Universal Credit and Part Time Work

JoSC

Hi. I'm new to UC. Due to some personal issues, I estimated with my work coach that I can look for part time work up to 25hrs per week. I am being considered for a job but it is only 16hrs per week at minimum wage. As I would still be entitled to some UC, would I still have to attend regular UC interviews and actively seek work for the extra hours? 

NedS

As long as your earnings are about the AET (Administrative Earnings Threshold), you will be placed in the light touch regime and will not be subject to any work related requirements. The AET was £338/month, and I think it's now gone up to just over £340/month. Depending upon your age, working 16h/week should mean you earn more than the AET and are not required to attend appointments.

How old are you, what is your hourly rate and how many hours do you expect to work each week?

calcotti

NedS said: ..The AET was £338/month, and I think it's now gone up to just over £340/month. 

The AET is calculated by reference to the current rate of JSA. For single claimants it is the monthly equivalent of £5 plus the applicable amount of the JSA for a single person. So the current AET is (£74.70 + £5) x 52 / 12 = £345.37 which is rounded down to £345/month.

atlantis187

calcotti said:

NedS said: ..The AET was £338/month, and I think it's now gone up to just over £340/month. 

The AET is calculated by reference to the current rate of JSA. For single claimants it is the monthly equivalent of £5 plus the applicable amount of the JSA for a single person. So the current AET is (£74.70 + £5) x 52 / 12 = £345.37 which is rounded down to £345/month.

What is the AET for couples for this year?

poppy12345

atlantis187 said:

calcotti said:

NedS said: ..The AET was £338/month, and I think it's now gone up to just over £340/month. 

The AET is calculated by reference to the current rate of JSA. For single claimants it is the monthly equivalent of £5 plus the applicable amount of the JSA for a single person. So the current AET is (£74.70 + £5) x 52 / 12 = £345.37 which is rounded down to £345/month.

What is the AET for couples for this year?

If you are working but are earning less than £345 per month (if you are single)you or £552 per month joint income (if you are a member of a couple), will be expected to look for more work and be available for work.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit/Claimant-Commitment-Conditionality

calcotti

The AET for a couple is the monthly equivalent of the JSA couple rate plus £10 per week.
(£117.40 + £10) x 52 / 12 = £552.06 rounded down to £552.
(Once UC is fully rolled out and income based JSA has disappeared they'll have to find a different way of calculating this.)

NedS

calcotti said:

The AET for a couple is the monthly equivalent of the JSA couple rate plus £10 per week.
(£117.40 + £10) x 52 / 12 = £552.06 rounded down to £552.
(Once UC is fully rolled out and income based JSA has disappeared they'll have to find a different way of calculating this.)

I assume the couples value will remain and be increased in line with the single persons threshold each year, based on the uprating of NS-JSA. No need to make it complicated