Putting down “actor” on a Universal Credit claim

[DeloresJaneUmbridge]

Hubby is a bit of a dreamer, he works as a self employed actor (actor with a small a) and does public speaking etc. He also does work in schools offering historical and other presentations.

To be fair he does get work but it’s just not quite enough given that I currently cannot work as DS is disabled. I get Carers Allowance and DS gets DLA. I have to do the school run twice a day because DS will not use the local authority transport (he attends a special school) . In addition I am autistic myself but I cope fine and have a place on a course in September which will lead me back into a well paid job ...I am a nurse and just need to complete a return to practice course.

So we have managed and coped with a low income and I didn’t want to have to go down this route of claiming UC but having had two huge water bills in I am facing having to claim. The water companies have said I can move on to a special tariff if I claim UC as DS has a disability which means we do use more water. As we currently don’t claim anything beyond Carers Allowance and DS gets DLA we don’t meet the criteria for help.

I am just not sure how the work coach is going to cope with DH and am not sure how DH will cope with the work coach. I have just helped DH write a note for the job coach about what he does to look for work and it’s going to be difficult to demonstrate I think. I suspect they are go8ng to laugh at him,

I suspect that some months we won’t be entitled to anything but there’s lots of months where we will meet the criteria for help .

Any job coaches here who have inside knowledge of what happens with people like DH who are self employed but some months not bringing in enough?

Is this all going to be more trouble than it’s worth?

They'll expect him to expand his job search for more realistic options, retail, call centre work etc. If he fails to do so he'll be sanctioned.

Yeah that’s what I thought. He’s a bit of a stubborn old git so I am going to let them argue the toss with him rather than me.

Tbh if it wasn’t such a struggle every single month I wouldn’t bother but I have to now. I have no idea how UC works but heard on the radio the other day that you can claim it when self employed so have bitten the bullet.

Have you checked one of the benefits calculators? I recall your other thread and you said your partner had savings, that will affect your claim.

It sounds like he puts a lot of pressure on you whilst he does his dreaming.

You can only claim it if, as a self employed person, you earn the equivalent of minimum wage for the full time hours you’re declaring that you work.

If his expenses and deductions make his on-paper income too low, they won’t accept it as a feasible business and will expect him to do something else to bring in a wage.

I’m torn on this, as I do believe that the arts are of great value to our society and it’s a shame when only rich people can afford to do certain jobs. Working in the arts is certainly now more or less valuable than other ‘wooly’ jobs like life coaches, therapists and indeed the job coaches who will be sanctioning him.

I’m trying to build up a business at the moment while being reliant on tax credits and it’s hard because all businesses need investment, so you don’t necessarily make big profits in your first few years but when you’re trying to get something new off the ground you’re going to have some hits and some misses. If the government wants small businesses to succeed they do need to help support them in their start up phase.

With some support and encouragement your DH could build a business around his school presentations etc

If you’re only going onto UC because of the water bill I think you’ll regret it - it sounds awful. So stressful, long waits, heavily scrutinised and penalised. If you can possibly avoid it, I would.

Years ago I claimed job seekers allowance after uni when I moved to London. It was only for a few months I'd previously worked as a project worker with offenders. They didn't give a toss what I'd done before, that I had a degree or what I wanted to do. They just wanted me in a job! I really don't know what this will mean for being self employed but on a low income. However if there's any obligation for your dh to look for more work I suspect they will have the same attitude and what him to take anything.

NO more or less valuable

My first husband signed on as a poet in the 70s. They still sent him for factory jobs. He was a bit of a waste of space to be honest.

Gosh, you don't really respect him much do you? 'Bit of a dreamer'?? I would be hugely offended if my partner spoke about me that way. I would feel rather patronized.

It sounds like he is already expanding his options by doing the schools stuff. He could go a bit further by trying to get role play work if he hasn't tried that already. Even a couple of days a month would help. If he has tried, he should keep going as it is good work and can be lucrative.

Whilst I don't agree with your dreamer comment, I do believe that actors should take any work available rather than relying on the state. If an actor is capable of work then they can't just stick to acting.

I used to work in call centres, temp in offices, do market research, work backstage in theatres etc etc.

I would be hugely offended if my partner spoke about me that way. I would feel rather patronized.

I'd probably call my husband worse if he refused to get a real stable job while we struggled with the bills.

Snap @cresoi

I don’t know what they’ll expect of him but I agree with you that you should just send him and let them set him straight. You e been dealing with it for a long time by the sounds of it. Hope it gets sorted out pretty quickly.

Two things....
Why does your son refuse to use the transport provided by the local authority and how old is he? I have sympathy but two of mine have had to use it against their better judgement but I had, you know, a job...... two of mine are autistic and it's a step toward getting used to doing things they might not necessarily want to.

Watersure tariff is not normally income based but based on disability. Might be worth checking the t's ans c's.

My son was using the transport up until September when they suddenly changed the driver and instead of a car which he was in he was allocated a minibus. The noise level even with noise cancelling headphones was too much for him. He ended up getting verbally aggressive and punching himself. He self harms when distressed unfortunately.
So I ended up taking him and ha s been doing so ever since. We tried numerous times to use the minibus but it just didn't work for him. He is unable to cope with public transport yet but in the long term who knows.

Anglian Water say you have to be on specific benefits to get Watersure and we don't get anything beyond Carers Allowance (me).

I agree with Movinghouseatlast and Cresoi. I'm finding it hard to believe that UC will pay your DH for sitting at home doing nothing. Why isn't he getting temporary work through agencies? If he doesn't have the ability for that sort of work, what is stopping him getting work in pubs, supermarkets etc? Why is he not doing the school run when he is not working?

I was on my own for a long time. DH and I were separated for 8 years. During that time I had to give up work as DS was having terrible problems and needed me to be available.

I've been out if work for 4 years but in September am undertaking 12 weeks of return to nursing training. After that it will be fine....it's just until then.

He does do the school run when not working. We share that where possible. Unfortunately DS has had a terrible six months and it's fallen to me to go in for meetings etc. DS tends to open up more to me because we were on our own for eo long. Thankfully CAMHS have agreed to take him on for support.

Ok but doesn't that need to be cracked working with the LA before you start doing training courses etc or you will be two days in and unable to carry on.
I do understand as they changed my sons allocation over summer to save money and the 'clients' were all packed into a small taxi. He can't bear to be touched and has a hyper sensitive nose. He also removes his toe and finer nails whilst distressed but I had to work in September so it had to be reaolved. I just think you may have made a rod for your own back!

As the water sure tariff is because the child needs the extra water for washing of clothing etc I had to prove dla and that was it. I am in Kent

How old is your ds?

I think your dh needs to look for more / better paid work. Sorry but it doesn’t sound like it’s enough to manage if you’re running up water bills you can’t pay. I am not saying there’s anything wrong with claiming universal credits - we are actually in a similar position with a child with dla, me as a carer (and I have disabilities which mean I cannot work too) and dh working, but dh works 38 hours a week in a low paid job just to keep us going. You don’t say how many hours your dh does but if he can manage it I do think he needs to look for some extra hours doing something more stable.

Or if your dh could do the school run on set days you could look for work on those days.

They could/ should have someone in the minibus so you don't need to take and collect him.

We are on the watersure tariff with Anglian water. You just need to be receiving some sort of tax credits or universal credit and a disability benefit. Ds has autism and learning disabilities. It’s not always dependent on needing to use extra water due to disability.

Sorry it must have different criteria depending on where you live/ which water board you are with.

DS is 16 (just) and has learning difficulties. They did have someone in the minibus with him but he became impossible to manage. I'd be getting calls from school because they literally wouldn't be able to get him on the minibus. Meanwhile he'd be sobbing in the backgrpund and banging his head on the wall or punching himself unless someone was with him.

The plan in the summer is to do travel training with him. He will go to college in September to do confidence and social skills. He will be with a special needs department. The college runs several buses which would take DS straight to the college. It remains to be seen if he can cope with it.

DS will eventually cope with stuff but it's just going to take time. I am hoping at that point to put all care responsibilities onto DH while I focus on training. This will make life much easier in the long term as any job I get after that will take us out of needing any benefits at all.

Why not transfer the carers allowance to DH and let him take DS to school and then you get a job? The DH won't be expected to job search and can still do the acting when needed around your work?

My very brainwave thought last night. I’ve applied for a job as a care assistant

Good news!
Just be sure to advise dwp on the weeks he does earn over the threshold.