Tax Credits v Universal Credit

WillowCat

Taxidriver108 said:
Our local CA is 15 miles away and you can never get an appointment.  It is simply a minefield of rules and regulations.

Thankyou

The CA service you need is 'Help to Claim'.  It's now purely online and phone based due to Covid (though face to face will be available again once this is all over and appointments run on through a different team and there is more availability).
The phone number is on this page https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/help-to-claim/
And also the link for webchat.  Webchat is normally quite quiet during the day.  They will be able to talk you through your UC entitlement and any help you may need to claim.
That's not to say you won't get good advice on this page, but you mentioned CA so I assume you would feel comfortable talking to them.

WillowCat

Due to your wife claiming PIP daily living, you would receive the carer element on UC and so would not be subject to the minimum income floor.  You will be free to earn as much or as little as you like and UC will be worked out on the actual profit in that month.  Any losses will carry forward to be used in a subsequent month (11 months carry over maximum).

Taxidriver108

WillowCat said:

Due to your wife claiming PIP daily living, you would receive the carer element on UC and so would not be subject to the minimum income floor.  You will be free to earn as much or as little as you like and UC will be worked out on the actual profit in that month.  Any losses will carry forward to be used in a subsequent month (11 months carry over maximum).

Thank you all for your kind help and advice. I am still petrified to make a universal Credit claim! I understand that once I start a universal Credit claim, my entitlement to Tax credits is gone for good.  Going forward you see, I work in a very rural area Taxi Driving, most of my self employed income involved transporting commuters to the station and holidaymakers to the airport.  This work unfortunately may be gone for good. Very uncertain times ahead. 

Taxidriver108

One final clarification please.  I have read everything I can find on U/C. We currently receive Tax Credits, Carers allowance, Contribution based EESA (My wife) PIP at higher rate for mobility and care (MY Wife). I understand the EESA and Carers count as income and will be deducted from U/C.  From the date of U/C application will just our Tax credits stop? or others ? and how long normally does it take for assessment to complete?

calcotti

Taxidriver108 said:

One final clarification please.  I have read everything I can find on U/C. We currently receive Tax Credits, Carers allowance, Contribution based EESA (My wife) PIP at higher rate for mobility and care (MY Wife). I understand the EESA and Carers count as income and will be deducted from U/C.  From the date of U/C application will just our Tax credits stop? or others ? and how long normally does it take for assessment to complete?

You have understood it correctly. Your Tax Credits will stop on the day you apply for UC.
Contribution based ESA, PIP and Carer's Allowance will all continue.
The ESA and CA will be deducted in full when calculated the UC actually payable.

The first UC payment will be due one month and one week from the date you claim. You can ask for an advance but this has to be repaid by deduction from the following 12 payments so is best avoided if you can. 

Taxidriver108

calcotti said:

Taxidriver108 said:

One final clarification please.  I have read everything I can find on U/C. We currently receive Tax Credits, Carers allowance, Contribution based EESA (My wife) PIP at higher rate for mobility and care (MY Wife). I understand the EESA and Carers count as income and will be deducted from U/C.  From the date of U/C application will just our Tax credits stop? or others ? and how long normally does it take for assessment to complete?

You have understood it correctly. Your Tax Credits will stop on the day you apply for UC.
Contribution based ESA, PIP and Carer's Allowance will all continue.
The ESA and CA will be deducted in full when calculated the UC actually payable.

The first UC payment will be due one month and one week from the date you claim. You can ask for an advance but this has to be repaid by deduction from the following 12 payments so is best avoided if you can. 

That didn't go to plan! Made the application for Universal Credit, I can confirm that EESA payment has NOT been received today as usual.

poppy12345

Taxidriver108 said:

calcotti said:

Taxidriver108 said:

One final clarification please.  I have read everything I can find on U/C. We currently receive Tax Credits, Carers allowance, Contribution based EESA (My wife) PIP at higher rate for mobility and care (MY Wife). I understand the EESA and Carers count as income and will be deducted from U/C.  From the date of U/C application will just our Tax credits stop? or others ? and how long normally does it take for assessment to complete?

You have understood it correctly. Your Tax Credits will stop on the day you apply for UC.
Contribution based ESA, PIP and Carer's Allowance will all continue.
The ESA and CA will be deducted in full when calculated the UC actually payable.

The first UC payment will be due one month and one week from the date you claim. You can ask for an advance but this has to be repaid by deduction from the following 12 payments so is best avoided if you can. 

That didn't go to plan! Made the application for Universal Credit, I can confirm that EESA payment has NOT been received today as usual.

Your wife will need to ring DWP/ESA because her payments should have continued, Contributions based ESA is not part of UC.

Taxidriver108

poppy12345 said:

Taxidriver108 said:

calcotti said:

Taxidriver108 said:

One final clarification please.  I have read everything I can find on U/C. We currently receive Tax Credits, Carers allowance, Contribution based EESA (My wife) PIP at higher rate for mobility and care (MY Wife). I understand the EESA and Carers count as income and will be deducted from U/C.  From the date of U/C application will just our Tax credits stop? or others ? and how long normally does it take for assessment to complete?

You have understood it correctly. Your Tax Credits will stop on the day you apply for UC.
Contribution based ESA, PIP and Carer's Allowance will all continue.
The ESA and CA will be deducted in full when calculated the UC actually payable.

The first UC payment will be due one month and one week from the date you claim. You can ask for an advance but this has to be repaid by deduction from the following 12 payments so is best avoided if you can. 

That didn't go to plan! Made the application for Universal Credit, I can confirm that EESA payment has NOT been received today as usual.

Your wife will need to ring DWP/ESA because her payments should have continued, Contributions based ESA is not part of UC.

Have just rang DWP/ESA and been told that they cannot help us if we are claiming Universal Credit. We need to make a journal entry or contact Job centre Plus.  Since U/C application my wife has had 2 telephone appointments made 'First Commitments appointment with work coach.' The 1st was last Monday which didn't happen, they cancelled 3 hours after the event (Due to system error) was rescheduled for tomorrow at 12:30, just notified by journal that now, that has been cancelled! What a flipping carry on!  

poppy12345

I just assumed that because you are working that all of her ESA is Contributions based. Can you confirm that it definitely was all Contributions based?

Contributions based Support Group is £113.55 per week.