Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To push ds into claiming

560 replies

Lacky301 · 31/05/2024 16:44

Ds has just finished uni and never worked through me and ex dp give him £450 a month between us plus I've always bought him the odd thing and gave a bit extra here and there.
Me and his dad are seperated and his dads just received notification that he will now be charged full council tax as ds has finished uni I'm under strain financially. I've told ds he needs to claim universal credit until he finds a job but he keeps saying I want my results first. Am I wrong in pushing him to claim to take some pressure off me and dp. Fwiw he would get around £370 per month as living at home.

OP posts:
peachyqueens · 03/06/2024 22:23

Most casual summer jobs don't require a DBS check. They also pay at least, or above minimum wage. I've hired 5 students this week at £11.35 an hour plus tips, next day start.

Itloggedmeoutagain · 03/06/2024 22:21

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 03/06/2024 19:17

Sounds like a you issue. We have job seekers allowance for those seeking jobs. If you don’t want to claim it out of misplaced then that is your decision. It doesn’t mean people should not claim the allowance that we have for them as a civilised society.

He isn't seeking a job.
He is waiting for results but in the meantime mum wants him to claim UC

XenoBitch · 03/06/2024 21:04

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 03/06/2024 19:15

It would take you 2 hrs to get a new job, employment contract all signed?

Really, the jobseeker part of UC is a small £ payment weekly while a person is between jobs and actively looking for work. It’s not choosing a life on benefits.

Also, some jobs need a DBS, and they can take months to come back.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 03/06/2024 19:17

CaribouCarafe · 02/06/2024 18:54

Lol no. I've been between good employment before, and I made up the shortfall with whatever temp jobs I could get my hands on. Didn't even cross my mind to apply for UC or JSA. I kept numerous part time jobs on the go throughout my time at uni (call centre/pub/babysitting/tutoring/admin/mystery shopping/volunteering for paid experiments etc.) and kept some of those on as a weekend job even in paid employment so I have a fallback if needed (which came in useful when one company filed for liquidation and I ended up redundant).

I have no qualms with someone claiming UC if their actual circumstances mean that they can't work, but to have someone not even try and then get encouraged to claim because of their own laziness/incompetence does make me angry.

Sounds like a you issue. We have job seekers allowance for those seeking jobs. If you don’t want to claim it out of misplaced then that is your decision. It doesn’t mean people should not claim the allowance that we have for them as a civilised society.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 03/06/2024 19:15

Waitformetoarrive · 02/06/2024 19:32

Would I claim benefits when I am capable and able to work? No
Would I sit on my back side not working whilst waiting for the results of my course? No
Would I need time to write my CV to enable me to look for work? Yes, I would need a maximum 2 hours

why don’t we all just not work and claim benefits?

Edited

It would take you 2 hrs to get a new job, employment contract all signed?

Really, the jobseeker part of UC is a small £ payment weekly while a person is between jobs and actively looking for work. It’s not choosing a life on benefits.

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 02/06/2024 19:38

Capable and able to work is not the same as being offered a job.

Even being offered a job is not the same as having a job.

dd was offered a couple of jobs. None materialised. These were from UC job fairs.

Waitformetoarrive · 02/06/2024 19:32

WithACatLikeTread · 02/06/2024 18:13

The way some react to people claiming benefits. I am sure you would too if that were the situation you were in.

Would I claim benefits when I am capable and able to work? No
Would I sit on my back side not working whilst waiting for the results of my course? No
Would I need time to write my CV to enable me to look for work? Yes, I would need a maximum 2 hours

why don’t we all just not work and claim benefits?

CaribouCarafe · 02/06/2024 18:54

WithACatLikeTread · 02/06/2024 18:13

The way some react to people claiming benefits. I am sure you would too if that were the situation you were in.

Lol no. I've been between good employment before, and I made up the shortfall with whatever temp jobs I could get my hands on. Didn't even cross my mind to apply for UC or JSA. I kept numerous part time jobs on the go throughout my time at uni (call centre/pub/babysitting/tutoring/admin/mystery shopping/volunteering for paid experiments etc.) and kept some of those on as a weekend job even in paid employment so I have a fallback if needed (which came in useful when one company filed for liquidation and I ended up redundant).

I have no qualms with someone claiming UC if their actual circumstances mean that they can't work, but to have someone not even try and then get encouraged to claim because of their own laziness/incompetence does make me angry.

Iaskedyouthrice · 02/06/2024 18:17

Otherstories2002 · 02/06/2024 18:08

No we did not. Never claimed a penny in benefits.

Ok, I shall rephrase that... loads of students in the late 90's in Leeds used to sign on between jobs and studies. Not ALL. I apologise for trying to be a little lighthearted.

WithACatLikeTread · 02/06/2024 18:13

The way some react to people claiming benefits. I am sure you would too if that were the situation you were in.

Otherstories2002 · 02/06/2024 18:08

Iaskedyouthrice · 02/06/2024 17:51

I dont think he's work shy, bloody hell we all used to sign on back in the day between jobs, studies etc 😁 suppose its a different world now though. Top tip for him though @Lacky301 or any other parents of students out there, tell him to look on his local councils jobs page, there are nearly always casual cleaning jobs on there. I cleaned my local town hall every tea time for 2 hours while I was at college. Best days of my life! Hours are always early morning or early evening. Payed me better than my mates who worked all night in a bar back then. Though that's probably changed too.

No we did not. Never claimed a penny in benefits.

Otherstories2002 · 02/06/2024 18:07

Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 15:54

Yes ds did apply for jobs during his time at uni without success so he stopped eventually. I have seen that others have had the same problem as in a uni town there is alot of competition.

Then he needs to move home and start looking there.

There are endless bar jobs or temporary work.

the only reason anyone is unemployed right now is choice.

VeneziaJ · 02/06/2024 17:51

Strictlymad · 31/05/2024 17:03

No he shouldn’t be applying for uc, he should be applying for job seekers allowance. And treat job hunting like a full time job, shop, bar, pot washing at restaurant. Not sitting about waiting for results. Fwiw when he applies for his degree job the prospective employer will like that that he’s made use of the time, not sat waiting.

Job seekers (income based) is now subsumed in to UC the only Job Seekers is the contribution based one (he wont have the necessary NI ).

Iaskedyouthrice · 02/06/2024 17:51

I dont think he's work shy, bloody hell we all used to sign on back in the day between jobs, studies etc 😁 suppose its a different world now though. Top tip for him though @Lacky301 or any other parents of students out there, tell him to look on his local councils jobs page, there are nearly always casual cleaning jobs on there. I cleaned my local town hall every tea time for 2 hours while I was at college. Best days of my life! Hours are always early morning or early evening. Payed me better than my mates who worked all night in a bar back then. Though that's probably changed too.

Hairyfairy01 · 02/06/2024 17:49

OP, you are ignoring all of the posters who are asking if you are sure he is due to pass his course? Have you asked him? Is he ok?

CaribouCarafe · 02/06/2024 17:41

Unless he's over 30 years old, the small gap in NI from unemployment would be insignificant. Plus he could pay NI from getting a job rather than UC. It's not really an excuse

Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 17:27

CHEESEY13 · 02/06/2024 17:26

Ps: the main reason he needs to claim is so he'll qualify for National Insurance contributions - or there will be a gap in his State Pension.

But many years to make it up I'm still paying contributions despite having now paid full stamp

OP posts:
CHEESEY13 · 02/06/2024 17:26

Ps: the main reason he needs to claim is so he'll qualify for National Insurance contributions - or there will be a gap in his State Pension.

CHEESEY13 · 02/06/2024 17:24

He needs to claim, at least for the short term, but as for finding employment I'm afraid the JobCentre is the last place to get a job! They're not called JokeCentres for nothing.
Pure box ticking exercises.

CaribouCarafe · 02/06/2024 17:14

Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 15:54

Yes ds did apply for jobs during his time at uni without success so he stopped eventually. I have seen that others have had the same problem as in a uni town there is alot of competition.

He could be applying anywhere in the country, rather than constraining himself to just his uni town and home town - especially if competition is fierce and he's unsure as to whether he's passed or not

Beautiful3 · 02/06/2024 16:14

If he is entitled to it, then yes he should apply. However they do ask for proof you've applied for 2 jobs per week. You have to be available for interviews in the job centre too.

Ikeaismyhappyplace · 02/06/2024 16:06

Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 16:01

Was he on benefits

No he wasn’t. He had just finished college and hadn’t had any luck to start with. He isn’t the most confident so that’s probably why. I hope your son gets on ok with everything.

Pinkfluffypencilcase · 02/06/2024 16:03

Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 15:58

They are useless unless your on benefits

By registering he would get benefits

Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 16:02

Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 16:01

Was he on benefits

Sorry I misunderstood you mean if he claims he will get help to find a job.

OP posts:
Lacky301 · 02/06/2024 16:01

Ikeaismyhappyplace · 02/06/2024 15:59

That’s a shame that you’ve had that experience, my son must have been lucky with his work coach.

Was he on benefits

OP posts: