Help understanding UC payment please

MARKMAKAVELI

Hey guys,
My girlfriend is self employed and has zero income for the foreseeable future due to the nature of her work.
I have been furloughed and my company have been great enough to top my salary up so I can pay my share of the bills.
Please can you help us make sense of this statement? It looks like she will only get £284 per month which means collectively we can't afford rent as I only have enough to cover 'my half'. Obviously if I could cover her bills I would but I can't.

Have the government seen my incoming salary and not considered I have other outgoings that I'm committed to and therefore treated us as one application and assumed I can cover everything?

Bonus question - due to previously being self employed and only recently employed in my new role - I'm paying zero tax on my first 2 paychecks. Are they expecting me to hold back money for tax as well? The £1919 I've been paid would normally then be taxed but hasn't been so far. Thanks

https://imgur.com/a/apehCCQ

FtbDreaming

As far as I am aware they will award you based on household income so yours and hers and you are expected to support her with your wage and budget accordingly. 

poppy12345

UC is a means tested benefit and you claim as a couple when you're living together. How much UC you're entitled to will totally depend on your circumstances. A benefit calculator will tell you how much you're entitled to. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Each month you will have an assessment period, during this month the earnings you receive will reduce the amount of UC you're entitled to by 63% if you don't have a work allowance. If you don't have dependent children then you won't have a work allowance.

Can't answer the question regarding the tax though.

poppy12345

Does your partner qualify for the self employed grant? see link. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

Hermann

I'd think your PAYE tax code should take care of your ongoing tax payments, so your future paychecks will take tax as necessary.

As you had self employed income you may have a future tax liability due from that, as per your usual self assessment.

MARKMAKAVELI

Thanks guys, I attached the image of the statement now too, forgot earlier! https://imgur.com/a/apehCCQ
FTB - I don't have enough to support us both. I have enough to pay "my half" after getting extra from my boss.
Poppy - I believe so, waiting confirmation but this won't be until June either.
Hermann - Yes I paid a huge chunk in Jan and have another one due in June which is being deferred (this is for the previous tax year) so what you're saying is, I don't need to worry about putting any extra to one side (if I could) because my tax code will get updated and be taken accordingly? 

poppy12345

You have a £200 per month shortfall in your housing element and you don't have a work allowance. Your UC payment is correct. Unfortunately, when you live with a partner then you claim as a couple.

Do be aware that if you do receive the self employed grant in June then it will reduce your UC to zero for that month.

Hermann

MARKMAKAVELI said:

Thanks guys, I attached the image of the statement now too, forgot earlier! https://imgur.com/a/apehCCQ
FTB - I don't have enough to support us both. I have enough to pay "my half" after getting extra from my boss.
Poppy - I believe so, waiting confirmation but this won't be until June either.
Hermann - Yes I paid a huge chunk in Jan and have another one due in June which is being deferred (this is for the previous tax year) so what you're saying is, I don't need to worry about putting any extra to one side (if I could) because my tax code will get updated and be taken accordingly? 

The exact details on what tax you pay and when depend on your own details and to some extent how you have chosen to pay the tax.

I don't know why your 2 first paychecks had zero tax.

I don't know what arrangements you have made for your self employed tax due, it can be 'on account' and due in two payments or if under a certain amount you can choose to pay via your PAYE code.

How much tax you owe will depend on your total earnings for the year, you need to work out if you've paid enough to know if you're going have a future liability. Your initial PAYE code might have been wrong, if it was then underpayment will mean the rest of the year will have greater tax taken each month to correct.

So you need to understand how much self employed tax you owe and when you are going to pay it.

You also need to check your PAYE tax code and ensure it is correct ASAP as underpayment now will hit you later on. 

There's too many variables to just tell you a direct answer!

Understanding PAYE codes.... https://www.gov.uk/tax-codes