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Would I be better off changing to Universal Credit from Tax Credits?

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Comments

  • calcotti said:
    On a rough calculation with four children taken into account and assuming the full £560 rent is allowable I have arrived at a figure of about £1450/month which is equivalent to £335/week plus the Child Benefit of £63.15.

    Obviously amounts will reduce when only three children are included. The UC will also drop by £86.67/month in October under current regulations.

    As per my earlier post the reason your entitlement is higher is because the UC includes help with rent which you are not currently claiming.
    what was the actual link again?

    I followed it and it showed me my tax credits and child benefit allowance, then it had a tab that said universal credits allowance so I clicked there and it gave me what the allowance was.

  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 10 April 2021 at 10:03PM
    Please do not submit the claim until you are 100% sure it’s correct because your tax credits will end as advised. It will not give you an amount when you apply. You will only know how much you’re entitled to when you receive your first statement. £380 per week does sound rather a lot. 
    i must of done something wrong
    Did you perhaps include all of your children living at home, regardless of age?  Your eldest doesn't count as a dependent so you wouldn't get the child element for them AND you'd have the deduction for them.

    Edit: also do you rent privately or socially?
    we are housing association
    Forgot to ask that earlier - in that case the Local Housing Allowance doesn’t apply. Is your actual rent £560?
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 10 April 2021 at 10:02PM
    calcotti said:
    On a rough calculation with four children taken into account and assuming the full £560 rent is allowable I have arrived at a figure of about £1450/month which is equivalent to £335/week plus the Child Benefit.
    Which will be less by October if the Government reduce the standard allowance. Also less again once the 18 year old leaves full time non advanced education.
    Indeed - editing the drop in as you posted! As regards the drop when one child is removed that will of course apply equally to Tax Credits.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • calcotti said:
    Please do not submit the claim until you are 100% sure it’s correct because your tax credits will end as advised. It will not give you an amount when you apply. You will only know how much you’re entitled to when you receive your first statement. £380 per week does sound rather a lot. 
    i must of done something wrong
    Did you perhaps include all of your children living at home, regardless of age?  Your eldest doesn't count as a dependent so you wouldn't get the child element for them AND you'd have the deduction for them.

    Edit: also do you rent privately or socially?
    we are housing association
    Forgot to ask that earlier - in that case the Local Housing Allowance doesn’t apply. Is your actual rent £560?
    yes 140 a week
  • we are with clarion we live in the south east

  • so its not looking like the figure I got was correct at all?

  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    calcotti said:
    Please do not submit the claim until you are 100% sure it’s correct because your tax credits will end as advised. It will not give you an amount when you apply. You will only know how much you’re entitled to when you receive your first statement. £380 per week does sound rather a lot. 
    i must of done something wrong
    Did you perhaps include all of your children living at home, regardless of age?  Your eldest doesn't count as a dependent so you wouldn't get the child element for them AND you'd have the deduction for them.

    Edit: also do you rent privately or socially?
    we are housing association
    Forgot to ask that earlier - in that case the Local Housing Allowance doesn’t apply. Is your actual rent £560?
    yes 140 a week
    £140/week is not £560/month because there are more than 4 weeks in a month. If you are charged £140/month then the monthly equivalent is £606.66/month. How many bedrooms do you have?
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • calcotti said:
    calcotti said:
    Please do not submit the claim until you are 100% sure it’s correct because your tax credits will end as advised. It will not give you an amount when you apply. You will only know how much you’re entitled to when you receive your first statement. £380 per week does sound rather a lot. 
    i must of done something wrong
    Did you perhaps include all of your children living at home, regardless of age?  Your eldest doesn't count as a dependent so you wouldn't get the child element for them AND you'd have the deduction for them.

    Edit: also do you rent privately or socially?
    we are housing association
    Forgot to ask that earlier - in that case the Local Housing Allowance doesn’t apply. Is your actual rent £560?
    yes 140 a week
    £140/week is not £560/month because there are more than 4 weeks in a month. If you are charged £140/month then the monthly equivalent is £606.66/month. How many bedrooms do you have?
    we have 3 bedrooms
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 10 April 2021 at 10:10PM
    so its not looking like the figure I got was correct at all?
    My rough calculation quoted above is broadly similar if your figure was the combined UC and CB and was based on 4 children.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • calcotti said:
    so its not looking like the figure I got was correct at all?
    My rough calculation quoted above is broadly similar if your figure was the combined UC and CB and was based on 4 children.
    that is a little more than we get now, like I say we get 233 a week at the moment
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