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Universal Credit: Can only my wife claim it?

My wife and I made a joint claim. We are both already getting Universal Credit as a couple.
I have heard that married couples must make a joint claim.
My wife is employed, but I am not. I have to show UC that I am looking for jobs, but right now I am writing a book and I do not want to work.
My question: Can our UC joint claim be converted to a single claim, that is, only my wife would keep getting UC, so that I could be left alone to write my book and would not have to look for jobs?
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Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 25 September 2020 at 12:12PM
    bentodeespinosa said: My question: Can our UC joint claim be converted to a single claim, that is, only my wife would keep getting UC, so that I could be left alone to write my book and would not have to look for jobs?
    No it cannot.
    https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim
    You have to apply as a couple if you and your partner live together. You do not need to be married.


    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • UC will not be paid to top up your joint income
    to support you to write a book. 

    Either you need to work, or she needs to get
    more hours/more money, or you live on her current wage. 
  • UC will not be paid to top up your joint income
    to support you to write a book.
    That is why I asked if my wife can get UC just for herself, as if she were single.

  • UC will not be paid to top up your joint income
    to support you to write a book.
    That is why I asked if my wife can get UC just for herself, as if she were single.

     No because she is not single 🤔
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,994 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    UC will not be paid to top up your joint income
    to support you to write a book.
    That is why I asked if my wife can get UC just for herself, as if she were single.


    She's not single, she's your wife...
  • UC will not be paid to top up your joint income
    to support you to write a book.
    That is why I asked if my wife can get UC just for herself, as if she were single.

    I really hope you’re writing fiction... 
  • What if, to dedicate 100% of my time to writing my book, I went to live abroad for six months (or more)?
    Would my wife be able to claim UC on her own, as if she were single?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 4,176 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 25 September 2020 at 12:54PM
    What if, to dedicate 100% of my time to writing my book, I went to live abroad for six months (or more)?
    Would my wife be able to claim UC on her own, as if she were single?
     No because she'd still be your wife!!!  

     You researching your book here? 
  • _shel said:
    No because she'd still be your wife!!!
    Yes, but if I do not live in the UK that means my wife, who stays in the UK, cannot claim UC?
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