Tax credit move to Universal Credit

beyondthestars

At the moment we get tax credit as  a couple.
My husband just got a PIP award after tribunal. Standard living rate and standard mobility.
I don't drive and the tax credits pay for taxis and other extra costs for our son (he is 16 and receives PIP).
I get carer allowance for our son and I also care for my 80 year old mum. So I'm not able to take on paid work.
When tax credits end I will only get £76 a week carer allowance, which won't be enough for me to live on, after paying for my weekly bus card and other essentials.
My husband has savings tied up in long term accounts but I have no money in my name.  
Is there any support for people who are made to move to Universal Credit in these circumstances? 
No judgement please. 

Spoonie_Turtle

kylorobes said:

At the moment we get tax credit as  a couple.
…
I get carer allowance for our son and I also care for my 80 year old mum. So I'm not able to take on paid work.
When tax credits end I will only get £76 a week carer allowance …
My husband has savings tied up in long term accounts but I have no money in my name.  
Is there any support for people who are made to move to Universal Credit in these circumstances? 
No judgement please. 

For managed migration there will be a 12-month exemption where savings/capital over £16,000 are disregarded for UC.  After that you're expected to either have spent some to get down to that threshold, or start using them to live off - UC is means-tested, and savings over £16k are deemed to be means to live, even if accessing them incurs a financial penalty. 

So it might be worth doing some benefit calculations based on different scenarios to see what your best course will be once the 12-month savings disregard on UC no longer applies.  Calculations may not be entirely accurate because there is some transitional protection (which may or may not apply after the 12 months, I'm not sure, it's complicated!) but you would at least see the difference various levels of savings would make and thus work out what would be the most sensible way to proceed.

Is it just Child Tax Credits you get at the moment, or Working Tax Credits if your husband works?
(No judgement at all, simply trying to get an accurate understanding of your current situation.)

beyondthestars

Husband works full time. 
Thankyou for the answer about managed migration. Would I be expected to find work on universal credit as a full time carer ? 
Our son has been on a short course because he couldn't cope in college. The course ends in a few weeks, so we will lose all the tax credit and child benefit if he's not in any sort of education.
He has no GCSEs, so I'm wondering if /how he could apply for Universal Credit for himself. He's 17 in June 

poppy12345

When you claim UC as a carer you will not be expected to look for work or prepare for work. If you're living in England are you aware that your son will need to remain in some form of education/training until he reaches 18?

England

You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

• stay in full-time education, for example at a college
• start an apprenticeship or traineeship
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

noitsnotme

poppy12345 said:

If you're living in England are you aware that your son will need to remain in some form of education/training until he reaches 18?

England

You can leave school on the last Friday in June if you’ll be 16 by the end of the summer holidays.

You must then do one of the following until you’re 18:

• stay in full-time education, for example at a college
• start an apprenticeship or traineeship
• spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part-time education or training

Depending on the local authority they might not take any action at all.  I know of 3 families where a child dropped out of college or 6th form and the LA never got in touch with any them.

beyondthestars

No one will contact him. He's on PIP with a neurodisability