Wife quit to look after child?

Spadizz

We are both 28 and have a child under 3, living as private tenants, I am on the search for a new job as Covid put my last company under, she is currently working 3-4 days a week making £6-700 before tax. 

Due to her start times and the possible shift patterns for me that her employer cannot help us with we cannot fit our child in nursery or really afford it. 

Is it worth her quitting her job and claiming universal? Will the top up be enough ? I’ve tried a couple calculators and they come out as around £600 but not sure how accurate that is

if so will they make her look for work or is she fine until child is of school she?

weve never had to claim any sort of benefit other than the child benefit which gives £90 a month or whatever it comes to

any help would be appreciated 

Rubyroobs

If both working, you would get her from Uc with childcare costs. Hopefully she isn't planning on giving up work until you have secured a job?

Spadizz

I didn’t realise they would help with childcare to be honest. Is it usually a decent amount of help?


no she is not, she has to give 4 weeks notice so we are trying to tie everything together

Spadizz

I have been self employed and received the last two grants is that likely to affect a UC claim if I find a job and we’re both working and apply for uc for help with childcare

poppy12345

Spadizz said:

I didn’t realise they would help with childcare to be honest. Is it usually a decent amount of help?

Up to 85% but you have to pay the costs before claiming them back. https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/universal-credit

Use a benefits calculator and include your childcare costs and it will tell you if you're entitled to anything.

Spadizz

Ok I’ve just tried calculator adding in childcare and apparently we’d get £656 that includes £21 a week for childcare, but if we don’t have a child and all other details are the same we are entitled to nothing? 

I’m new to this but that seems crazy to me

poppy12345

UC is a means tested benefit, how much you're entitled to will depend on your circumstances. Having a dependant child means you'll have a work allowance of either £512 if you don't claim for help with your rent or £292 if you do, which means you can earn that amount of money before the 63% deductions will apply.

Why does your calculation seem crazy to you? If a person has no children then of course they will be entitled to less money.

Spoonie_Turtle

^ and with a child there's the child element on top of the standard allowance, which people woth a child obviously won't have. Plus if you do rent, then the maximum amount you'd be entitled to would be a one-bedroom rate as a couple, but the 2-bedroom rate with a child.

calcotti

If your only income is her wages and you do not have savings over £16,000 you are entitled to UC now, as calculator shows.