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Original poster

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

208 replies

jisak · 27/01/2025 20:25

My youngest has turned 3 so I am now looking for work. It's my first meeting tomorrow to check im doing my commitments.

I can only work 10 hours per week. I've applied for 15 jobs so far

How many should I be applying for?

It is hard to find many 10 hour jobs in my local area and within school hours. I can also only travel 20 mins agreed with my work coach

I'm so scared I get sanctioned

OP posts:
Parker231 · 28/01/2025 07:27

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There’s nothing horrible about - many children do it - mine thrived from it and I wasn’t expecting taxpayers to fund me.

LostTheMarble · 28/01/2025 07:27

Parker231 · 28/01/2025 07:16

Why can’t you work full time and use a nursery, child minder, breakfast and after school clubs?

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The child is three so breakfast and after school club isn’t an option. And not everyone can just walk into a magic MN job that pays £££, covers the insane fee of private nursery and still have money left for rent and food. Never mind the fact you can’t just turn up and say ‘I’m starting a full time job Monday so little Jack will go from doing 9-12 to 8-6pm with immediate effect’. This is why returning to work for many women is so many hurdles and expectations that it often doesn’t seem worth it. At least the op is getting a foot in the door where she and her child can build up once they start full time school.

Snowy7 · 28/01/2025 07:26

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So you are saying people shout cheat the system??

IVFmumoftwo · 28/01/2025 07:26

Snowy7 · 28/01/2025 07:21

Why not do what the rest of the population does - use childcare. If you are on a low wage, you will get 85% of the childcare bill covered by UC. Do you actually want to work and better your financial situation? Most women are back full time by 12 months. does your child have a disability which means he cannot cope longer in a setting? Are you getting DLA and carers allowance? On carers allowance, there is no work commitment.

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Yes there is the 85% but there might be nursery or childminder space. She might be very limited by that or no family help.

ThatOchreRobin · 28/01/2025 07:24

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Snowy7 · 28/01/2025 07:24

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so what makes the OP's child special? The rules apply for all other families in the country. Why not OP???

Viviennemary · 28/01/2025 07:24

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Plenty of people do and don't rely on other taxpayers subsidising their lifestyle. This entitled attitude really annoys me.

mitogoshigg · 28/01/2025 07:21

@ThatOchreRobin

Many children are in full time nursery, why is it good enough for working parents but not fair in others?

Snowy7 · 28/01/2025 07:21

jisak · 27/01/2025 20:51

@Starzinsky my youngest nursery placement is only 3 hours. When he goes to school I have to work more hours. It was my work coach that said I could only do 10 hours and only travel 20 mins given nursery and school times etc.

Why not do what the rest of the population does - use childcare. If you are on a low wage, you will get 85% of the childcare bill covered by UC. Do you actually want to work and better your financial situation? Most women are back full time by 12 months. does your child have a disability which means he cannot cope longer in a setting? Are you getting DLA and carers allowance? On carers allowance, there is no work commitment.

maxwellparker77 · 28/01/2025 07:21

@Parker231 breakfast club, nursery and nanny for a 3 year old?

mitogoshigg · 28/01/2025 07:20

You'll qualify for more free hourly 85% of hours you pay for so you can work more that 10 hours a week. Keep an open mind and see what's out there applying for work that you want to do, they won't be too draconian as long as you are properly researching and applying for jobs (remember looking into childcare also counts)

ThatOchreRobin · 28/01/2025 07:19

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ThatOchreRobin · 28/01/2025 07:18

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Parker231 · 28/01/2025 07:16

jisak · 27/01/2025 20:51

@Starzinsky my youngest nursery placement is only 3 hours. When he goes to school I have to work more hours. It was my work coach that said I could only do 10 hours and only travel 20 mins given nursery and school times etc.

Why can’t you work full time and use a nursery, child minder, breakfast and after school clubs?

Nursingadvice · 28/01/2025 07:13

Sorry I’m quite out of touch with it, but don’t 3 year olds qualify for 30 hours, so the expectation is that you spend that long looking for work? I’m not saying that’s right. I just thought they were quite strict these days.

When mine were little you weren’t expected to look for work if you had a child under 12 I think! Seems crazy now.

caringcarer · 28/01/2025 00:25

ToKittyornottoKitty · 27/01/2025 21:23

Won’t the benefit cat apply if you don’t earn the minimum amount? I don’t think it’s about how many jobs you apply for

This. I thought if a child was over 3 the parents had to work 16 hours a week or spend that time searching for work and document your efforts.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 27/01/2025 21:23

Won’t the benefit cat apply if you don’t earn the minimum amount? I don’t think it’s about how many jobs you apply for

Thereishope90 · 27/01/2025 21:21

You have quite a lenient work coach. You have to reach the AET of 892 per month - this will go up in April when the NMW rises.
It is not about quantity of jobs applied for - it’s about quality of applications. You can spend time doing courses and voluntary work, researching childcare options. All count towards work prep activities.

emmaw1405 · 27/01/2025 20:56

Nursingadvice · 27/01/2025 20:31

I thought you had to work a minimum of 16 hours?

Universal credits doesn’t work like tax credits did. You have to take home £743 a month otherwise the benefit cap applies. My SIL found that out this month when her work closed for a week over Christmas and she lost £100 in wages so got £0 in universal credit after most of her rent was paid.

JenniferAnistonForReals · 27/01/2025 20:55

jisak · 27/01/2025 20:49

@JenniferAnistonForReals sorry my first meeting about my commitments as in apply for work. I've done my introduction and group meeting

Totally my fault for mis-reading your post ☺️ I hope it all goes well, it sounds like you’re doing everything you can. 15 jobs is a lot! Fingers crossed you find something perfect soon and try not to worry too much in the meantime (easy for me to say, I know!)

Original poster
jisak · 27/01/2025 20:51

@Starzinsky my youngest nursery placement is only 3 hours. When he goes to school I have to work more hours. It was my work coach that said I could only do 10 hours and only travel 20 mins given nursery and school times etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
jisak · 27/01/2025 20:49

@JenniferAnistonForReals sorry my first meeting about my commitments as in apply for work. I've done my introduction and group meeting

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 27/01/2025 20:48

I don't know where it is, otherwise I would take a photo. I was given an example time table of what 35 hours of job hunting looked like.
It is more about the overall effort and activities, rather than the amount of jobs you are applying for. Things like updating your CV, attending job fairs, researching roles etc all count.

JenniferAnistonForReals · 27/01/2025 20:41

Oh, sorry, I see this is your first meeting regarding work commitments. Mine was fine. I’d applied for one job and it really was just a friendly catch up.

Huskytrot · 27/01/2025 20:38

What benefits do you get now and when will they stop? How are they linked to the jobs you apply for?