Universal Credit calculations - getting very confused

Marsha2007

Hi, I've had the managed migration notice which I'm going to be doing just after new year.  I have been very stressed about it all, so I have used the Entitled To calculator to see what I would get (roughly).  I initially done it as on the current system (legacy benefits).  When I get to the end and it gives me the calculation and gives me the option to see what it would be under UC.  This is where I get confused.  The workings it gives me is:-

Standard allowance £617.60

Housing £519.69

Children £333.33

Disability or health condition £416.19

Total before adjustments £1,886.81

Taken off for earned income (your salary )£271.32

Taken off for unearned income (benefits and savings) £598.86

Total adjustments £870.18

Total payment for the month £1,016.63

So I assume my monthly payment would be £1016.63.  But when I look at the calendar and what I may get each month it says:

February 2025 £ 600.45 Periods: 1

March 2025 £ 600.45 Periods: 1

April 2025 £ 600.45 Periods: 1

May 2025 £ 600.45 Periods: 1

I can't work out why it's gone from £1016.63 to £600.45.  The £600 figure is less than I get now (CTC/WTC/ESA)

HOWEVER, it says if I care for someone (which I do) but don't claim carers (which I don't), then it can't work out the UC entitlement properly, so to go back and redo the calculator but say I'm on UC and it will add the carer element.  When I do that, the calculations come out better at:

Universal Credit payment summary (monthly)

Standard allowance £617.60

Housing £519.69

Children £333.33

Carer £198.31

Disability or health condition £416.19

Total before adjustments £2,085.12

Taken off for earned income (your salary) £271.32

Taken off for unearned income (benefits and savings) £598.86

Total adjustments £870.18

Total payment for the month £1,214.94

and payments look like:

February 2025 £ 1,214.95 Periods: 1

March 2025 £ 1,214.95 Periods: 1

April 2025 £ 1,214.95 Periods: 1

May 2025 £ 1,214.95 Periods: 1

I assume the second calculations are right as it includes the carer element.  But, I'm really worried now that it'll be the first calculation and as I've said, that's less than what I'm getting now.  (I've read the transitional protection only counts for the amounts you get before deductions (ie, my husband's CB ESA and my salary).  If it's only £600, I'm going to really struggle.  I don't understand why it says total payment is £1016, but it will only pay £600.

(PS, the TurnToUs calculation straight away gives me a figure of £1212 a month (but doesn't show me the payment calculator, so I can't be sure what I'd get).

Thanks in advance!

born_again

When you say you care from someone is this over 35 hours a week & what is the reason for not claiming?

Do you work?

Marsha2007

Yes, I care for my husband who is registered blind with other health issues - he receives HR care and mobility.  I work 18 hours, and my weekly pay is over the CA threshold, so therefore cannot claim.  However, on UC, I understand a carer element is added, whether you claim CA or not.

Newcad

Please read your own first post again - it sets it all out rhere.

The first total (£2085.12) is your total UC entitlement.

The "£600" (£598.86) is what will be taken off that entitlement - because of wages, other benefit income such as Carers Allowance, savings, etc.

Giving £1214.95 UC payable to you each month.

That may well be less than you were getting with Tax Credits, because TCs had different rules about things than UC does, in particular about savings.

Transitional Protection is about the first "entitlement" figure, which may not be the same as the payment after standard UC deductions.

Can you tell us if your savings are above £16,000?

Marsha2007

No, no savings above £16,000 - no savings above £6,000!  That calculation you said is the one which I did when it told me to redo it saying I was on UC so it could add in the carer element.  The first calculation above was one which I did from the current situation (legacy benefits) and it gave me the option to see what it would be under UC.  It gave the amount as "Total payment for the month £1,016.63", but on the payment calculator (when it shows you how much you may get and when) it says £600.45.  I was just confused as to why on that one is says that, but when I add the carer element in it gives me more (the carer element) but lets me keep it (ie £1214) a month.  

I'm sorry if this sounds confusing - I'm very confused as well!

Marsha2007

Assessment Start: 29 January 2025

Assessment End: 28 January 2025

Personal Element: £ 950.93

Housing Element: £ 519.69

UC Net Earnings with tax increase: £ 949.52

Earned income brought to account: £ 493.30

Earned income after 55.0% taper: £ 271.32

Total income for Universal Credit: £ 870.18

UC Award: £ 600.45

This is the breakdown from the payment calculator - I'm assuming the personal elements covers these 3 elements - Standard allowance £617.60 / Children £333.33 / Disability or health condition £416.19.  The UC award says £600.45 but the total payment for the month says £1,016.63. So I can't understand the difference (where has it gone and why?)

But, doing it without the legacy benefits and on UC with the carer element gives the other figures.

Should I just ignore the legacy benefit one and assume the second calculation is correct - not the first?

poppy12345

The £598.86 for unearned income will be your partners ESA because that will continue as normal but be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. 

Not sure what you're referring to with this.. 

Marsha2007 said:

Personal Element: £ 950.93

Marsha2007

I'm just copying what it gave me on the calculator (on Entitled To) - all the calculations are from their site not from me.  I'm assuming the personal element is, as said above, the standard/children/disability elements all added up together.  I know the £598 is the ESA coming off - that's not what I'm confused with.  What I'm confused with is the first calculation it gave me an award of £1016, but then said my payment would be £600 - without any explanation of where the missing £400 went (it's not the ESA, that was already taken off).  I just wondered if anyone knew why the calculator would say the award payment would be £1016, but then say £600 would be the amount I'd get (with the ESA and my income already taken off)

Perhaps I should just leave it as obviously no one seems to understand what I'm trying to say!!  Thank you for your help anyway.

Marsha2007

I'm going to try one more time to see if this makes any sense!  Bear with me!  I initially went onto Entitled To's calculator and completed it as being on the legacy benefits.  At the end it gives me this:-




estimated - £1016.63 (but no carer element)

Marsha2007

So I go to the Universal Credit calendar to see the payment dates and amounts and it gives me this below!

What I don't understand is if it says £1016, but then my payment is only £600

Is it something to do with the carer element not being calculated as in the pink box above?  It's not the ESA as that is already taken off in the above calculation

Marsha2007

Excuse the writing, not easy on a laptop!