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[Deleted User]

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ElwoodBlues

What part of how they work it out can't you understand? You're full entitlement is £1682, which is reduced down according to your earned income (at a rate of 55p for every £1 you earn over £379). Causing a reduction of £1632.

They do take into account that you have other bills and expenses, but according to the benefits system your household income of £3396 a month is sufficient for your family to live on. You're housing costs of £515 are relatively small compared to your income so is the remaining £2880 not sufficient to cover your other household expenses?

The capital thresholds for benefits haven't been increased for a very long time. The only way around it is to use finance to buy a car rather than saving up. Make of that what you will.

NedS

[Deleted User] said:

I'm looking for some help as we've recently changed from tax credits to universal credits but I don't know how they work it out.
I work unsociable hours so if they take more money off me for more hours worked is it worth me going back to my old shift which is less hours but more sociable hours.

It's not the hours worked that's taken into account, but the amount you earn. The first £379 of household earnings each month are disregarded, and then anything over that amount reduces your UC entitlement by 55p in the pound.

The more you earn, the better off you will be overall because the increase in your income (£1) will more than offset any reduction in benefits (55p). The system is deliberately designed this way to incentivise you to work (and earn) more.

Tax credits was no different - the amount you receive is tapered by earnings and reduces as you earn more.

NedS

[Deleted User] said:

NedS said:

[Deleted User] said:

I'm looking for some help as we've recently changed from tax credits to universal credits but I don't know how they work it out.
I work unsociable hours so if they take more money off me for more hours worked is it worth me going back to my old shift which is less hours but more sociable hours.

It's not the hours worked that's taken into account, but the amount you earn. The first £379 of household earnings each month are disregarded, and then anything over that amount reduces your UC entitlement by 55p in the pound.

The more you earn, the better off you will be overall because the increase in your income (£1) will more than offset any reduction in benefits (55p). The system is deliberately designed this way to incentivise you to work (and earn) more.

Tax credits was no different - the amount you receive is tapered by earnings and reduces as you earn more.

Last month we had more universal credit but they went off 4 weeks but this time they used 5 weeks and in one of the weeks is a payment when I didn't get paid correctly.
I work 39 hours a week so if I go back to my 27 hour shift I will lose about £160 a week so do you think I will be any better off as I won't have to work weekend shifts or night shifts

No, you will be worse off.

You will lose £160/week in salary but would potentially gain (not lose) an additional £88/week on your UC claim that would otherwise have been deducted due to your higher salary (assuming they are deducting that amount), so overall you'd be £72/week worse off.

If you are paid weekly, some month's you will have received 5 weeks pay, and others only 4 weeks pay. That's just how it goes so some months you will receive more UC than others depending how many times you've been paid in that UC assessment period.