Tax credits to uc migration questions

glenandemm

Hi I recieved my letter to change over and left it till a week before the cut off date to apply, we’ve completed the complicated online forms as a joint married couple and since had messages that it will take 4 weeks before any decision is given as the wife has to go to the job centre for an interview yet we don’t plan to claim any benefits for her not working as she’s a stay at home mum and I’m self employed and have a message myself to go to the job centre in 4 weeks too for an interview, losing time that I could be working.
My questions are, why are they asking my wife to go down weekly to the job centre when we don’t want to claim any benefits for her other than the child benefit we had before along with child tax credit, myself I will be looking to claim whatever the equivalent is of working tax credit as I’m a low/medium profit making business at the moment.
i believe they will want monthly records of my earnings yet we’ve always just done annual tax returns.
it all seems alot more complicated than tax credits before.
One final question, if we’re entitled to benefits which child benefit part should be a certain I’d of thought with 2 kids in full time eduction, will the backdate the last 4-5 weeks without any payments after the tax credits instantly stopped after applying for uc?
any advice would be fantastic as it’s all so worrying and confusing!!

Rubyroobs

UC is a joint claim, therefore you are claiming for both of you. You will both need to agree to commitments in order to claim. Part of these commitments may mean that your wife also has to look for work depending on the age of your youngest child and how much you earn. Unfortunately UC doesn't always give people the option to be a stay at home parent unless they are a carer or too ill/ disabled to work or have a child under 3.
With self employment there are certain conditions also - you need to show your self employment is viable which will likely be what your appointment is about, they will explain how to report profits etc. You will need to report profits monthly as that is how Uc is calculated.
Uc is very different to tax credits with different expectations. You cannot just claim the child element.
Child benefit is completely separate to UC, it is the child element that you are claiming as part of your total Uc claim.
Uc is paid approximately five weeks after you make the claim. They will look at earnings during your monthly assessment period and then the payments you receive seven days later will be calculated based on those earnings.

poppy12345

When you claim UC your first payment will be 1 month and 6 days later. For example, if you claiming today your monthly assessment periods will be 12th to 11th of every month and your payment date will be 18th of every month, unless payment falls on a weekend or a bank holiday and then you will receive your money on the Friday before. 

UC is based on your circumstances on the last day of each assessment period. When you receive your payment it will be for 1 month.

As self employed you will be expected to report your earnings and expenses on the last day of each assessment period. You will need to make sure you attend the appointments because if you don't then your UC could be affected.