Statutory Maternity Pay/Universal Credit

dawnmorris

Hi forum,
Me and my partner haven't long had a baby and I am currently on statutory maternity pay which is 90% of my wage for the first six weeks then it will drop to £151.20 a week. My partner is out of work and doesn't claim any benefits and doesn't want too as he has savings less than 4k. If I was to make a couple claim on universal credit, would my partner be expected to sign on as they call it at the job centre every fortnight?
Thanks for looking at my post.
Dawn.

calcotti

Your partner will be expected to look for work. Interaction with the JobCentre will currently be through the UC online journal and by phone. Attendance at a JobCentre will not be required.
You will not make a 'couple claim'. You will claim yourself and he will claim himself, your claims will be linked and entitlement will then be calculated as a couple.

calcotti

dawnmorris said:

calcotti said:

Your partner will be expected to look for work. Interaction with the JobCentre will currently be through the UC online journal and by phone. Attendance at a JobCentre will not be required.
You will not make a 'couple claim'. You will claim yourself and he will claim himself, your claims will be linked and entitlement will then be calculated as a couple.

Thanks for looking at my post and replying back.

My partner doesn't want any support or benefits from job centre, can he not just say he doesn't want anything from them?

I just wanted to claim child tax credit and working tax credit, this use to be possible didn't it through HMRC and nothing to do with DWP?

No he cannot. You both have to claim and your entitlement is based on your joint circumstances. In order to receive the benefit you then have to comply with the requirements. Unless he has a health condition that limits his ability to work he will be expected to look for work. Alternatively you go back to work and he stays at home looking after your baby.

NedS

dawnmorris said:

calcotti said:

Your partner will be expected to look for work. Interaction with the JobCentre will currently be through the UC online journal and by phone. Attendance at a JobCentre will not be required.
You will not make a 'couple claim'. You will claim yourself and he will claim himself, your claims will be linked and entitlement will then be calculated as a couple.

Thanks for looking at my post and replying back.

My partner doesn't want any support or benefits from job centre, can he not just say he doesn't want anything from them?

I just wanted to claim child tax credit and working tax credit, this use to be possible didn't it through HMRC and nothing to do with DWP?

Tax credits have been replaced by Universal Credit so new claims for Tax credits are no longer possible. As calcotti said, you will both need to claim Universal Credit as a couple.

calcotti

NedS said: Tax credits have been replaced by Universal Credit so new claims for Tax credits are no longer possible. As calcotti said, you will both need to claim Universal Credit as a couple.

Thanks, Ned - I overlooked the bit about Tax Credits.

OP, should add also that if you have joint savings over £16,000 then you will not be able to claim UC. If you don't have savings you are not going to be able to support a family of three on £151.20/week so have little choice but to claim UC. 

KatrinaWaves

dawnmorris said:

calcotti said:

Your partner will be expected to look for work. Interaction with the JobCentre will currently be through the UC online journal and by phone. Attendance at a JobCentre will not be required.
You will not make a 'couple claim'. You will claim yourself and he will claim himself, your claims will be linked and entitlement will then be calculated as a couple.

Thanks for looking at my post and replying back.

My partner doesn't want any support or benefits from job centre, can he not just say he doesn't want anything from them?

I just wanted to claim child tax credit and working tax credit, this use to be possible didn't it through HMRC and nothing to do with DWP?

But by not doing this he has nothing to support you with? This is not how it works with couples, you have to claim together. There is no choice in the matter. His reason of 'I dont want to because I have savings of under 4k makes no sense'

calcotti

His savings of £4000 will not last long supporting a family of three unless OP also has savings. Will then be forced to claim UC anyway but will have lost the safety for having some savings to draw on when UC is not enough. Very short sighted IMO.

calcotti

Owning your home outright makes a big difference. If you can manage on £151/week then obviously that's your choice.
One thing you could possibly apply for even if you don’t apply for UC is Council Tax Reduction. Every council has different rules but if eligible it could help you pay some of your Council Tax bill.

Spoonie_Turtle

You didn't mention it so in case you weren't aware of Child Benefit (not really means-tested, but it sort of is in practice if one of you earns over £50000): https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit

sammyjammy

Maybe he needs to swallow his personal pride and think of the baby now that he has one.

calcotti

If your only income is £151.20/week, your joint savings are below £6000 and at least one of you is aged 25 or over then I calculate UC entitlement would be  £555.50/month. However I suggest you use a benefits calculator to check entitlement for your circumstances https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators. You will then be making an informed choice about whether or not to claim.