Does my partner need to work?

Johnm2019

Hello,

I did a post last week about how I have cut my hours to 30 hours a week, I am on minimum wage.

We have a 3 year old, and another baby on the way in June. We private rent.

I asked on here whether I was doing enough hours and was told that I was earning over the expected £980 (Around this figure) and that my partner didn't need to work.

Seeing the news today I can't make out whether my partner will now need to search for work.  I will be bringing home about £1200 net home each month 

Thanks

Spoonie_Turtle

Your partner has no work-related requirements in the 11 weeks before her due date, according to Entitled To https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/pregnancy-overview-universal-credit

It looks like they're abolishing the couples AET (whenever they're applying the changes) and you will be making above your AET, so no she shouldn't need to.

kaMelo

The Government factsheet I've read says this;

• Increasing the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET): the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET), the minimum amount a person can earn without being asked to meet regularly with their Work Coach, will be increased from the equivalent of 15 to 18 hours of earnings at the National Living Wage for an individual claimant. The couples AET, where a second member of a household may not be asked to look for work if their partner is working, will be removed entirely. These changes are expected to require over 100,000 additional claimants to meet more regularly with a Work Coach and take active steps to move into work or increase their earnings.
• Expanding work search requirements: these changes are expected to encourage over 700,000 lead carers of children on Universal Credit to look for work or increase their hours and will receive additional Work Coach support to do so. Previously they would have had only limited requirements, or no requirements at all.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2023-labour-market-factsheet/spring-budget-2023-factsheet-labour-market-measures

Maybe I'm misinterpreting things but as I read it, particularly the second paragraph, in removing the couples AET it removes the cross subsidy effect within a couple. An individual will therefore need to reach the AET to be placed into the light touch regime irrespective of what their partner is earning. 
Obviously there are those who will have no work search requirements because of other reasons but, going forward, a partners earnings will not be one of those reasons to be exempt.

sammyjammy

kaMelo said:

The Government factsheet I've read says this;

• Increasing the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET): the Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET), the minimum amount a person can earn without being asked to meet regularly with their Work Coach, will be increased from the equivalent of 15 to 18 hours of earnings at the National Living Wage for an individual claimant. The couples AET, where a second member of a household may not be asked to look for work if their partner is working, will be removed entirely. These changes are expected to require over 100,000 additional claimants to meet more regularly with a Work Coach and take active steps to move into work or increase their earnings.
• Expanding work search requirements: these changes are expected to encourage over 700,000 lead carers of children on Universal Credit to look for work or increase their hours and will receive additional Work Coach support to do so. Previously they would have had only limited requirements, or no requirements at all.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2023-labour-market-factsheet/spring-budget-2023-factsheet-labour-market-measures

Maybe I'm misinterpreting things but as I read it, particularly the second paragraph, in removing the couples AET it removes the cross subsidy effect within a couple. An individual will therefore need to reach the AET to be placed into the light touch regime irrespective of what their partner is earning. 
Obviously there are those who will have no work search requirements because of other reasons but, going forward, a partners earnings will not be one of those reasons to be exempt.

You are correct,  I think its quite a sensible change.

tifo

kaMelo said:

Maybe I'm misinterpreting things but as I read it, particularly the second paragraph, in removing the couples AET it removes the cross subsidy effect within a couple. An individual will therefore need to reach the AET to be placed into the light touch regime irrespective of what their partner is earning.

Obviously there are those who will have no work search requirements because of other reasons but, going forward, a partners earnings will not be one of those reasons to be exempt.

If the AET is removed, don't you mean that each person within the couple will need to earn above the CET to be in the light touch regime? CET is 35 hours a week at current min wage.

In contrast, a single claimant will need to work 18 hours a week at min wage.

It seems unfair.

calcotti

tifo said:

If the AET is removed, don't you mean that each person within the couple will need to earn above the CET to be in the light touch regime?

They are not currently proposing to remove AET.

gilly58

calcotti said:

tifo said:

If the AET is removed, don't you mean that each person within the couple will need to earn above the CET to be in the light touch regime?

They are not currently proposing to remove AET.

Seems like they attend to remove the AET for couples 

calcotti

gilly58 said:

calcotti said:

tifo said:

If the AET is removed, don't you mean that each person within the couple will need to earn above the CET to be in the light touch regime?

They are not currently proposing to remove AET.

Seems like they attend to remove the AET for couples 

They appears to be the proposal. AET will simple continue on each individual regardless of whether a single person or part of a couple,

OhWow

calcotti said:

gilly58 said:

calcotti said:

tifo said:

If the AET is removed, don't you mean that each person within the couple will need to earn above the CET to be in the light touch regime?

They are not currently proposing to remove AET.

Seems like they attend to remove the AET for couples 

They appears to be the proposal. AET will simple continue on each individual regardless of whether a single person or part of a couple,

That seems a much fairer way.

It's going to be better for the non-working person in the couple too; working/working more hours will mean they will be able to build a bigger private pension.

gilly58

What if that person is sick or un well to work and does not PIP will they be forced to look for work 

Does all this need to be passed by law like the white paper 

Spoonie_Turtle

gilly58 said:

What if that person is sick or un well to work and does not PIP will they be forced to look for work 

Does all this need to be passed by law like the white paper 

Even if they get PIP and the Health element they can still have mandatory work-related requirements imposed.