Do Universal Credit rules require work when you have young children?

[Chezza1990]

Does anyone know if there are any rules with having to have a job when you receive universal credit and have children? To put it into context I have 3 children aged 4 and under, my partner is self employed and im currently employed, however im struggling to maintain a healthy work life balance.

Parents with children under 1 are not required to work, while those with children aged 3+ must spend up to 30 hours on work-related activity.

Also, fwiw but universal credit is supposed to be a short term, last resort option, not a choice.

however im struggling to maintain a healthy work life balance.

Are you asking whether you can just jack your job in and claim benefits?

Although, I do understand that feeling of just not being able to carry on with all the responsibilities when children are small (particularly if your partner is away/busy a lot). It is overwhelming.

As a couple you will have a minimum income guarantee that you need to meet as a couple to not require any work related activities. It will all depend what your partner makes from self employment.

could you go down to part time?

I think you need to find a job that suits you better.

I find my job stressful and at times tough on the work/life balance but I’ll be sticking with it and I’m not keen to pay your living costs.

Please work. Having 4 children, you have already used more resources and will continue to use those resources. At least help pay for yourself and your children.

What sort of balance do you expect with 3 children under 4?

If you choose the bring children into this world then you’re responsible for them. Life is overwhelming at times and children are bloody hard work. If you and your DH aren’t bringing in enough to support a decent work life balance then you both need to re-evaluate your jobs and career choices.

Are you aware you have just asked - ‘is it ok if other people work instead of me? I’d like them to pay for the 3 kids under 4 I chose to have’

I so wish you’d turned voting on. This is exactly why the country is on its knees people deciding not to work as life is a bit much. Why did you have 3 kids if you can’t provide for them?

Short term ? Who told you that ?

I’m sure it’s an earning threshold now. I know as a single parent to an 8 year old they are happy I earn the equivalent of 18 hours a week at NMW.

kindly… @Chezza1990 what did you expect with 3 dc under 4? Is this some sort of wind up??

If you don't have a job OP then how can you have a work/life balance at all?
🙄

Universal credit isn't short term. I've bene on tax credits / universal credit for 17yrs.

You are getting a hard time op ! Whether you are asked to work whilst claiming UC will depend on what your partner earns and whether he meets the couples earning threshold. If you have kids under two ( i think ) you have no requirements to work.

And now the two child cap has been lifted you'll get money for all three kids !

I expect, given it’s all over social media today about how one would be better off not working in current climes, that this is a windup post.

Maybe op had twins and didn't plan for this?

It’s £1,597 for a joint claim but self employed earnings don’t count towards this.

I mean, when my dc were that age, I was leaving for work before they even woke up at 6am and walking back in the door at 7:30-8pm at least three days a week. Yes, work life balance was hard. 😂 I did usually have one day off totally home with them. But I couldn’t claim UC even if I wanted to an an immigrant. So I worked. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes I was looking after four kids under seven all day and then working 12 hour nightshifts ! not sure how I got through years of that tbh !

The question still stands…

In the real world loads of families receive universal credit even if their partner works. I wasn’t aware a family where one parent was working were considered part of the “scrounger umbrella” before I used mumsnet.

If your partner is paying more in tax then you will receive in universal credit (like in my family) then consider it a tax rebate.

And this is exactly why they shouldn’t have lifted the 2 child cap. If you choose to have 3 kids then you need to work to look after them. No one has a work life balance with three small children.