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

Jobfromhome

im so scared to press submit incase im wrong, but you have filled in the form to and that what it says?

so husband on 25k a year, 3 bedroom house with 7 of us in it. daughter 23 working, daughter 18 going to uni, boys aged 4,8,12. rent 606 a month, no savings. so the awars looks better than tax credits?

Jobfromhome

ah so just read it the award I get I have to use it to pay my rent yes?

poppy12345

Jobfromhome said:

ah so just read it the award I get I have to use it to pay my rent yes?

Of course because it includes help with your rent. You’re paying your rent yourself at the moment without any help from housing benefit. 

Jobfromhome

so im really useless with figures if I get 233 a week now. with my UC award and having to pay the rent out of it how much better off will we be?

I wont be paying our rent out of our normal money either just from our UC?

calcotti

Jobfromhome said:

You have filled in the form to and that what it says

I have done a rough calculation on the back of a newspaper I happen to have been reading.

Have just realised though that I forgot to take off the housing cost contribution from your 23 year old so my answer would be UC of £1,420/month which is about £327/week plus the CB.

Jobfromhome

so you think I should go for it? im still calculating i will be better off by 150 a week?

calcotti

Jobfromhome said:

so im really useless with figures if I get 233 a week now. with my UC award and having to pay the rent out of it how much better off will we be?

I wont be paying our rent out of our normal money either just from our UC?

Your UC is just money which you receive just as you receive Tax Credits. You then pay your rent. it doesn’t matter where the money you use to pay it comes from..

Can you just confirm that you are actually responsible for paying your rent at the moment.

Jobfromhome

yes we are

Jobfromhome

so if the award is 345 a week we pay our rent out of that that still leaves 205 which is less than our usual tax credits and CB weekly amount of 233. But our rent has been paid 

im having trouble working out how better off will be

calcotti

Jobfromhome said:

so you think I should go for it? im still calculating i will be better off by 150 a week?

It’s not for us to make a recommendation one way or the other. It’s your decision. If you want greater certainty go to a local advice agency and ask them to go through your circumstances with you.

Bear in mind too that the Tax Credits will stop and you will wait 5 and a bit weeks for the first UC payment.