Universal credit and part time work

aliavavodka

Hello,
A friend of mine is in receipt of universal credit, they are a couple with a child.
1 is employed full time and the other is unemployed, at the moment they receive approx £750 a month in benefits.
Now the unemployed partner applied for a full time job, but didn't get it, but was offered a part time job 18.5 hours a week, the problem is, he would love the job, but he would be earning less than his benefits, so he is in a dilemma as to whether to accept the job.

calcotti

The benefits will not necessarily stop Universal credit is for people on a low income regardless of whether they are in work or out of work. If the unemployed partner is expected to look for work under his UC claimant commitment he will be sanctioned if he does not take the job.

Could use a benefit calculator to check ongoing benefit entitlement with the job https://www.entitledto.co.uk

I would be surprised if total income would be lower as a result of taking the job (if he is treated as a jobseeker).

In any case if he would love the job it makes sense to take it. Perhaps more hours will become available in the future and being in the benefits system is not fun.

If you post more details it may be possible to provide more detailed advice.