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Original poster

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

999 replies

aufaniae · 31/01/2013 23:32

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

OP posts:
Scrazy · 02/02/2013 23:57

I brought up a DC for 18 years on my own and worked from when my baby was 3 months. It was tough but it can be done. In some ways I was a good role model for my child and said child is now a medical student, so, I didn't do such a bad job.

I worried about it so much but wanted to work hard and look after my child as well as I could. It broke my heart sometimes when I had to balance work with being a single parent but we had to eat so I had to work and I didn't want to rely on state help but, luckily under the last labour government they help me to work less and pick her up from school a couple of times a week. So with everyone that worries atm, don't if you are prepared to get out there and work, it will be OK.

Mosman · 02/02/2013 23:58

Jonny appears to be the goader, getting everyone all wound up before bedtime about something that actually nobody knows the final details about and we now have threatened suicides. It's ridiculous.

PeppermintLatte · 02/02/2013 23:58

My plan is to continue to with my self employment & get myself to uni once I've finished my access course, I can't see another way. If I don't do it, I'll be on NMW for the rest of my life, I can't allow that to happen, I'm on my own with a child, NMW does not offer me any stability if UC credit is taken away or I'm sanctioned or whatever. £9000 per year in fees? I couldn't give a shit, it's an investment and will hopefully help to stop this government from having me by the balls.

And "why is workfare so bad?" Hahahaha!!! Are you serious? Really?

Original poster
aufaniae · 03/02/2013 00:02

Scrazy have you not noticed we're in a recession? It's not as simple as being "prepared to get out there and work" that's very naive.

Have you actually read this thread btw? I know it's long, but you might learn something. (e.g. the posts from people who are applying for hundreds of jobs without so much as a reply, let alone an interview).

OP posts:
Darkesteyes · 03/02/2013 00:03

johnnyv ive pmed you. If you check the inbox at the top of your screen it should show a red dot to click on.

lazybastard · 03/02/2013 00:04

Actually mosman I was being serious. Redundancy and feeling trapped in a low paid job is a depressing experience. How fucking dare you suggest I am scrounged you know fuck all about what I have been through.

Since you already regard me as disgusting what's one more black mark against me. While we are at it how dare you suggest I only applied due to UC, I applied before I knew anything about them since you must know. BTW the only break from job hunting was the few days I ended up I'll in hospital. Suppose you want an apology for that too.

Original poster
aufaniae · 03/02/2013 00:07

Mosman johnnyv and many of the rest of us here are trying to make sense of the Government's sweeping changes to the benefit system, which they are forging ahead with despite not having ironed out the finer details.

UC and the other benefit changes are a massive shift in policy. It's important we try to discuss them and understand what's going on - both how it will affect us as individuals and the bigger picture.

If you've got nothing constructive or useful to add, why are you here exactly?

OP posts:
Original poster
aufaniae · 03/02/2013 00:09

That should have said

" mosman: johnnyv and many of the rest of us .... "

Punctation fail there Blush the message was supposed to be to mosman, about johnnyv and the rest of us, I hope that was clear!

OP posts:
Scrazy · 03/02/2013 00:11

auf, that's fine that they are applying for jobs and cannot get them, we will still help people when they really need it. It's called a collective welfare state and I am happy to pay nearly 60% of everything I earn to the state ( 20% income tax, 10% National insurance, 20% VAT and all the other hidden taxes on my petrol to get me to work) to look after my fellow man. But if they can work then do it, if there are jobs, why is that so difficult to understand. Don't tell me to read the thread!

Mosman · 03/02/2013 00:12

LB I have not suggested you are a sconger I have stated that I think you're planning and timing are flawed. Do you even know if there's a job waiting for you at the end of your studies ? Or will you join the thousands of graduates in NMW jobs but three years old ?
There's an easy way and a hard way to do things and combining young children with anything is the hard way, since you have a DH can he really not work 30 hours a week ?

Darkesteyes · 03/02/2013 00:13

we will still help people when they really need it

Oh will you Scrazy. Are you new to mumsnet this evening. Just wondering.

Mosman · 03/02/2013 00:14

I am adding the voice of bloody reason to the thread, nobody knows the details, the devil is always in the detail and the initial outline appears to be perfectly reasonable tbh.
All the hysteria is unnecessary at best and damaging at worse.

Eliza600 · 03/02/2013 00:14

It IS as simple as being able to get out there and work.
The only reason people arent working is because they are not prepared to take a low paid job (hotel work, packing veg etc) as they are better off on benefits.
Get out there, do the menial jobs, take courses (outside of work hours) and work your way up.

I am now 60 and have never, ever been out of full time employment. I took 5 weeks off in total before and after my son was born and intend to work as long as I'm able - hopefully till I'm well over 70.
It didn't do my son any harm as he has had a happy life and now a successful career.

Darkesteyes · 03/02/2013 00:15

baby boomer alert.

lazybastard · 03/02/2013 00:18

No mosman it is you and your ilk who have upset me. It wasn't a threat exactly I was expressing how desperate and depressed I have been feeling about my unsucessful job hunting. This though is not enough for you and some others you have to slag me off call me entitled, imply I'm lazy and or a scrounged, people even feel they have the right to call me stupid.

At know point in my life have I ever wanted to claim any benefits of any kind. When I was made redundant I didn't even claim the CBJSA which I was entitled to as I wanted to stand on my own two feet. When DH was made redundant we lived of my meagre wages and savings in the naive thought that at least one of us would find something soon. We eventually put in a claim for CTC when the savings ran out. At the time I thought it was the most humiliating thing ever. I was wrong though the most humiliating thing is the way people like you now feel you have the right to treat me.

Darkesteyes · 03/02/2013 00:18

Eliza this is a triple dip recession. A depression.
You certainly would have been out of employment had workfare been in existence when you were younger.
But hey "you"re alright Jack" Youve had yours!

Scrazy · 03/02/2013 00:20

No Dark, I have been here for many years about 6 to be precise , and mumsnet has been invaluable to me and my family.

johnnyv · 03/02/2013 00:20

" It's called a collective welfare state and I am happy to pay nearly 60% of everything I earn to the state ( 20% income tax, 10% National insurance, 20% VAT and all the other hidden taxes on my petrol to get me to work)"

I think you might be over-estimating your contribution slightly. You have to be on pretty good money not to be a net drain on the state. Over half the population are scroungers, for those that aren't, they are paying for the system that makes and keeps them rich.

Darkesteyes · 03/02/2013 00:20

lazy please dont let the recession deniers on this thread upset you. Sounds to me like you are doing all you can under incredibly difficult circumstances.

lazybastard · 03/02/2013 00:24

Mossman I will carry on my current job for now, on qualifying I will apply for everything and also join the bank system in mine and the neighbouring healthboard area. Worst case scenario I will
more jobs that I am able to apply for.

Here we go again. DH will work as soon as one of the jobs he has applied for is actually offered to him. Neither of us are against working we just need jobs in which to do it.

Eliza retirementment will never be an option for us. Neither DH nor I has ever resigned from a job without another to go to. We were MADE REDUNDANT and it was not voluntary. Also our employers financial difficulties were in neither case caused by our actions.

Mosman · 03/02/2013 00:25

LB - Everything you've been through, I have since my DH was made redundant in 2008, the rug was well and truly pulled from under us, but looking around at the sea of fresh faced grads who can live at home and work happily for £20,000 a year it was blatantly obvious unless your degree is in vocational that MBA's, second degree's and many first ones were a complete waste of time, nice to have sure but they won't add to your employability.
If you want to test my theory add a degree to your CV and send off applications to a couple of jobs you won't take and see what the response is.
If you are 5 months away from completion you've nothing to loose but I personally would not be starting one right now, especially if I'd be financially penalised for it.

Eliza600 · 03/02/2013 00:25

Darkesteyes

I was working throughout the 70s and the 3 day week. That's a 3 day week for 3 days' pay.
I have yet to see the implementation of the 3 day week during this recession.

There is always work if you want it. Be it working for a company (even if low paid) or by setting up your own business, doing anything from cleaning, gardening etc to online type work.

A bit of backbone is what's needed.

lazybastard · 03/02/2013 00:26

Never enough though is it dark. :(.

lazybastard · 03/02/2013 00:28

My degree is vocational it's nursing with registration. Btw I am perfectly prepared to work for 20k its more than we are existing on right now.

Scrazy · 03/02/2013 00:29

OK Jonny but I would be more of a drain if I didn't go out to work, do you agree with that. Work it out, we and that means everyone whether they work or don't are still paying a hell of a % back to this government for them to do what the hell they want with our money. I'm not a big earner and I am aware that I get out of bed every morning for shit money, you don't need to tell me that.

Wait until you kid wants a decent education or you need help with a disability, god forbid, then tell yourself that you gave minus for what you get!

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