Advice please minimum work hrs as a couple with children

NeverendingDMP

I'm sorry if ive missed  an obvious thread elsewhere with this in but please can anyone advise me the minimum hours I need to work if claiming u credit. 
Partner works full time. Children and 11, 8 and 8. I currently work 25 hrs and we don't claim.

I'm on notice of redeployment/poss redundancy. I'm trying to work out whether I can apply for any job and potentially qualify for UC (obv wage amount affects this) or if I only should apply for jobs that are above a certain amount of hours to meet the criteria. 
From the UC websites I think I have to work a maximum of 25 hrs as youngest is 8. Is that 25 hrs as a couple, 25 hrs each etc.Also can I have a job thats less than 25 hrs or will I then have to do advisor meetings applications etc to make it up to the magic 25 each week if I need to claim.  I'm hoping a claim won't be needed but trying to plan ahead just in case 

Thanks everyone x

huckster

Lead parent carer where youngest child is aged between 5 and 12 would be expected to find work up to 25 hours per week. The other parent if there were no barriers such as health would be expected to work up to 35 hours per week.

From September 2023  (date to be announced), the Government are looking at minimum threshold of 18 hours per week earnings  (based on national minimum wage) for each claimant and if these earnings are being achieved the claim status would be light touch, so no Job Centre Work Search related appointments.

Use an online benefits calculator such as entitledto or turn2us, to work out whether it is worth claiming.

NeverendingDMP

Thanks huckster that's exactly the kind of information I was hoping for. Ive been on turn2us and Googled on U C sites but hadn't heard of the light touch idea. That's reassuring that if I get something that's 22.5 hrs for example then that's still seen as enough for now. It's that never ending balancing act off of longer travel times or extra work hrs being wiped out by the extra childcare costs. 

I'm hoping not to have to claim at all and to find/hopefully be redeployed to a perfect job.

Ive claimed childcare tax credits and UC in the past and was grateful for the help at the time but if i can avoid claiming again I absolutely want to!!

Yet again mse has been the place to come for clear and relevant advice! Ta very much.

Numberwang_2

Why are you so adverse to claiming UC? A working couple with kids you are the governments target audience. Currently until your youngest turns 12 you don’t have to work, just be looking for work around your caring hours, ie term time. As you do both work you could be missing out on help with child care costs etc. 
As huckster states, changes are proposed, but until applied you should really look again at UC and how it could benefit you. 

NeverendingDMP

Thanks Numberwang_2.

Some thoughts to think about. I think I'm adverse because we always claimed something whilst kids were younger as we were both working with mega high child care costs. As we have reduced childcare costs we were no longer eligible to claim and it was nice to be self sufficient (just about) and not have all the faff of reporting everything.  I'm hoping I'll get a decent offer of redeployment but if not I guess yes we are the target audience and that's what it's meant for isn't it.  I will know more when I meet with HR. Takeaway thought is not to panic but also be tactical I suppose. It's not going backwards if I absolutely have to claim again it's just a phase whilst we get sorted. I'll see how it all pans out!!