(07-22-2017, 11:23 AM)Jaz184 Wrote: Because I live with my partner it did say we don't get tax credits, but are both together earning less than 30k (household income).
I do find this all confusing. Thanks for all replies, will investigate further.
As you live in an area using the new universal credit system its not the same.
Try this link,
https://universal-benefit-calculator.co....rsalcredit
Universal Credit replaced ESA and JSA, as well as Tax Credits and Housing Benefit. Its just one monthly payment you get to cover it all.
How it works is it looks at your earnings, and if renting, how many bedrooms under the law you need, and what the local housing allowance is. (In the case of some Social Housing, Council or Housing Trusts it will look at what your rent is, if its lower than the LHA).
The law says you need a set amount of money, after paying your rent (based on LHA or less). This is called an applicable amount, what considers
a, if your single or a couple
b, if anyone gets DLA or PIP
c, how many children you have
In the case of a single person, the AA moves up by £25 if your working 16 hours a week, and there is futher increases at 24 and 30 hours.
For couples, it moves if you both exceed 16 hours work, or if 1 of you exceed 24 hours by £25, and futher increases if either of you exceed 30 hours.
Where you have aproved chilld care costs (Ofstead Aproved Provider or Registered Child Minder) you can still get up to 70% of them costs factored in, subject to the normal means testing.
Child Benefit or Child Support is not counted as income when working this out, but any other income is, and most things will result in a Pound for Pound reduction to benefit.
This is why the Goverment can say your better off in work, as the changes to the AA are £25-40, more if someone in the household is on DLA or PIP.
Posts made by me are my opinion and any factual information should be checked out. If you do not have a Solicitor, often your local CAB can get you some initial advice.
