Universal Credit replacing Child & Working Tax Credit

maceyratbags

My husband and I both work full time and have done for decades.  We have three children under 18.  We received a letter from HMRC that Universal Credit is replacing Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and that we must make a Universal Credit claim by 17th May or benefits will end.  We receive no other benefits.

We did this, it took 90 minutes to do online then my husband received notice to take ID to the local jobcentre!!!  He's 51 and has lived & worked in England all his life.  

After that, by coincidence, I checked on the UC site and there was a message telling me that I need to accept my commitments or the claim will be closed.  I did this, but the commitments all refer to me agreeing to actively search for work, fill in jobsearch journals and attend meetings with a workcoach.

I can't get through on the phone and I'm at a complete loss as to what's going on.

Has anyone else experienced this?

powerspowers

Providing ID for a new UC claim is absolutely standard practice. 

I’m not sure what requirements you will need to meet if you are working full time but UC does have requirements about searching for better paid work or taking on more hours if you are working part time. 

Spoonie_Turtle

After you receive wages in the first month of claiming UC it should put you in the right work group.  As far as I understand, at the moment the system thinks you haven't earned anything which is why it's defaulting to you needing to agree to look for work. 
What happens in practice here I'm not sure, it would be ridiculous to expect you to take time off work to attend meetings just because of what the system says based on incomplete information.

TheShape

maceyratbags said:

My husband and I both work full time and have done for decades.  We have three children under 18.  We received a letter from HMRC that Universal Credit is replacing Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and that we must make a Universal Credit claim by 17th May or benefits will end.  We receive no other benefits.

Do you mean 17th June?

What is your claim date?

peteuk

Depending on the age of your children depends on the level of work, the main carer is expected to undertake.  This is also dependant on your combined wage. 

Aged 13+ - expected to work 35 hours a week. 
Aged 3 - 12 - expected to work 30 hours a week. 
Aged 2 - not expected to look for work, but will need to attend regual appointments and prep activiteis.
Aged 1 - not expected to look for work, but will need to attend regual appointments
Under 1 - not expected to work. 

maceyratbags

TheShape said:

maceyratbags said:

My husband and I both work full time and have done for decades.  We have three children under 18.  We received a letter from HMRC that Universal Credit is replacing Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and that we must make a Universal Credit claim by 17th May or benefits will end.  We receive no other benefits.

Do you mean 17th June?

What is your claim date?

It was 17th May and I put the application in before that date.

maceyratbags

Depending on the age of your children depends on the level of work, the main carer is expected to undertake.  This is also dependant on your combined wage. 

Aged 13+ - expected to work 35 hours a week. 
Aged 3 - 12 - expected to work 30 hours a week. 
Aged 2 - not expected to look for work, but will need to attend regular appointments and prep activities.
Aged 1 - not expected to look for work, but will need to attend regular appointments
Under 1 - not expected to work. 

We both work 37.5 hours a week.  I really don't understand it at all.

peteuk

maceyratbags said:

TheShape said:

maceyratbags said:

My husband and I both work full time and have done for decades.  We have three children under 18.  We received a letter from HMRC that Universal Credit is replacing Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and that we must make a Universal Credit claim by 17th May or benefits will end.  We receive no other benefits.

Do you mean 17th June?

What is your claim date?

It was 17th May and I put the application in before that date.

So given that your first assessment period is over, did you attend the work coach meeting?  You should soon be able to see your payment statement in your journal. 

You say you both work 37.5 hours, are you or your husband self employed?  How old are the children and what level of education are they in?

If you’re in a couple, the combined couple’s AET is £1,437 per assessment period, if you earn above this then there is no work commitments.