35 hours a week looking fo work

[Ludos]

I'm separating from my husband and have been trying to get my finances in order. We had a joint claim for tax credits which I tried to amend to a single claim, however they have cancelled the claim and told me I need to apply for universal credit instead.

I've gone through the online process and its telling me I should be able to work 25 hours a week, with a commute of up to 90 mins. Or, I should be spending 35 hours a week actively looking for work.

I have 3 DC, all at different schools. One is a 40 min drive. I'm currently retaking my GCSE's to allow me to go on to do an access course. Am I going to have to stop studying?

ENGLAND SHORT OF ALMOST 2,500 MIDWIVES, NEW BIRTH FIGURES CONFIRM

“In 2018 the RCM secured a commitment from the Government to train 3,000 more midwives in England over the next three years, and hundreds of extra student midwives begin their training in the coming weeks. We will be pressing for action to ensure those extra midwifery students become, in time, the extra midwives our NHS desperately needs”

www.rcm.org.uk/news-views/rcm-opinion/2019/england-short-of-almost-2-500-midwives-new-birth-figures-confirm/

I only know the process my sister went through. She was told to apply for general nursing alongside her applications for midwifery as she would be unlikely to get onto midwifery due to high demand. Of the 14 people on her access course, 10 applied to study midwifery, including my sister. One was successful. The others went on to general nursing.

Fees loans are not counted as income for UC. I have a student loan myself to cover fees. It's not counted as income for any benefit. The maintenance loan is.

Sorry yes they can’t count the fees, everything other than childcare is counted with a £100 a month disregard for UC. There’s definitely no NHS bursary as that ended 2 years ago for nursing and midwifery.

I think that’s a general response from colleges about applying for midwifery degrees, there was about 90% of us who got onto midwifery from my college.

OP I'd look at ways to do the GCSEs by distance learning, then you could look into part time work and still study.

For me, I was told I have to go to a UC appointment every week, but I'm a single person with no children, they may do something different for you. Your first appointment is where you explain your circumstances and set your commitments.
I'm still having to go in even though I have a job - I'm waiting on a start date so they've backed right off.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss

When I've crashed and burned, with my kids in therapy and my mental health in tatters, would you like me to come back and tell you all about it so that you can feel good about yourself? It might already please you to know that currently I can't go more than an hour without breaking down and crying, that one of my children is having night terrors and one is the only one in their class to not be going on a school trip because I can't afford it. How bad would you like me to have it??

Frequency - nursing just isn't something I am interested in, and I would be doing it an injustice to pursue that route as I just dont have the passion for it, which I think you need to be able to sustain the shifts.

I will make an excellent midwife, I know that sounds terribly bigheaded, but i will. It's the only thing i have ever wanted to do, but I had the children young and am only just at the point where i feel i can pursue it. Obviously this has now gone tits up as my marriage has broken down, but the passion I feel for this career I believe will see me through. The studying and, eventually, the placements I will manage because I want it so much.

Working towards a career in business as a pp suggested, just does not interest me in the slightest, and I would really struggle to maintain a job in that type of industry.

Blahblah and AnotherEmma

When I've crashed and burned, with my kids in therapy and my mental health in tatters, would you like me to come back and tell you all about it so that you can feel good about yourself?

I was with you to start with, honestly, I was but I'm not sure you're cut out for nursing after this statement.

I think you need to spend some more time building up your self-esteem, confidence and work-skills before you attempt something as time-consuming and mentally and physically draining as a nursing degree.

Every able adult needs to work if their spouse/family/anyone other than the state can't support them. Every able adult needs to at least attempt to pay their own way. A job isn't poison. It's not going to damage your kids and you honestly believe studying an access course or two GCSEs will seriously effect your mental health then nursing is not for you, not yet.

Get a part-time job, build some confidence and resilience and then re-visit the nursing idea. Perhaps try an apprenticeship in health or social care as it would compliment the nursing.

Frequency - that was to icecream, and was a stupid retaliation as she seems overly invested in making sure I suffer

spend some more time building up your self-esteem, confidence and work-skills

Precisely what I am doing with the GCSE's, access course, voluntary work and work experience that I will have done before embarking on the degree.

I have thought this through, and planned for it. What I didn't bank on was my marriage breaking down (although better now than in the middle of doing the degree I guess). So this is why I'm here, worried that I will have to through all that away in favour of a minimum wage job just to make ends meet.

Yes, people do this day in and day out. I get that, and, on reflection, I can see why I might piss some people off with my attitude, but this is a lot for me to get my head around. When you've had a clear plan in your head for 15+ years and the rug gets pulled from under you at the last second, its a pretty big adjustment to make.

I will make an excellent midwife

As long as your patients give birth in the 4 hour window you claim to be available for during the day.

If you can't cope with full time regular hours, how on earth do you think you'll cope with changing shifts every week?

Fair enough OP. I get it's frightening but you're going to have accept you need to work and wrap your head around getting a job.

To answer your question, no, UC won't make you stop studying but if you make too many excuses or claim you can't work this day, that day and the other day you will get sanctioned.

You are going to need a new plan that includes studying around part-time work. Once you're at Uni your maintenance loan is classed as income so the hours you will be required to work will lower (possibly to zero) but until then you'll have to seek work and take any job you are offered.

Yes, it's a bit scary, yes, it's not what you planned but it is possible.

TeacherMaths.

I won't be working shifts for another 3 years (oh the irony of your username). All three DC will be at the same school and my eldest will be 16. Even with a DH I accepted that uni and placements would be hard going, which is why I have waited this long. My situation will be entirely different in 3 years.

Frequency, after advice on here I am hopeful that I could secure some work experience on a maternity ward, perhaps even in a voluntary capacity, or possibly bank work, which will tick the box for working and help with my degree? Hopefully the job centre could give me guidance on how to do that?

Yes OP, the job centre can help you sort voluntary work and may have contacts they can put you in touch with.

I'm sorry, OP, but until you start full time university and receive your maintenance loan you will be expected to work and you will be sanctioned if you don't make every effort to secure work. You probably won't have to work 25 hours but you will have to work. If I had to guess a number I would put it at around 16 hours a week.

Volunteering won't count nor will unpaid work experience (although UC will let you do these things they won't let you do them instead of working). Bank work might work but you would need to work a minimum number of hours per month rather than just picking up the odd shift here and there.

If you need more advice contact GingerBread or ask to speak to the student welfare advisor if you're studying your GCSEs through a physical college.

I'm always baffled by people that spend a long time at home with the DC's and do nothing else with this time ie studying or gaining some sort of experience in the area they are interested in.

13 years is a really long time to be out the workforce, add on the three for the GCSE/access course, then 3 years at uni. That almost 20 years.

On a more positive note, ive done all my education whilst working, through mat leave and the small dc years. You need to be organised and disciplined but it's totally doable. It's stressful but has been worth it.

I have a 5 year old in year one and only work 15 hours a week. I'm a single parent. I was told this was fine and I'll never be sanctioned as long as I'm working, no matter how few hours.

"I'm always baffled by people that spend a long time at home with the DC's and do nothing else with this time ie studying or gaining some sort of experience in the area they are interested in."

I loved being at home with my DC. And when they went to school, I loved (still do) dropping them off and picking them up. I loved being able to attend all their performances, loved being on the PFA, loved having their buddies over for tea and am very glad I didn't have anything else to distract me from those precious early years.

In a more positive note, I also did some training and worked in a volunteer role as basic ground work for what I have planned now.

Still 'baffled'?!

Frequency - nursing just isn't something I am interested in

Working towards a career in business as a pp suggested, just does not interest me in the slightest

Sometimes, people just have to work in jobs, even if it isn't the dream job/career. Most people do in fact take this very pragmatic approach and earn money because they have bills to pay. Very few work in their dream jobs.

Good luck with your attitude at the job centre. you will need it

I’m sure every parent would love to be at home with their children all the time, unfortunately most of the time that’s a luxury people can’t afford

Nope, I wouldn't love to be at home with my children all the time And I don't think "every parent" would either. We are all different and that's a good thing.

Nope, I wouldn't love to be at home with my children all the time

not every parent of course but many who cannot afford staying at home. neither can the OP. She will wake up and smell the coffee soon!

That's the thing, I think half of the nastiness towards SAHPs on here is just jealousy.

She will wake up and smell the coffee soon!

Honestly, some of you seem to be getting some sort of kick out of this. I've had my life turned on its head and all you can do is look on with glee, as if I deserve to be punished because I was a SAHM.