Universal Credit - endless amusement

[MiraculousMarinette]

I have been moved over to UC following after a major change in circs, husband and I separated and I changed the address. Stupidly I've put in my claim around the day I get my monthly salary so every other month I get nothing from them due to two salaries within the assessment period. Rather hilarious but whatever, I get something, just not every month.

Checked my journal today and saw this message about imminent phone call from a 'work coach'! I work full time earning 22k per annum, this is a fairly new job that I started in Sep 2018. It's a good job and I've no intention of leaving it yet. What the hell do I say when this so-called 'work coach' starts yapping on about me 'doing everything I can to earn more'? I can't get a second job because I have primary school aged child with regular but short visits from her father. She doesn't spend a night with him, only two afternoons per week. Do I say it's not realistic for me to work more or do I give him some bs about looking for higher grade jobs? I can't prove it obviously because it's not the case yet. I need to stay in my job for a while longer before I can think about leaving. Could that jeopardize my current claim? I'd like to avoid sanctions ideally.

Thanks for reading and any advice will be appreciated

6 in a fortnight Bet your employer was wild about that.

@Fontleroy thanks for that. I’m currently having to pay my full rent as now can’t claim housing benefit and so my full student loan is going on my rent which is 12k a year and it’s leaving me broke. (I moved to the cheapest decent area possible near to Uni) So I could do with swapping to UC to get the housing element. I’ve heard that UC have been forcing students who are parents to get jobs?! My course is a STEM one so is 9-5 Mon Fri and I’m single with 3DC so have zero time to have a part time job too I’m bloody terrified I’d have to leave Uni due to financial issues when I’ve worked so hard and waited so long to be here

@Princesspickle that's every other month for me. Because my payday fluctuates by a couple of days every month I regularly get two salaries in the assessment period, one on the first day and one on the last day. I tried raising it with UC but just get 'There is nothing we can do about it' back. It's funny how your claim got closed because if it but mine didn't. Just shows you there's no consistency whatsoever.

They had me down for a work... whatsitcalled coach. I have a full time job but am currently off sick. I went to the meeting. He said I shouldn't have been there and then tried to make me accept the commitment to spend 35hrs per week looking for a job!
I've spent the last week trying to get hold of someone as they still need some paperwork from me but that seems to be impossible!

What? they wanted you to look for work whilst you're employed but off sick?

Jeez...

@After my course is classed as full time but contact hours are low, about 10 per week. I probably do 15/20 hours of reading per week but this hasn’t been questioned by UC.

Technically I’m still employed, I was able to take a career break from my employer so I’m not sure whether that has an impact but to be honest I think it’s so new that lots of changes will happen when it evolves and different circumstances crop up.

My area was also one of the first pilot areas so luckily for me the staff were as experienced as they could be.

Can’t you switch now? I don’t get full housing but it’s a huge help!

The system is designed to bamboozle and stress claimants, I'm convinced. Typical nasty party tactics. They appear to be waging a war against the poor. My story - 1950s born woman, so 6 years of pension stolen, had a part time job, lost job (company downsizing) now on UC and told to spend 35 hours per week jobsearching. My SPA is late 2020. Until then, I have to compete for jobs with people 40+ years younger!