To be absolutely fking sick of Universal Credit

Yes they have cancelled it luckily. I did read of a couple where one is a SAHM and the other earns over the AET yet they were saying they preferred both of them to earn that AET together. I don't see the point of that??

The aim is to get people working more. If there was no AET, surely people would just work minimal hours knowing they’d get more UC.

Also, your other comment about the appointment for your husband.
The work coach will look at the earnings at the end of the assessment period- if below AET, they have no choice but to book the work search apt.

If your partner leaves a journal message to state they have started work any decent work coach (which is some cases they clearly aren’t) would reschedule the appointment for after the end of following assessment period, when earnings would be showing- they could then cancel it. Or, if they were able to, just do a quick phone apt.

This is something I never understood about UC. If someone gets a job, why do they need to keep applying for random jobs until they start. Who would hire and start quicker than the onboarding process for a job you’ve just secured? It’s idiotic.

My DD was asked to take an hour away from her new full time permanent post to discuss how her CV might be improved!

Sorry that was for @OnyourbarksGSG

Look, you claim you know the rules.

They aren’t calling her there for shits and giggles. When your earnings drop you need to look for additional work

They have their rules they have to follow.

If OP is not happy, she does not have to claim.

Some pp I really hope redundancy, job loss, change in circumstances visit you and you will have a better understanding of how frustrating and vindictive the benefits system can be.

The system doesn’t make sense in lots of ways. I was made redundant and let them know, I’d been offered a job before my first meeting and was just waiting for my dbs to start. Had to go in every week for a work search appt until I started. It was a waste of mine and the work coach’s time, she’d just ask if there was an update and send me on my way.

See https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/20893/ for a very similar case

Green doesn't suit you by the way.

And how will she pay her bills? Surely it doesn't ask a lot to apply common sense? Making an appointment for my husband to attend "a getting into work" appointment when he literally mentioned he has a new job?

Good thing it’s not compulsory then.

You can always close your fucking UC claim, if it’s too much bother.

It's not about a free lunch it's making it a usable service for the people who need it. How would you like your welfare system to be?

Fair?
Accessible to those who need it?
Efficient?

There are many examples above which show a string of needless unnecessary demands on the user. Also people working part time choosing between working a shift and attending a meeting with a work coach.

Nobody should need to book time off work to claim benefits, that's doing the opposite of what the system exists to do.

This sounds like a really poor system, similar to our old tax credits and has led to way too many people being overpaid and having huge debts to pay back.

I don't have experience with uc but every thread I read on here I am shocked and how universally shit and counterproductive to work and common sense thdr are. What an awful system.

I don't get UC so I don't know. No such thing as a free lunch I think the term is.

I probably wouldn't have a go at the work coach as they have to follow the guidelines of weekly appointments until you are above the AET.

I don't get the AET thing anyway. If you are working what does it matter how much you earn? For many of us we would work more if we could!

Mine has started a new job which gets paid on the end of the month instead of the 28th. This meant it looked like he hadn't had a wage so he was given an appointment. Luckily they have cancelled it after he sent a message saying he wouldn't be able to attend as he would be at work.

I think it is a total lottery on what work coach you get!

@BunnyLake most people don't choose UC over earning, it's a top up because their salary is insufficient

It just doesn't fit the self employed model, for instance if you are over the 1,500 threashold then one month expenses dip below that as they do sometimes with self employment you immediately need to look for work, sign on etc. even if your business is profitable, it is only looked at month to month, not year on year profits, so it must be very expensive to run as a system as well and you can't have a big expense one month or you are 'not allowed' to be self employed anymore.

I a working full time (self employed) with a post fractured foot. Simply isn't worth trying to go on the sick....

Phone and try to speak to someone else, explain you can't go due to work. Seems like someone's just not very bright so hopefully if you explain to a different person they'll cancel it as its clearly not necessary

Sorry - not on your topic OP but I absolutely hate posts like this declaring what mumsnet users will do 🙄

Im sure the majority of individuals working as job coaches are probably fine, but the system is not fit for purpose, and has no flexibility within it for managers to override things that flag up or are ridiculous due to individual circumstances. That is why they have moved all the easy cases over first, and why the most complicated, such as self employed, on carers or with disabilities or disabled children, were the last to be moved.
And as we are the last cohort, it seems we are flagging up all the issues in the system, and unfortunately paying for it.
Im just trying to work out whether I can be bothered to take it further to get things overturned. I think if it had been a few years ago and I was less exhausted, and that the impact of a £300 a month loss would have been ongoing for years, I would have done. But for only 10 months Im a bit wearied by the whole thing and just want to get on with my reduced life. £300 a month may not sound alot to those working, but its quite a big percentage when you are reliant on benefits due to lifelong and unpredictable caring responsibilities.
Plus I dont want to piss them off because you just never know. Ive always been good and reported everything, and kept meticulous records, but having been the victim of an unsubstantiated report and investigation in the past, I just want to keep my head down and get on with compliance. which is really sad tbh