New UC rules to force both partners to work ??

[Citrusmuffin]

I can’t find anything online about this but have heard it’s being changed as previously there had to be a certain number of hours worked but this could be by just one partner but now it’s being changed to make both work even though the total household hours don’t change??

This seems very unfair and taking away choice for some families in difficult circumstances. I just can’t find the official guidance is anyone able to link to it ? Thanks

Yea sadly you are right.

My niece has a life limiting illness and is extremely disabled, she is a perfect illustration, my sister works full time. The carers allowance and special school provision goes a long way

How does she work full time and receive carer’s allowance? You can’t receive carer’s allowance if you earn more than £139 pw, which someone working full time would do.

I think all of the non-disabled people who don't have very disabled children who have chosen for years to work full time are largely responsible for the awful treatment of people who are disabled and have had such a difficult time accessing benefits at all and, if they do, being paid such an insufficient amount

I take it you have a link to the policy that says that when this money is saved it will be ring fenced for disabled people.
Im happy to wait!!

If New has spent from 8-6 keeping her child from self harming, poo smearing, hurting their siblings, trying to do some educational learning, keeping on top of the house etc., then what she probably needs at 6 is
A. A hot meal which she probably has to cook whilst DH has the kids or which she can't have until DH has cooked whilst she has the kids for longer.
B. An actual break
C. Sleep because I'll be she isn't sleeping 8 hours a night

That's what DLA and PIP should be covering.

Thank you for being so understanding 💐

It’s incredibly difficult , I really really sympathise . This thread hasn’t been very nice I feel bad now for starting it I hope it hasn’t been too upsetting or stressful for you

Yes @Blizzard23 , i do hope your sister isn't actually committing benefit fraud? Unless of course her partner doesn't work full time?

I love some of the posters saying both people claiming UC should work part time as it would be easier.... what about the work which doesn't allow that? The shift patterns that change? The families who have partners that work away or abroad? What about the working parent who works FT because they know they are healthier and are able to because their partner simply can't? (Not technically disabled due to shortages in gp practices and unable to get diagnosed with anything but not quite right either. Probably told it's hormones, tiredness or weight related, when it's actually a chronic condition)

It is a race to the bottom on this thread. Typically British. Just what the tories want and it's working.

Sometimes you just have to work around it. They arent telling you to work, they are introducing minimum hours and income to claim, or you have to prove you are job searching, unless you meet the exclusion. If your own health is that bad you are saying you cant do shift work, then why cant you claim, and im not sure if its PIP or LCWRA, whichever is appropriate, so you dont have the work searches? Otherwise, one person meets the hour and pay requirement, and you just go to the odd UC appointment.

It sucks, but we, as a society, cant support someone choosing not to work, and not saying you are choosing this, but, some in society do. Therefore, benefits have to come with rules and exceptions, so those who can work dont just get a free ride. As a society, imposing this rules is better for everyone, as we need people working in all roles for the country t stay afloat.

Some times these rules are harder for individual circumstances. But unfortunately they cant be on a case by case basis, they have to be universal for everyone.

If you cant get LCWRA or DLA for a child, theres reasons for this, so you would then have to find a work around, either you get a smaller part time job eves and weekends, a WFH position, or, you partner takes on more hours to support you. These are your only options.

It may seem unfair, but its also unfair working every hour god sends to stay afloat and support your children, then seeing people doing nothing and living a better lifestyle. I personally spent 2 years working 60-72 hours a week, doing nightshifts, to support my family, when my now ex lost his job. I resented him for me having to do that. I resented people claiming benefits for no reason, and i feel justified in that resentment. People who CAN work, SHOULD. People who CAN'T work, we as a society should help them. Its that simple.

Maybe means UC carers element which can still be claimed when working full time or DLA money.

Maybe, but that isn’t what was said and if that is what was meant it shows a lack of knowledge of the system.

Yes, if there are many of these people still on tax credits who are still working minimal hours they are in for rather a shock when they move over to Uc this year or next.

So what's the future then if so many are fed up of the current system?

Lack of affordable childcare. In some areas no childcare at all.

I guess that depends what happens at a next general election. A labour government could revert or relax things .

What a ridiculous comment.

Clearly the country can only afford so much for benefits. Tax rates are at their highest in 70 years already. It's obvious that if thousands of people who could work full time choose to work part time or not at all and claim money instead then there is less left to distribute to those who actually need it, or to improve public services for everyone which would in turn increase productivity and salaries and standards of living. People lazily claiming benefits when they don't need to damages the quality of life affordable for everyone else in the country, either through reduced public services funding or higher taxes.

There's areas that have no child minders or nursery provision? Nothing at all?

Where are these places? Looks like child minding will an opening for work opportunities if this is true.

Do you have private medical insurance I think it's needed especially with the way the NHS is going. My mum died at 65 and it's making me think a lot harder about myself.

Why are you upset your husband earns over 100K a year more than what most families earn?

You can afford to be at home with your children and still put on heating, electric and eat good food. A lot of people will suffer with malnutrition because they are living on the minimum wage or UC. That was my upbringing and that's why I have the attitude I have today I will never go back to that.

I love some of the posters saying both people claiming UC should work part time as it would be easier.... what about the work which doesn't allow that?

If nobody in the family is severely disabled they should both be working FULL time before claiming benefits to top up income. People have to design their work choices to make that viable, just like self-supporting families do.

I can only work weekends and during the school holidays due to lack of family and childcare. There are nurseries for my youngest but no after school club for my oldest. Five is a bit young to be walking home alone! Just easier to just work the hours I do. My DH works full time and we claim UC top up. Not sure how I can work more.

Big waiting lists in certain areas. There is only one afterschool club around here with a big waiting list. If it was available my eldest would be going so I could work more.

Yep. Full time before first to maximise income before looking for benefits.

Areas where there's a high number of households where one parent can't afford to work....

It isn't the nursery care so much as the child minding. Wrap around care before and after school, drop off and pick up. I could prob get my twins into 30 hours of private nursery, but finding someone to take them to school of a morning, pick them up and then have them til say 6 isn't so easy
Because there's fewer families needing it so it isn't sustainable.... So fewer families have two working parents..... And on and on.

And there's so many rules etc these days, it's not like you can just canvas your mates nad have their kids

This type of comment is exactly what I mean. You share childcare with friends, or hire a childminder, or move somewhere with wrap around care, or you work during school hours plus evenings, or your DH adjusts his work hours to do drop offs and you start early and do pickups. Why should the taxpayer pay for you to work part time because you haven't planned properly for childcare and "it's easier" for you to make other people pay for you to work part time while many people who are lone parents are working full time? Unbelievable. And people wonder why the country is screwed.

Why don't you become a childminder then? It looks like you would definitely have work if there's such demand in your area.