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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think UC's new AET is fucking ridiculous?

110 replies

sentfrommyiphone · 04/07/2024 15:34

I’ve been working & claiming UC for the past 2 years. Today I got an email saying I need to attend a mandatory appointment to review my commitments, the reason for this being the AET is now £892 & I only earn £881.58.
I now have to attend regular work meetings because of this £10.42 shortfall! & if I fail to attend any of these I will be sanctioned.
The ironic thing is, I have to take time out of my working day to attend an appointment with UC about helping me find more work?
I’m on a fixed term time only contract at 20 hours a week & im paid pro rata.

What the actual fuck?

OP posts:
BleachedJumper · 04/07/2024 16:12

Are you able to reschedule the appointment to suit your working hours? It should be pretty brief if you’re able to say you have agreed additional hours with your employer.

Wakeywake · 04/07/2024 16:12

You can't expect to stay in a job with limited earnings just because you like it and fits in with your lifestyle whilst expecting the taxpayers to pick up the bill though. Fair enough if you absolutely can't make it work any other way.

Beezknees · 04/07/2024 16:08

Noosnom · 04/07/2024 16:06

UC is a car crash. I never had a problem with tax credits but everyone I know has had a problem with UC.

I prefer UC. With tax credits I was overpaid without fail every single year and had to pay it back, UC is much easier.

Noosnom · 04/07/2024 16:06

UC is a car crash. I never had a problem with tax credits but everyone I know has had a problem with UC.

Beezknees · 04/07/2024 16:05

Meh. Them's the rules. I'm a lone parent getting UC and I've never had any childcare help, you don't always have the luxury of being able to work family friendly jobs. I work full time and have done since DS was 7, I had no choice but to make it work.

NowStartAgain · 04/07/2024 16:04

Sympathy here. I am having to take time off employed work to attend a UC meeting to discuss whether I am ‘gainfully self employed’ or not. Because I declared £90 non PAYE earnings last year. Sometimes the system is stupid.

Original poster
sentfrommyiphone · 04/07/2024 15:56

I'm quite lucky that I have an extremely understanding manager who has said I can do an extra hour a month if need be.

But what about people who don't have that option? What if they are contracted to earn a certain amount a month and can't get the hours to meet the AET threshold? They would be expected to find another job, but what if they love the job they are in, & it fits around their family? What if they can't work anymore hours because of childcare or an illness? I would be livid if I was expected to find another employer, my work fits in so perfectly with school pick up/drop off.

It's the taking time off work to attend a work coach meeting that really gets my blood boiling, who in the fuck decided on that? What if your boss will not let you have the time off and you get sanctioned? Then you can't feed your family because you rely on UC?

The whole system infuriates me & I think it's so so bloody unfair.

OP posts:
Sunnydiary · 04/07/2024 15:41

I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about UC so ignore me if this is impossible/a shit idea.

Aren’t you earning £15 a month walking someone’s dog?

SilverDoe · 04/07/2024 15:39

Sorry OP, that's mad!

Can you ask to work a tiny bit more per month? £11 should only be 2 hours a month or so right?

It is incredibly unintuitive and impractical though, I agree with you.

They have bumped it up so rapidly over the last year, it's really quite unfair to make so many huge increases in such quick succession.

MidnightPatrol · 04/07/2024 15:35

Can you:

a) get more hours

b) ask your employer for a rise of £11 a month?