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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at universal credit?

80 replies

Hippi290 · 29/07/2024 01:01

I was recently made redundant from a company that I had worked at for 15 years.
So I had to claim UC.

I've applied for everything I can,obviously it's really difficult to survive on UC alone.

I've had a few offers of employment, but they have wanted photo ID which I do not have and I literally have nobody that I know who countersign any ID. I have really tried to think of anybody.

I sent a message to my advisor telling them that I had no photo ID and that I was struggling to get a job or find someone to countersign. And I got a message back saying they could countersign for me and to take forms to them. So I was pretty happy that it would make it so much easier to find a job.
But when I tried to confirm it with them I got another message saying, sorry this isn't something we can do 😔 am I wrong to be upset that they got my hopes up that they could help with getting a job?
Also is it possible I'll be able to find a job with photo ID ? I have a birth certificate

OP posts:
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6
Tartfullodger · 29/07/2024 08:41

You should be making a complaint about this as you won't be the only, person they are giving this sort of 'advice' to.

Coconutter24 · 29/07/2024 08:40

Why wouldn’t you do the obvious thing and apply for a photo ID? Yeh it’s annoying you was told the wrong thing but to be annoyed at them is a bit silly, you know what the obvious thing to do is yet your going round in circles delaying the process. You could of probably saved time by just applying for a photo ID

Pograze · 29/07/2024 08:38

Honestly I fail to believe that there is nobody at all in your life that can countersign for you.

Ponoka7 · 29/07/2024 08:32

You don't necessarily need a counter signature. But as said someone from your old work could do it. 'A person of good standing' is quite a wide net and tbh if you are British born to British parents, then a relative via an in-law etc could do it. But if you are British from generations back, fill in the part for people who haven't got anyone to counter signature. You'll still be issued a passport. While you aren't working you are missing out on pension contributions. Eventually you will need photo ID, I'd sort it out now.

Mickey79 · 29/07/2024 08:20

Someone from your previous job can surely countersign, you were there 15 years.

ForGreyKoala · 29/07/2024 08:15

AvrielFinch · 29/07/2024 01:47

@MynameisML is the answer not obvious? Not everyone can drive. Some have not passed the test, some can not drive for medical reasons. Some people have never been abroad so would not have a passport. It is pretty obvious.

I've never been abroad but I have a passport for ID purposes. I really can't see how anyone navigates today's world without photo ID. I've never needed it for a job, but have been required to show it numerous times.

DeathMetalMum · 29/07/2024 08:09

Pub landlords or whoever holds the licence can sign a passport. I'd be surprised you know no one. My dbro works in a supermarket and is doing his personal licence as he is a store manager. So would also be able to sign a passport.

Boomer55 · 29/07/2024 08:03

A friend could do it, if they are British and of “good standing”.

crumblingschools · 29/07/2024 07:43

What about anyone you worked with? Any friends? Hairdresser?

Original poster
Hippi290 · 29/07/2024 02:06

DuckBee · 29/07/2024 01:22

If they will accept a provisional driving licence it’s around £30. Ask the job centre if they can pay for it - not sure if they still do flexible support fund?

I'm not really bothered about payment,it's the countersign thing. My doctor won't do it or dentist

OP posts:
Original poster
Hippi290 · 29/07/2024 02:02

LiterallyOnFire · 29/07/2024 01:22

The reason they can't countersign is they haven't known you for two or three years or whatever the requirement is.

I've done a reasonable amount of onboarding (HR) processing and we were always able to get round the odd person not having photo ID, by using a UK birth certificate as proof of nationality (right to work) and being extra stringent in the other checks. It does happen from time to time but always for British-born citizens, IME. So not a huge problem.

Not my line anymore, so I'm not sure how many organisations now have strict photo-ID only policies for onboarding but it's not universal. So keep applying for jobs but wrack your brains meanwhile for someone to countersign.

UC are just a shitshow. It's well known. I wouldn't waste energy getting annoyed about it.

I'm not bothered about them not being able to countersign, just that they told me they could and then a different person saying no they cannot.
I will keep applying and hope I find something that will accept a birth certificate

OP posts:
caringcarer · 29/07/2024 01:56

You can apply for a provisional driving licence using a photo from kiosk. They send it to your address.

AvrielFinch · 29/07/2024 01:47

@MynameisML is the answer not obvious? Not everyone can drive. Some have not passed the test, some can not drive for medical reasons. Some people have never been abroad so would not have a passport. It is pretty obvious.

LiterallyOnFire · 29/07/2024 01:34

It will always be for British born, otherwise they will have a passport. An expired passport can still be used.

Quite. Although I'm sure someone somewhere will have has a foreign national with a lost passport and a saga related to that. We had a HR administrator get herself in a pickle once over an Irish national who had mislaid his. (People are so careless with passports.) It was immediately after Brexit and she didn't realise RoI citizens had pre-EU rights here. She was running in circles trying to complete the file and didn't ask any of us. But yeah.

SummerSnowstorm · 29/07/2024 01:25

LiterallyOnFire · 29/07/2024 01:22

The reason they can't countersign is they haven't known you for two or three years or whatever the requirement is.

I've done a reasonable amount of onboarding (HR) processing and we were always able to get round the odd person not having photo ID, by using a UK birth certificate as proof of nationality (right to work) and being extra stringent in the other checks. It does happen from time to time but always for British-born citizens, IME. So not a huge problem.

Not my line anymore, so I'm not sure how many organisations now have strict photo-ID only policies for onboarding but it's not universal. So keep applying for jobs but wrack your brains meanwhile for someone to countersign.

UC are just a shitshow. It's well known. I wouldn't waste energy getting annoyed about it.

It will always be for British born, otherwise they will have a passport. An expired passport can still be used.

LiterallyOnFire · 29/07/2024 01:25

DuckBee · 29/07/2024 01:22

If they will accept a provisional driving licence it’s around £30. Ask the job centre if they can pay for it - not sure if they still do flexible support fund?

The problem she has is getting the photo for the provisional DL application countersigned.

LiterallyOnFire · 29/07/2024 01:24

DemocracyR · 29/07/2024 01:15

For employment they cannot withdraw a job offer if you don’t have photographic ID for an IDVT check, or to present. You can present your birth certificate and proof of National Insurance. Please go back to these businesses with the government guidelines on Right to Work Checks.

I can see why some keen-as-mustard organisations might want to employ a blanket photo ID policy out of an abundance of caution, but you're right. It won't stop them though and it's so hard to challenge as a candidate.

DuckBee · 29/07/2024 01:22

If they will accept a provisional driving licence it’s around £30. Ask the job centre if they can pay for it - not sure if they still do flexible support fund?

LiterallyOnFire · 29/07/2024 01:22

The reason they can't countersign is they haven't known you for two or three years or whatever the requirement is.

I've done a reasonable amount of onboarding (HR) processing and we were always able to get round the odd person not having photo ID, by using a UK birth certificate as proof of nationality (right to work) and being extra stringent in the other checks. It does happen from time to time but always for British-born citizens, IME. So not a huge problem.

Not my line anymore, so I'm not sure how many organisations now have strict photo-ID only policies for onboarding but it's not universal. So keep applying for jobs but wrack your brains meanwhile for someone to countersign.

UC are just a shitshow. It's well known. I wouldn't waste energy getting annoyed about it.

SanMarzano · 29/07/2024 01:20

Would they accept a citizen card? The list of people who can countersign one is much bigger https://www.citizencard.com/route-2-referees

SummerSnowstorm · 29/07/2024 01:20

Ask someone from your old job to sign, if even the manager isn't eligible then is anyone's husband or wife there able to?

Anotherparkingthread · 29/07/2024 01:16

Do you know any business owners? Shop owner, pub landlord etc. I don't even think they need to be anybody particularly important, just any more somebody in 'good standing in the community' who already has a passport.

I do think most jobs need to see ID now. I see why tbh but sounds like a horrible position to be in.

DemocracyR · 29/07/2024 01:15

For employment they cannot withdraw a job offer if you don’t have photographic ID for an IDVT check, or to present. You can present your birth certificate and proof of National Insurance. Please go back to these businesses with the government guidelines on Right to Work Checks.

MynameisML · 29/07/2024 01:14

Hippi290 · 29/07/2024 01:01

I was recently made redundant from a company that I had worked at for 15 years.
So I had to claim UC.

I've applied for everything I can,obviously it's really difficult to survive on UC alone.

I've had a few offers of employment, but they have wanted photo ID which I do not have and I literally have nobody that I know who countersign any ID. I have really tried to think of anybody.

I sent a message to my advisor telling them that I had no photo ID and that I was struggling to get a job or find someone to countersign. And I got a message back saying they could countersign for me and to take forms to them. So I was pretty happy that it would make it so much easier to find a job.
But when I tried to confirm it with them I got another message saying, sorry this isn't something we can do 😔 am I wrong to be upset that they got my hopes up that they could help with getting a job?
Also is it possible I'll be able to find a job with photo ID ? I have a birth certificate

Why don't you have a driving license or passport? Genuine question!
Make an appointment with UC in person to discuss this.

Original poster
Hippi290 · 29/07/2024 01:11

ItsTheGAGGGGGGGG · 29/07/2024 01:10

Hm very conflicting messages, that would annoy me too!

Yeah ,I just wanted some advice. Seems they don't really know themselves

OP posts: