How many jobs per week am I expected to apply for on universal credit

I stopped reading at page 3.
Nasty, nasty replies. So much assumption and judgement.
Sorry you have had this OP. I hope you don’t take any of it to heart.

ON NMW that cost can easily be far greater than earning power. Not everyone has a suitable education/qualifications/past work experience relevant to open the door to a higher paid job.

While I was waiting for my dd dla award I was hounded relentlessly to work. So I sent off my CV and applied for many jobs but I was totally truthful at that point about how unreliable id be due to my dd medical issues and appts and put in my CV how I need an understanding workplace due to needing time off at short notice. I met the requirements for work search but never got any interviews so I was still able to look after my dd till I was able to claim carers and have no work commitments

I am amazed you found 15 jobs to apply for that are only 10 hours !
what was that 2 hours a day for 5 days ? or 5 hours a day for 2 days ? or what ?
esp as these jobs would have to fit around the hours that your child is actually in nursery.

and all 15 jobs were within the 20 min max commute ?

I would be very very very surprised if sanctioning ever crosses your work coaches mind, s/he is more likely to applaud your level of commitment in having achieved 15 applications.

I don’t see how if you have a small child and no job you can commit to spending 30 hours per week looking for work. Unless UC pay for childcare

What about lunchtime assistant at a local school?

Good luck in your studies! Are you going to do open uni? If so they have a job board that often lists wfh and flexible part time hour jobs

I would ask your coach how it works if you go back to your studies - I think now would be a great opportunity to get yourself back on track - and then you can build your career once the dc are in school.

For 10 hours a week you could consider cleaning - you can find slots that work around childcare and studies.

And this is with a nice guy landlord who charged reasonable rent. There's a limit to how much welfare helps pay your rent and most people would have to cut into their 400-500 meant for everything else in that situation. I Don't believe the poster who claims to know people better off on welfare than working, sorry

When I was on UC, they never asked me how much jobs I've applied for. They just ask how is the job search going and do I have any job interviews coming up. You'll be fine op

If 'they' want the full tradwife setup, they need to find a man who is both able and willing to finance it. It is not the taxpayer's role to do so.

What is your experience? Living on benefits with no additional factors? Because as a parent of high needs children, on paper my household income isn’t on the breadline. If there were no extenuating circumstance, I’d absolutely be scraping by every month living only on UC. I know because before our youngest was born, both me and my partner were made redundant. The following year or so was the toughest (and at times most humiliating) of my life financially. So would you like to expand on your experience?

Being in work has many positive benefits and will open new doors. We can’t keep thinking working is optional

OP isn't thinking of work as optional, is she? At no point has she said she won't work. Until we have 24 hour a day childcare as standard and non-resident parents are forced to financially support their children, there will be very many women out there who struggle to work full time.

As for opening doors, sure, it does. But frequently those doors are slammed in your face if you are unable to attend early/late meetings, not able to work weekends, don't have your own transport etc. etc. etc.

And whilst I have some pension as a result of all the work I have done as a single parent, I genuinely don't think it was worth it in terms of my children's mental health and long-term security. And I won't be living the high life as a single person on a very average wage. I'll be lucky if I stay afloat.

I study part time with the OU and I have DC aged 17, 14, 9 and 7. I am also in receipt of Carer's Allowance and various other benefits. My point being I have never been asked to look for work.

I know it isn't everybody's first choice but could you do some cleaning or a few hours in a care home to work around nursery.

Can you explain your experience? When I was unemployed in covid the universal credit was only 400-500 a month after paying the rent (just the rent not the bills) and that was with one child. Now I work full-time and even with minimum wage am a lot better off. Hence I don't see how your experience can be true

Funny isn't it - no one actually wants to leave their husband or job so they can be a single mum on benefits. But at the same time they just want to be able to hate single mums on benefits for somehow being better off than them.

According to OP her work coach has told her this is the maximum because of childcare. Seems reasonable.

Thank you but that's not been my experience

That's bullshit that I always read on here I was unemployed in Covid and had to claim benefits. Now I work full-time and even though it's only minimum wage definitely have a lot more money

I wouldn't want to do that. I'm simply stating a fact.
FWIW, I raised my child as a single parent and always worked FT to support. From my perspective I couldn't afford to work PT. I appreciate that we are all different and each to their own

Go for it then, no one is stopping you.

I know people who are better off financially on benefits than those in FT work, that's a fact and what is perceived as unfair by many, understandably so.
As for living in poverty, the people I know on benefits live comfortable lives.

@Parker231 why is that any of your business? Oh wait it's not