Benefits for two months?

[Moneytrouble345]

Name changed as spoken to a few people about this and don’t want to be recognised. I just completed a university course and found my first position. The job I’ve secured doesn’t start for another two months. I need money in between, I did have money put aside for a few months however lots of things happened in my last year of university that used up my savings.

I am on a supply list for work however there seems limited work, although I’m taking what I can. I’ve also got a DS who is due to start nursery but I’ve had to delay his starting before I start work due to finances so me and DH are swapping cars between his job which is difficult.

Can you temporarily go on universal credit or other benefits for two months? I literally won’t have money to cover my bills/eat next month?

I have no idea, buy will your claim even be processed in that time?!

Can you tey and get a part time job - bar work, cafe or restaurant work in that time instead?

Depends on your husbands earnings, as they will obviously take that into account when they calculate if you are entitled to anything

Thank you, I’m looking at other work for the two month gap, just incredibly stressful as nowhere is keen to hire for such a short period of time.

Is there any chance you could approach your employer to be and start earlier? Maybe say due to a change in circumstances you're available to start earlier than anticipated and see what they say. The worst they'll say is that that's want to stick to the agreed start date, but they might be interested in you starting sooner.

What did you do before uni course? Can you find agency work in that field as you have experience of it. Pubs and cafes often take people for short term contracts, cleaning companies too. Nursery agency staff (if you already have a dbs check it comes through quickly)

Call them up and explain and ask. I was on temporary help during the pandemic and it was an absolute rescue. Even if you don't get the payments exactly when you need them they'll at least help later on. I'm assuming they'll have some generic advice too for the time that you won't be covered/if they can't cover you.

i had this happen straight out of university too. i called them up and they let me start 2.5 months early. Worth a try. If your DH is employed could he get a credit card and you both be really frugal for 2 months?

I don't think UC would get processed in that time. I would be asking to start early or look for a temporary job on an hourly rate.

A claim will usually take about 5 weeks to be assessed and paid, though you can ask for an advance on the payment,

You can check out whether you might get anything on this website:

www.entitledto.co.uk

Please bear in mind that obviously your partners income will also be taken into account, as will childcare costs.

Thank you all. I honestly hadn’t thought just to ask to start early, I’ll try that first!

I’ll also have a look at another agency (I’m on two but bizarrely little work is coming through!).