy the gateway requirements.


He should therefore claim Working Tax Credits.

But that wouldn't apply in a full service area.

IQ