Benefits calculators are wrong?

[Deleted User]

1234567890

RedMonty

I've always found that the benefit calculators rarely match the exact amount that people get.

The maths and various conditions are so hideously complex. I believe they are made deliberately complex on purpose by the govt so that many workshy claimants people in desperate need are unable to properly know what the wonderful kind Tories law says they should be getting.  So they have no idea if their support is less than what they should be getting. 

Best to treat the benefit calculators as an approximate guide, not exact. If you have spare time, look up the exact benefit calculations for the benefits that apply to you and try to create an Excel spreadsheet that works out what you should be getting. It's a challenge but it's worthwhile. I've done it & tweaked it to the point where I'm only off by a few pence per week or a few quid per year. 

KxMx

@[Deleted User]

Are you certain you are viewing the weekly UC amount, and not dividing the monthly amount into 4?

The reason I ask is my monthly UC housing payment is approximately £318, and my weekly rent is approximately £74. 

The excess I will set aside for when it's needed to plug a shortfall, due to the differing payment cycles.

After getting my first UC statement with housing included I went onto the entitledto calculator and the results they gave me were identical across my statement.