to think its no wonder people stay on benefits?

[ruledbyheart]

My DP has started a new job getting the only job he has been offered after 1yr of trying, its only part time but we thought its better than nothing and at least he is willing to work.

He is working for a well known pizza franchise doing delivery and took the job on the basis he got a full 24hrs a week yet he is on week two and has only been given 16 so far.

He signed off job seekers to be told he won't receive anything other than the money leading up to sign off so we will have to survive for an entire month on my CTC and somehow live and pay billswith this.

He is eligible for WTC providing he gets the 24 hrs if not we aren't entitled to anything, without this we still have to pay extra on our rent and council tax out of his barely worth it wages.


However if we stayed on benefits we could afford to live no problems.

If his work doesn't give him the hours promised we will barely scrap by yet he couldn't leave and sign on again as he would be told he made himself unemployed.

So pissed off that we are worse off working.

There is no work locally and he struggled to get this.

I can't work at the moment as I'm pregnant and have 3dcs under 5yrs.

Aibu to think this is shit and we should have just saved the hassle and stayed on benefits?
No wonder people dont want to work.

[expatinscotland]

Well, over here, you can stick a card up in a supermarket and people call you up.

I do it myself.

It's easily doable.

[ruledbyheart]

DP is under doctors care at the moment and is getting better but still a long way off, going to see how the next few weeks pan out with his hours etc but if no improvement then we will have to come up with a plan B.

I am trying to find work myself but I'm now obviously pregnant and with all my appointments I am struggling too.

[akaemmafrost]

I am not disagreeing with you. I am telling where I am it is not easily doable.

[expatinscotland]

I temped while pregnant. Then left DD1 with DH at home and went to work FT when she was 8 weeks old. When you have to eat, you have to find a way to get work.

[expatinscotland]

Plenty of people I know do it in London, too.

[akaemmafrost]

Where I am it is difficult to do without references and insurance. I know this because I used to dog walk here and everyone asked for insurance. People where I am prefer professional services. I lost all my clients in the end but was fine as I had a full time job by then anyway.

[EasilyBored]

I didn't ask her to explain her circumstances, simply pointed out that having another baby when you are utterly broke isn't a sensible course of action. And yes, I would say that to anyone who was complaining about the shitness of their situation and being pregnant was part of that. I'm glad that you are happy about your pregnancy OP, I don't think it was the wisest thing to do but I imagine you will make it work somehow.

Of you start a thread about the unfairness of your situation and throw into it that you can't work because you got pregnant while the situation was already pretty dire, don't expect 100% rosy responses. Sometimes life hands us a shit deal, and sometimes we add to that ourselves. We all need to own our choices a bit more.

As I said on sorry you are dealing with the zero hours crap, it does suck.

[expatinscotland]

So the OP lives where you do then? And so it's not an option for her?

Some people will take on anyone if she/he is cheap enough.

[5madthings]

The op has already said her pregnancy is high risk meaning she can't work.

[wannabedomesticgoddess]

I think theres a lot of ignorance on this thread tbh.

Food in their bellies is more important for kids than seeing their dad work for a pittance, making money for a company that dont give a shit about him. Its clear the OPs DH wants to work. But if working puts his family at risk of going hungry or becoming homeless its just not going to help is it?

The problem is not with benefits. Its with wages being too low and these nonsense zero hour contracts

[expatinscotland]

Ok, it's water under the bridge now, but I do agree somewhat with EasilyBored's sentiments.

I mean, you have 3 children under 5 already, you don't work, your partner doesn't work, has depression and you didn't use birth control because of suspected menopause, not confirmed. It's not a miracle, it's what happens when you don't use birth control and have not experienced the menopause.

Now you 'can't work' and it's high risk and all. To be fair, situations such as these are the reason there's a lot of ire right now towards people on benefits.

It's a moot point now, but really, this type of lack of responsibility has a lot to do with why there's such a move on to see off the welfare state.

That being said, zero hours contracts are shit and should be illegal.

[SolidGoldBrass]

Tell your H to take on something like an Avon/Bettaware round and claim the missing hours are spent on that.

[akaemmafrost]

Does she live where YOU do so it IS an option for her?

I didn't realise that describing my own relevant experiences would create conflict.

Anyway it's all moot as a previous poster says the OP's pregnancy is high risk so dog walking and cleaning in a work capacity not possible for her anyway.

[RedHotRudieParts]

Yes, zero hour contracts are becoming the norm. Fine if you're working for 'pin money' not so good if its to support yourself. Th I think stores should only be allowed to open if they employ a certain number of fulltime staff and minimum hours offered of 16 for other staff, not pissing about so they pay less tax.

Op, are you surrenders you won't get help ?? My friends just started working 16 hrs and is better off.

[FillyPutty]

As I understand it it's common, as SolidGoldBrass says, to take up light-weight jobs such as mystery shopping, and other self-employed-type jobs to get up to the WTC threshold.

I believe if you post on Money Saving Expert there are experts on how to get on to WTC with minimum effort.

[SaskiaRembrandtVampireHunter]

SGB has a good idea! I think there's an initial outlay for Avon and similar schemes, but it's an extra income, and you could use it to bump up the numbers of working hours so you're eligible for WTC.

[akaemmafrost]

I am never sure what lectures about "irresponsible" pregnancies are supposed to achieve because it's obviously not for the ops benefits as she is clearly feeling pretty shit anyway or she wouldn't have posted.

[Nuckinfutter]

I think where part of the problem lies is that jobs as delivery drivers for fast food companies used to be filled mainly by people as a second income ie young guys / retired men with cars who were available to do a few hours each week, they could pick and choose when it suited them to work, they didn't really want too much commitment, leading to a high turn over of staff with no ties on either side.
Now, for many of the people applying for this type of work it is their only source of income and these type of companies just can't or won't commit to set hours for staff.

[BoringTheBuilder]

People live like this in many countries around the world, count yourself happy you receive any help at all.

[morethanpotatoprints]

FFs, kick a girl when she's down why don't you.

OP I am so sorry you are going through this at a difficult time for you all. I too had a little miracle, she is 9 now and her brothers are 18 and 21.
The week before I poas, the doctor told me I was on the change.

I hope it works out for you and agree that your dc need food in their bellies and you need the bills paid. You are good role models in that you are looking for work, if it isn't going to pay, then you are better off on benefits. I have been sahm for 20 years. My eldest ds has 3 jobs and has a great work ethic, so shoots the role model theory in the foot.

[CressidaFitass]

This sounds like a windup.

Friends can't afford a second baby until first is at school (due to childcare) so are waiting.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Cressida and?

[Lucyellensmum95]

So, the OPs husband managed to get a job for a shit company that doesn't treat him well - they are worse off because they cant claim WTC? Its a no brianer - Don't do it!!!!! Seriously, i think your DP would be better off doing voluntary work tht would give him more of a rounded set of skills and make him more attractive to potential employers than doing the job he is doing now.

That way he is contributing to society so no guilt for benefits and becoming more employable in the long run.

Could that work?

[Lucyellensmum95]

Your friends are idiots then aren't they because if they wait til first child at school then it will be even longer before they will be in a position where childcare less of an issue - so actually, its YOUR post that sounds like a windup.