to think most part-time workers don't know what's about to hit them?! (Universal Credit)

[aufaniae]

Do you work part-time and get Working Tax Credit or Housing Benefit?

Did you know that once you're on Universal Credit, you'll be expected to attend the Job Centre to prove that you're looking for better paid work / more hours, in much the same way as unemployed people must prove they're looking for work.

If the Job Centre find an interview for you, you will have to attend (with 48 hours notice) even if it clashes with your paid work.

If you are offered a job with more hours, or better pay than your current one, you will be obliged to take it, even if you have good reason for not wanting to e.g. it's only a temporary post (whereas your current one is permanent) / has no training & worse prospects than your current job / makes picking your children up from school impossible / requires you to travel much further / has nothing to do with the career you're following.

If you don't attend the interview and/or take the job, your UC will be sanctioned, you will lose the UC for months or even years (depending on if it's your first infraction).

You will be forced to continue "upgrading" your job until you earn the equivalent of minimum wage for 35 hours a week.

I suspect there are lots of people (e.g. parents who work part time so they can pick their kids up from school) who will be affected by this, but don't realise it yet.

More info here

[Scrazy]

We also have lots of imigrant workers in my area and they are all employed. They secure employment before coming over.

[Scrazy]

We have a food bank in my work town, on of our employees know a few people who regularly get food from it. They love them because they can spend more on drink, this is quoted word for word. I don't know what criteria they use before someone can access food from them.

There is also one being set up in my reasonably affluent home town. Cannot imagine who will be getting food from the food banks. The long term unemployed are all house and receive benefits and there hasn't been a need up until now.

[Darkesteyes]

Skittish People from other countries who live over here are finding it just as hard as we are as i have linked above.

[aufaniae]

JingleMum it looks like the answer if yes if you want to claim any kind of top-up.

You will need to submit accounts monthly (IIRC you have 7 days from the end of the month to submit accounts) and they don't take account of natural fallow periods (finance-wise), or investment things like stock or equipment. If you've bought a load of stock, that comes out of your profits as far as they're concerned, or at least it seems like that's what they're saying! (Not all the details has been released yet).

[Darkesteyes]

From this article.


www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/18/food-banks-on-hand-outs?INTCMP=SRCH

[Darkesteyes]

Really Skittish really?????!!!!!



A large crowd in the Hope Centre are from Romania, and say they are waiting for food because collecting scrap metal and washing cars isn't enough to make ends meet. A bigger number is there because of benefit delays and cuts, or simply because they are no longer able to make their low wages stretch.

[aufaniae]

Darkesteyes I reckon full employment is far from their agenda - they actively want so many unemployed, so we'll except this kind of thing as everyone's so desperate for work.

If they didn't wouldn't they be doing something about creating jobs?
I suspect they're trying to make us "competitive" by driving down wages & conditions, long-term.

In the US, they keep everyone afraid of losing their jobs by tying healthcare into the employment package. Wouldn't be surprised if that's where we're heading, if this lot get their way.

Feeling depressed by this stuff today

[Skittish]

We've been in recession for years.

Hasn't stopped tens of thousands of immigrants finding work.

[JingleMum]

Do we have to earn NMW after expenses if we are Self employed? This is ridiculous.

[aufaniae]

"it seems to be mainly benefit cuts that are incentivising people!" What is your evidence for that please?

[aufaniae]

Skittish we are in a recession, have you not noticed?!

[Skittish]

There have always been plenty of jobs. Thousands upon thousands of keen and hardworking immigrants manage to find them all the time .

Bit bloody late to moan about the lack of jobs now when it seems to be mainly benefit cuts that are incentivising people!

[Darkesteyes]

Agree with you auf Why the bloody hell does it take 8 weeks of unpaid work first. And i bet not all of them doing those 8 weeks will get the job either. Seems to me like they are being made to compete for it as if its some high flying City job.

[lazybastard]

Only job destruction, eg workfare replacing paid jobs.

[aufaniae]

Darkesteyes 2,560 applicants for 80 posts aimed at the long-term unemployed - it just shows that the long term unemployed do want to work!

What's needed is not "incentives" to work (such as benefits being cut), directives to change personal style, forced labour for no pay etc.

What's needed is jobs. It's not rocket science!

What is the government actually doing about job creation?! Anything positive at all?

[aufaniae]

Useful calendar showing what changes will be happening when

[Darkesteyes]

Those selected for the eight- week pre-employment training course, which starts on March 4, will do qualifications in retail and employability and work experience in Durham?s Tesco Extra store.

Read More www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2013/02/02/thousands-turn-out-for-just-80-jobs-at-new-gateshead-tesco-72703-32732384/#ixzz2Jysije3T

[Darkesteyes]

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2013/02/02/thousands-turn-out-for-just-80-jobs-at-new-gateshead-tesco-72703-32732384/

[ivykaty44]

well to late for me as the tax people will only go back 7 years - I wonder though how many more people they will contact and give a rebate though if they don't have to

[lazybastard]

That's what they told me Ivy. Been paying be for years even though I was using none of my allowance. This year though they have said I'm due my rebate after completing a tax return.

[ivykaty44]

and wasn't earning over my PA... robbers

[ivykaty44]

I never did tax office told me I wasn't due a rebate and second jobs I would have to pay br - this was going back some years now - would have been around 13-14 years, as I was doing agency work and had a permanent night shift

[aufaniae]

ivy I hope you're due a lovely surprise tax rebate! :)

[Scrazy]

Ivy, you actually come away better off from a second job as you won't pay the 10 or is it 11% national insurance until you earn up the threshold.

Tax won't be anymore than if you earned it from the one employer.

[garlicblocks]

Also from your link, ivykaty:-
Sharing your Personal Allowance between jobs/pensions
Avoid paying too much tax if you don't pay tax on your main job
If you don't pay tax on your earnings from your main job and you're not using all of your Personal Allowance you can tell HMRC to use what's left in your second job. If you don't do this you could end up paying too much tax. You can share your Personal Allowance across several jobs or pensions until it's all used up.

:)