Earn £40,000 or less per year

debschillen

I thought I would have a laugh and try the Universal Credit calculator based on the "earn £40,000 per year and you MAY be entitled to claim UC.  Couldn't see it myself, but had a go, and as I thought, I am not entitled to 1p (and I don't earn anywhere near the £40,000 despite working full time).  I played about with some figures and in order be eligible for a total sum of £37 pw (which would include around £12 council tax benefit) I would have to only work for 10 hours per week at £9.50 ph.  So, £95 wage per week x 52 weeks of the year = £4,940. I am wondering where the £40,000 comes into it

poppy12345

There was another thread regarding this a few days ago, i tried to find it but couldn't.. UC is a means tested benefit so entitement will depend on your circumstances.

If you're a single person with no rent to pay then your maximum UC entitlement will be £334.91/month (over 25). For under 25 with no rent costs their maxium UC entitlement will be £265.31/month. Earnings received during your assessment period will reduce your UC by 55%.

A family with children that may have disabilities, so they claim a disability benefit for the child/children, will be entitled to more UC because of the disabled child elements and have high rent costs may well have some entitlement with earnings of up to about £40,000 a year.

Those with children or who have a health condition and been found to have either LCW/LCWRA will have a work allowance. This means that a certain amount of earnings received will be ingored before the 55% deductions apply. See link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances

Life__Goes__On

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

slowcars

Life__Goes__On said:

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

You are talking about the DWP, do you honestly expect them to be this clear?
My experience of that organisation is one of disgust. I posed a single question to them a few years back - DLA claimant is so severely mentally ill that they did not and could not complete a review claim form. - what is the process in that case?
Answer, no idea! 

poppy12345

slowcars said:

Life__Goes__On said:

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

You are talking about the DWP, do you honestly expect them to be this clear?
My experience of that organisation is one of disgust. I posed a single question to them a few years back - DLA claimant is so severely mentally ill that they did not and could not complete a review claim form. - what is the process in that case?
Answer, no idea! 

That isn't surprising because when you ring DWP you are just speaking to someone from a call centre. They have very limited knowledge, other than to read from a screen in front of them.

calcotti

Life__Goes__On said:

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

No one is bandying the figure around, the advice from Martin has been that some households with that level of income could qualify for some UC so it's worth checking. Having said that some media reports of that advice may be misleading. From martin's advice is clear atet such cases will be the exception, not the norm, but it is important to highlight that such help may be available to those who would not automatically think of it.

I completely agree with using a calculator - which is also what Martin is advising (with the proviso that if somebody struggles to use and understand a calculator they should advice).

Alice_Holt

slowcars said:

Life__Goes__On said:

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

You are talking about the DWP, do you honestly expect them to be this clear?
My experience of that organisation is one of disgust. I posed a single question to them a few years back - DLA claimant is so severely mentally ill that they did not and could not complete a review claim form. - what is the process in that case?
Answer, no idea! 

     As poppy says DWP call handlers are not benefit advisers.

    The answer is to contact your local advice charity, MIND, the person's social support team, etc.
  Did you not do that?

     

slowcars

poppy12345 said:

slowcars said:

Life__Goes__On said:

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

You are talking about the DWP, do you honestly expect them to be this clear?
My experience of that organisation is one of disgust. I posed a single question to them a few years back - DLA claimant is so severely mentally ill that they did not and could not complete a review claim form. - what is the process in that case?
Answer, no idea! 

That isn't surprising because when you ring DWP you are just speaking to someone from a call centre. They have very limited knowledge, other than to read from a screen in front of them.

Which is of no help then?

slowcars

Alice_Holt said:

slowcars said:

Life__Goes__On said:

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

You are talking about the DWP, do you honestly expect them to be this clear?
My experience of that organisation is one of disgust. I posed a single question to them a few years back - DLA claimant is so severely mentally ill that they did not and could not complete a review claim form. - what is the process in that case?
Answer, no idea! 

     As poppy says DWP call handlers are not benefit advisers.

    The answer is to contact your local advice charity, MIND, the person's social support team, etc.
  Did you not do that?

     

When you spend time locked up in a ward at the hospital you just can't pop off to the nearest CAB.
Being in that position doesn't really lend itself to think about a DWP renewal form especially when for years you are so unwell at home medicated on anti-anxiety, anti-depressants anti psychotics and the like such as Lithium that life is one long blur. Took 7 years to come out of it and to seek help from the Social Services Welfare Team.

kaMelo

slowcars said:

Alice_Holt said:

slowcars said:

Life__Goes__On said:

I don't think it's wise bandying a figure like £40,000 around,  that normally is the remit of the right wing press.
Much better so say everyone should use a benefit calculator.

You are talking about the DWP, do you honestly expect them to be this clear?
My experience of that organisation is one of disgust. I posed a single question to them a few years back - DLA claimant is so severely mentally ill that they did not and could not complete a review claim form. - what is the process in that case?
Answer, no idea! 

     As poppy says DWP call handlers are not benefit advisers.

    The answer is to contact your local advice charity, MIND, the person's social support team, etc.
  Did you not do that?

     

When you spend time locked up in a ward at the hospital you just can't pop off to the nearest CAB.
Being in that position doesn't really lend itself to think about a DWP renewal form especially when for years you are so unwell at home medicated on anti-anxiety, anti-depressants anti psychotics and the like such as Lithium that life is one long blur. Took 7 years to come out of it and to seek help from the Social Services Welfare Team.

But unless someone makes contact with DWP then nothing can happen, they are not mind readers.

To take the case you mention, what do you think should happen?

calcotti

slowcars said:

When you spend time locked up in a ward at the hospital you just can't pop off to the nearest CAB.
Being in that position doesn't really lend itself to think about a DWP renewal form especially when for years you are so unwell at home medicated on anti-anxiety, anti-depressants anti psychotics and the like such as Lithium that life is one long blur. Took 7 years to come out of it and to seek help from the Social Services Welfare Team.

I can’t see that as a DWP issue. Rather it is a systemic failure not to support someone who is has a long term hospital stay and is not able to manage their affairs.