Universal Credit Question

[Theladynextdoor]

I’m not really sure where to post this, I have two school aged but young children one of whom is disabled.
I’m having an awful time at work, it’s getting unsustainable I’ve been trying for a year to make work; work but my hours clash with childcare (work shifts have no family around for about 200miles) and I’m literally getting by day to day using babysitters, favours etc.
I really need to put my notice in at work but it’s 8 weeks notice.
I don’t want to be unemployed I want to be in another job as this one ends but I was wondering if i put my notice in, at work and I don’t find a job before this one ends would my universal credit be stopped as I’ve techincally made myself unemployed?
I’m just so anxious all the time as I’m stressed all day at work about getting to my children before childcare closes or the school mums are sick of looking after them for me I just feel like it’s getting to the point it’s affecting my mental wellbeing, I’ve spent the past year living on a maximum of about 3 hours sleep a day, with no help or respite at all with two children one of the is disabled with complex needs, my jobs is very target driven and stressful I feel like I’m sinking.

Sorry In case it’s not clear, I’m a single mum. Kids dad doesn’t have contact (his choice) and doesn’t contribute anything toward them and has told me he’ll leave work before he gives me any money.

Whatever job seeking benefit you get you would need to explain the reasons why you left. If you cannot cope due to childcare and your child’s disability that could definitely be reasonable. If you were sanctioned then you can challenge within one month.

It is worth getting advice about what benefits you can claim. If you have been paying national insurance then you may be entitled to contribution based benefits. That might mean staying on current benefits, could mean universal credit. Citizens advice or another advice agency could help.

If your child is getting DLA you may be able to get different benefits.

I guess I’m stuck there for now then, it’s really difficult because it’s 8 weeks notice and the thought of even going in next week is getting me down, I can’t imagine doing another 8 weeks with this level of exhaustion let alone finding a job and then starting 8 weeks notice.
I just want to put my notice in and hope to find any job at all in that time but I guess I’m stuck there for now.

Sorry if you got that impression. Im definitely not suggesting that you have to stay in thejob.I’d suggest getting advice on your options.

Oh no, please don’t think I was being rude with you I really wasn’t, so sorry if I came across that way. I appreciated your advice, it’s made me realise I need to sort myself out quickly.

My work is awful I’ve pretty much been bullied for the last year solid, and it’s pretty big stuff like someone swearing and shouting at me at me at work nearly every day while everyone awkwardly pretends not to hear. I spend every day running from one stressful situation to another and then I’m up all night sorting my child out who has difficulties.
I’m just exhausted but I know I’m not really in a position to leave right now as much as I want to.

Thank you for your advice though it was useful

You have to do what you need to do. If you cant cope,then change your situation as it does sound so hard. To be working in a stressful environment and then to look after two young children on your own,that's really tough. I would give in your notice if you were me.
I have a son with asd and am currently a self employed cleaner,I work while he is at school. Am a single parent like you and life is stressful enough so this suits for now.
Good luck op

Thank you, my son has quite severe ASD, he has dyspraxia too, severe speech and swallow problems and is constantly choking on foods and getting them stuck in his airway. He’s had quite a few emergency admissions for this which is really quite scary when it happens.

I’ve had to dash out of work for this quite a few times.
He’s also got some other medical problems.
I work 10 hour days and it’s just a nightmare. He won’t eat at the afterschool club so when we get home at 6.30 I have to start making his dinner, then bath both children’s and get them to bed, then he wakes at least 3 times in the night. Waking up for the day at 5am.
Then I have to get everything ready and get them to before school club before going to do my next 10 hour day.
I work with someone who’s awful to me, he’s constantly trying to catch me out and make me look stupid in front of the team. I constantly get bitchy remarks for needing to finish on time and for not staying late and doing unpaid overtime like everyone else. I feel like my confidence is totally at rock bottom after a year there.

I just feel like I can’t make it work anymore. I’m desperate to leave, I have no family or friends nearby to help and I’m on my own all the time trying to make everything work.

My only worry is, if I put my notice in and I don’t quite get a new job in time I’m absolutely screwed if my universal credit gets stopped. I’m on that because my wage is quite low so I couldn’t cope without it even for a month as I wouldn’t have anything to help me get by.

I’m fairly hopeful I would get a job as I’d take anything going to be honest but I guess I need the security of knowing I’ll be ok if I don’t. But I think it will be up in the air which worries me.
It’s just a pain that my notice is 8 weeks I’m worried it’s too much notice for jobs when they have someone who can start straight away and someone who can’t start for 2 months. I know which one I’d choose if I was short staffed