AMA I work for DWP

[PurpleDaisy2114]

Just that really! Not in senior management.

@mrspotter12 can you contact Macmillan? They’ll be able to advise you and can help financially.

I’m a single parent. Currently claiming IS, HB, ctc and ctb (I have 3 children, the older 2 are teens)

Youngest ds is 19 months and going through assessment for asd. I had to give up my job as I can’t physically leave him anywhere - even with his dad or aunties and grandparents. he has meltdowns which take hours to calm down from, he headbutts and bites himself. He doesn’t let anyone touch him (including me). I don’t know when I’ll be able to go back to work. I told my work coach what’s going on but she still put me down for 3 monthly appointments to help me find a job, which I won’t be able to do.

She said when he is 2 I’ll be expected to search for work and provode evidence of doing so. Are circumstances like mine taken into consideration when deciding if a sanction should be applied? (I’ve never claimed any benefits before so don’t quite know how it works if you don’t look for a job)

OldBrownShoe- I am unsure about the requirements for Income Support. But with UC you would be placed in the work prep group when your youngest turns two- you are not required to look for work if you are the lead carer

@OpalIridescence

You won’t need to. They will know from her birthdate. They sent me letter when my youngest started school to tell me change to benefits

Not ignoring these questions, will answer when able.

Transition will be slowly rolled out over the next 3-4 years. It's a massive undertaking and there needs to be the staff available and trained to deal with it. More importantly it's ensuring transition arrangements are in place to protect the most vulnerable.
I personally haven't come across that much fraud. I notice how some colleagues seem to have a default setting that assumes everyone is committing fraud but there are equally fantastic staff who go out of their way to help.
As for Fraud increasing/reducing under UC, as I mentioned earlier, the info from HMRC makes fraud easier to detect but it is missing those paid cash in hand and undeclared by employer.
Everyone receives same training but there is a massive variance in competence, understanding and motivation.

allthegooduser, I am not sure. All I can think is that someone looked at the incorrect years to assess entitlement but in that situation I would have asked the decision maker to explain the reasons why. It is unusual to have to pay it back I agree.

How would they go about switching you over to uc would my local job centre send a letter out with a date and time for a meeting to discuss my benefits? I ask this as I have received a letter stating I need to go to discuss them but never had one before so wonder if it is to switch over to uc thanks

Jsmith- as for a dependency culture, yes possibly. I've always been taken aback at the low aspirations some people have and how many just seem beaten by their circumstances and find it impossible to fight against it. Doing this job has shown me how unfair life can be and made me appreciate my own situation and I'm not rich by any means! The no. of teenagers abandoned by family, addiction, criminal records, mental and physical health issues etc.
There are also those people that do know the system in and out and are hardened to it. They want to get out of the job centre as quickly as possible. I always remember the number of people who used to ask me to show them the screen which showed they had been paid.
It's complex and the cuts to many services mean DWP is one of the few front facing public agencies dealing with these issues.

Staying alive- it is experiences like this that makes me question staying in the dept. Disability awareness is being delivered to staff but some are more open to it than others.

Yes starting school would count as a change of circs opal. Change of address, income, living arrangements, housing costs are the main ones

I think with 3 children you wouldn't change to UC currently but any changes from Feb 2019 you will change to UC.
As for home assessments for PIP, you may have to push for them but yes they are available.

Oldbrownshoe- it could be worth looking into carers allowance but child would need to be in receipt of DLA middle rate care/mobility. You don't have to have a diagnosis to receive DLA but it helps as does all medical evidence. I would look into getting support from your local carers centre. You must be overwhelmed enough awaiting assessment never mind worrying about money.

Purple Do you work in a job-centre?

Thanks Purple.

I am in receipt of WTC and CTC at the moment. I work three days a week which will continue when youngest starts school.
This means that the only change will be childcare element. Both will be in after-school on the days I work so the change will be the amount of childcare element not actually stopping or starting a new benefit. Should I expect to be moved to UC in September?

I'm just trying to understand the timeframe I'm working with and I find the new system and the timing of roll outs to be really confusing! Any help deciphering is much appreciated!

Do you find most people are in a worse position after transition?

Is the job hard? I imagine you are either dealing with very worried people or people you feel are hardened to the system. Does the role offer you much in the way of positive interactions and satisfaction?

Would part time study eg doing a single ou module as opposed to a full course be a chqnge if on income support? What about voluntary work?
It seems to stop people aspiring rather than encouraging them. The safety net has gone from under peoples feet.
Why is a child starting school a change, is that true if you dont have childcare costs and recieve free hours?

Thank you for your responses.

Thank you @PurpleDaisy2114

My health visitor gave me the form for dla but to be honest as he’s only 19 months there’s not really much extra care that he needs than any other young toddler so I haven’t filled it it. Feel a bit of a fraud as he hasn’t actually got a diagnosis yet (but the paediatrician has more or less said they’re just going through the motions because it’s pretty obvious, but they need to exhaust all their options)

I’m just worried that I’m going to have to leave him when he’s not ready which will hinder the processes and techniques we’re developing with him at the moment.

Op

So kind of you answering these questions - thank you!

I am a single parent of 8 and 5 year old.
Earn £24k working 24 hours a week. I only started 1st November as before then SAHM.
I receive CTC and WTC with childcare incorporated (average £91 a week childcare costs) . £1078 a month. It seems very high. Is this correct? Or should I be setting aside money to pay them back?

Single parent working part time on old benefits system. Would you recommend they go full time to avoid universal credit? Financially their not better off but won't have to rely on uc or have to go through transition. Lone parent to child who's two

I’m on legacy benefits, working 24 hours a week. I have a change of circumstance coming up but would not effect the amount I’m entitled to claim. Do I have to inform the dwp and what would happen if I don’t? I really don’t want to be switched to UC.

How do you sleep at night?

My award for UC is the rent component and the living component.

The living component after I have paid rent plus £50 arrears in rent, is £238 per month. Out of that, I have to pay the following:

Water charges - £10
Council tax - TBD (estimated £12)
Electricity - £50 (prepaid meter so paying premium)
Gas - £50 (prepaid meter so paying premium)
Broadband - £17 - Necessary for job searching
Phone - £11 - Necessary
MS Office - £5.99 - Necessary for job searching
Gym subscription - £55 (stuck in contract)
PPC - £10.99 - Will cancel when I figure out how to
Sky - £23.50 - stuck in contract.

Total - £245.48. Deficit - £7.48

That doesn't account for food.

When you get someone on the phone who is crying and or cursing/swearing/f'n and blinding - are you a pious madam who demands that we don't speak to you like that or have you any iota of compassion for people who are gradually getting deeper and deeper into the mire of credit card debt?

For someone like me, it's going to end in my suicide or living on the streets. How can you in good conscience work for these pricks?

@Jazz it isn't OP's system. I am sorry for your situation. Do you work?

No, I'm in a major depressive episode so unable to work. I delude myself daily that maybe tomorrow I'll be able to work. So there is no hope out of this hole for me.

While she didn't design the system, she has no problem working for them.