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

Thank you for posting this link I just couldn’t find anything online !

This was announced in the budget. I think both would be expected to work 30 hours plus. Completely reasonable in my opinion. It is very unfair that single parents are expected to find work but not stay at home parents reliant on UC.

In that case surely you would be exempt if you claim disability benefits

God forbid the op ask for advice on an advice forum

Have you applied for DLA and carers allowance for your child? If so you will be exempt.

🙌🏼

Everybody has different circumstances though.

Some may have a SEN child and be home educating .

Others may have a SEN toddler and want to be a sahm for longer not pushed into work with a 3 year old with additional needs

As I said if they aren’t increasing the number of hours required it seems petty as it just removes choice and flexibility for families with difficult circumstances

There seem to be a lot of families with SEN kids home educating due to no suitable school place where one partner works and the other is busy with the home education- this just removes choice from these families and many others but the hours worked hasn’t changed so if true seems petty ?

They could work at different times and alternate who is with the children?

As a single parent with two SEN children and a full time job I find this baffling.

its a very long wait for dla and some people get rejected , or it may not be at the required rate to be considered a carer so even short term it could cause issues for people under pressure already

You would be exempt then OP

But @Citrusmuffin if you have a SEN child and not working you can claim carers allowance so this won't affect you.

Why shouldn't both work?

If you want to make the choice, not to then pay for it yourself.

My understanding is that you can work up to 25 hours a week if you have a child under 12 (but might be wrong with that figure). If both parents have to work, at most it would be 50/50, so 12.5 hours each? That would still enable parents to home school their child if they chose to.

But others may not be and that is unfair if they have difficult circumstances

It just seems petty - it’s like going to a shop as a couple and not being able to purchase something unless you both have the exact amount of cash to split the cost rather than just one person paying the full price which remains the same regardless !

Everybody has different circumstances though.

Some may have a SEN child and be home educating .

Others may have a SEN toddler and want to be a sahm for longer not pushed into work with a 3 year old with additional needs

As I said if they aren’t increasing the number of hours required it seems petty as it just removes choice and flexibility for families with difficult circumstances

Lots of people have SEN children and work. Why should the state pay someone money because they'd prefer to be a SAHM? If you can't afford it you need to work! There shouldn't be a choice to make others pay for it for you, while they are working and sacrificing time with their own children to pay the elevated levels of tax to fund this for others. Sorry, but it sounds absolutely right that this should be changed!

Current rules are in section 7. Expected hours for lead parent vary by age of child, non-lead parent covered by general UC rules. Disability or caring for disabled child can give exemptions.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-family-quick-guide/universal-credit-further-information-for-families#in-return-for-your-universal-credit

We are waiting for the dla award so hopefully this will be the case but it’s so hard to get dla 🤞

I mean, that’s the same as single parents though?

In which case you would be considered exempt.

It's not unfair and your comparison makes no sense. Benefits are to support people not enable lifestyle choices. You would be exempt, let other people worry about their circumstances.

I assume carer,s will be exempt ,as they are now?

Yes hopefully.

I could understand this idea if they’d increased the amount of hours required but to do this and keep them the same just seems like removing choice rather than acting for any other reason

It just seems petty - it’s like going to a shop as a couple and not being able to purchase something unless you both have the exact amount of cash to split the cost rather than just one person paying the full price which remains the same regardless !

It's not though, is it. It's you expecting a discount on that product because you're in a couple. If your income isn't sufficient to support you then before you claim benefits you should have exhausted all options to earn more income yourselves by working.

A PP said you would only have to work 12.5 hours per week each! That's mad when many single parents have full time jobs. Why should you be subsidised to be a SAHM?

I dont think people should choose benefits as a lifestyle choice

So I dont see anything wrong with proposal.

But I do worry about others ! I have lots of friends in a similar situation and I worry about people