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Warpaint

VIP Member
I'd advise going to CAB to get the finer details of what to do or it could get quite messy.
 
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Lizzie Mintdrop

VIP Member
Hey, not sure if anyone will have any knowledge but worth a try.
I’m inheriting £15,000 from a family member who passed away recently.
I am a single mum, currently work full time and received some UC which helps me pay the bills.

I understand with UC you cannot spend your savings unnecessarily / be seen as depriving yourself of capital in order to continue receiving UC.

It’s made me really anxious about how I spend the £15,000. I would like to change my flooring downstairs as the carpet has been scratched to death by the cat and therefore laminate flooring would be more practical and the kitchen flooring has dints from furniture.
They are liveable and not in need of repair but whilst I have extra money, I would love to change them to something more long lasting and durable.

Would this be seen as depriving myself of capital because it’s not a desperate need? I feel so stressed about how I spend this money. Completely understand the reasons why they have these rules though
No, it wouldn't. It would be entirely reasonable for you to replace flooring if you received a large sum of money. However, it wouldn't be a good idea to spend an exorbitant amount on it. Make sure you keep your receipts
 
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I’m defo doing enough hours they wanted me to do more and I have been since Jan and it’s all been ok until today.
It’s more confusing because it just don’t match like the more I earn at work the less UC I get and that’s cool but it’s not fair when the wages aren’t right but I have left a note of not I’ll chase with a phone call
 
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WhatABore

VIP Member
Hey I was wondering if anyone could help. Im a single mum of 3 11 year old and five year old twins. I work 17.5 hours a week and universal credit top up my payments. All fits well around my children, I have just been offered a temporary job roughly £165 a week how would this affect my claim I know my universal payment will change but massively? Would I struggle etc? 🤷🏼‍♀️
Is that on top of your 17.5 hours?

If so, You'll have 55p deducted from UC per £1 you earn.
So your UC will reduce by around £90 a week.
 
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Lizzie Mintdrop

VIP Member
Yes, you can. You need to inform them you have separated and that you are no longer living together as a couple but still need to share your house. They will end your current claim by removing the "partner" who needs to make a separate claim in just their name. You will need to decide who keeps parental responsibility for the children for benefit purposes. If this is you but child benefit is in your partner's name you will need to swap it over or vice versa, they will/should ask for evidence of this such as your Child Benefit award letter. Take a look at your tenancy agreement, I'm assuming you are a tenant rather than owner occ, if it has both names on it is easy enough to split the rent 50/50, if not it gets a bit more complicated but they should tell you exactly what they need in order to pay you both the right amount for housing costs. They shouldn't refuse to accept that you are no longer living together as a couple but they may ask further questions or even set a note to ask you more questions in the future.
 
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Yes that’ll be on top. Thank you very much for the reply. Wanted to see if I’d be working extra for very little but it don’t work out too bad and will also be a job that’ll fit around my children and what I actually want to go into so some extra experience would be fab.
 
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Thanks so much everyone. Really helpful advice and all noted. Universal credit can be so stressful sometimes and even more so when it’s not straight forward! Much appreciated xx
 
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Melian

VIP Member
It's about reasonable spending. It for example is deprecation if you come into £15k and spend it all on a holiday.

They know you need to replace things

There's no rule as such
 
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Lizzie Mintdrop

VIP Member
Hello,


Could someone help please?

Myself and my ex partner split about 4 years ago we own a mortgage together where me and my little girl stay and my ex partner is currently saving to buy me out and get his own place. For the past 4 years he has kept the bills on his account and i’ve just paid him monthly for said bills. I have a review coming up and wondering if this will be an issue?
I’ve been in debt before and and we didnt want to risk me missing bills affect him from getting his own place. He always controlled the money when we were together he's really good that way. Thanks x
They will investigate this. They will most likely assume you're living together. Does your ex have his own home, where he's registered as living? If he does, it shouldn't be a problem as you'll have proof that you have separate households.
 
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HoGi

VIP Member
I'd advise going to CAB to get the finer details of what to do or it could get quite messy.
I second this.

I doubt they would easily accept that you are no longer dependant on each other but you're still living together, especially as you could be entitled to higher benefits as a single person than as part of a couple. So CAB should be able to help with this
 
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WhatABore

VIP Member
Any help would be appreciated

I have found a house to rent and due to pay deposit on Friday of this week, this has been going through the last few weeks.
Although I have my probationary meeting at my job on Thursday. If the worst was to happen *touch wood it doesnt* how would this affect my UC? Can I still claim and will they still give me the housing benefit section of it too?

Thank you
You still get whatever the local housing allowance is for privately rented ☺

It covers around a half of my rent, and I'm private renting
 

Crazycatty

VIP Member
Yes you should be able to - which one of you is the main claimant on your current claim? If it’s you, then submit a change of circumstances to UC. If it’s not you, you’ll have to make a new claim on your own, but make sure your ex partner also advises of the change of circumstances.
 
I haven’t got the app. Maybe I need to look into this’s no student finance should all be the same as normal so my reporting wage and my actual wage don’t match somehow I’m now worse off which don’t normally happen 😩
 

WhatABore

VIP Member
Hello,


Could someone help please?

Myself and my ex partner split about 4 years ago we own a mortgage together where me and my little girl stay and my ex partner is currently saving to buy me out and get his own place. For the past 4 years he has kept the bills on his account and i’ve just paid him monthly for said bills. I have a review coming up and wondering if this will be an issue?
I’ve been in debt before and and we didnt want to risk me missing bills affect him from getting his own place. He always controlled the money when we were together he's really good that way. Thanks x
It shouldn't be an issue. All bills come out of my account but UC goes into my partners banks and he transfers me the money.

Do you live together still?

If not, and the bills still come out his account, this could maybe be an issue as it could look like you're being paid and sending someone outside the household the money 🤔
 
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linzilou

Well-known member
Can someone help me please? My UC was less this month said based on your earnings but it was actually less on my wage slip so where did UC get the amount from?! I’m so confused and down this month and don’t know why. I’m happy for my UC to be less when I’ve worked more but my wages don’t reflect that 🤷🏻‍♀️
they pull it through from HMRC- have you got the hmrc app to see what your employer has reported your earnings as? or have you got wage deductions like student finance?
 
Hey I was wondering if anyone could help. Im a single mum of 3 11 year old and five year old twins. I work 17.5 hours a week and universal credit top up my payments. All fits well around my children, I have just been offered a temporary job roughly £165 a week how would this affect my claim I know my universal payment will change but massively? Would I struggle etc? 🤷🏼‍♀️
 
Hello,


Could someone help please?

Myself and my ex partner split about 4 years ago we own a mortgage together where me and my little girl stay and my ex partner is currently saving to buy me out and get his own place. For the past 4 years he has kept the bills on his account and i’ve just paid him monthly for said bills. I have a review coming up and wondering if this will be an issue?
I’ve been in debt before and and we didnt want to risk me missing bills affect him from getting his own place. He always controlled the money when we were together he's really good that way. Thanks x
 

Bettyboop123

Active member
Any help would be appreciated

I have found a house to rent and due to pay deposit on Friday of this week, this has been going through the last few weeks.
Although I have my probationary meeting at my job on Thursday. If the worst was to happen *touch wood it doesnt* how would this affect my UC? Can I still claim and will they still give me the housing benefit section of it too?

Thank you
 

btw

Well-known member
Hey, not sure if anyone will have any knowledge but worth a try.
I’m inheriting £15,000 from a family member who passed away recently.
I am a single mum, currently work full time and received some UC which helps me pay the bills.

I understand with UC you cannot spend your savings unnecessarily / be seen as depriving yourself of capital in order to continue receiving UC.

It’s made me really anxious about how I spend the £15,000. I would like to change my flooring downstairs as the carpet has been scratched to death by the cat and therefore laminate flooring would be more practical and the kitchen flooring has dints from furniture.
They are liveable and not in need of repair but whilst I have extra money, I would love to change them to something more long lasting and durable.

Would this be seen as depriving myself of capital because it’s not a desperate need? I feel so stressed about how I spend this money. Completely understand the reasons why they have these rules though