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.

Yes cressida that is of no hlep, and actually makes no sense, so thanks for that

Ruledbyheart - your partner should be entitled to the Job Grant if he's been claiming for over 26 weeks without a break in claim. Also should get 4 weeks help with housing benefit and council tax.

What is someone who can't afford two lots of childcare an idiot? It makes a lot more sense to do that and pay your own way through life than it does to make bad choices and have to claim money earned by other people so you can have children without worrying about how to pay for them. Some people have morals, some don't.

Friends can't afford a second baby until first is at school (due to childcare) so are waiting, that is not the fault of OP or anyone else.

there was a time when one full time wage was enough to live on. Not only have wages almost halved in real terms since the 60's, we have double the amount of people looking for work and in work at a time when fewer and fewer workers are actually needed because of changes to tech and production.

Businesses are sitting on some on a £777bn in cash because they have squeezed wages and productivity and then decided to have a sulk and stop investing. The answer to this is to mire everything in so much confusion that working class people attack each other.

CloudsAndTrees

and some people have empathy whilst others are moralisers who for some reason think they have some kind of "shit won't happen to me shield"

clouds.

There would be far fewer dc in the world if nobody had them unless they were rich.
The OP needs help, support and kind words not being told she is immoral.
There are many reasons people are unable to work.

ruledbyheart

I hope you feel like the majority on here have offered support, kindness, empathy and help.
However, we live in a society where there are many who fail to be able to offer the above.
I noted from your first posts you were very vulnerable emotionally and personally think your thread will go progressively worse.
If you don't feel up to the bashing, take the kind words offered and run, there are some horrible people out there.
Wishing you well with the baby, work and the future.

OP - it sounds as though you're really having a shit time of things just now....

I would seriously be thinking about talking to the Citizens Advice Bureau, just to see if they can help with managing any debts that you have, try to reduce monthly repayment plans etc?

Also, your DP could do with a visit to the GP if he's depressed as this is all piling on top of him, Zero Hours contracts are not even worth the paper they're written on. They should be illegal, but so many honest, genuine people who want to work are happy or feel pressured to sign them, that they keep cropping up and it seems a cheap way to get labour for employers who actually don't give a shit.

Would he consider a cleaning job? Stacking shelves? Bag packing? Shift work? ANYTHING to pay the bills and feed you guys?

Is he in any kind of programme at the job centre? Is there any support for him to help him find a new role? CV help, setting up interviews via an agency?

Is he registered with any employment agencies? WTC would certainly be the best way forward but he needs those 16 hours in the first place. It's vicious circle isn't it?

I hope something comes up soon for you all x

I was responding to a poster who said that people who space out children so that they can afford their children and their childcare costs are idiots. This poster claimed that such common sense sounded like a wind up FFS.

I did not call the OP immoral. Nor did i say people should only have children if they are rich. you don't have to be rich to be able to afford your own children. Perhaps you should re read the post.

It is possible to have empathy at the same time as having morals.

I don't read any empathy in your posts to be honest clouds.

Don't feel bad. The remark about pregnacy was below the belt.

The zero hours contracts are bebcoming more common. So many people have lost their jobs in the last few years and I think that people should be encouraged to do what they can. What's the point in penalising someone for trying?

If/when the economy picks up again and there are more jobs, employers are going to want people like your DH, rather than people who sat on their arses thinking "what's the point".

The initial outlay with these catalogue businesses is variable; it's worth looking into a few. You can make some money with them: not that much, but it's worth doing just for the extra hours.

Thank you for the helpful responses, frankly the people making judgements on me and my family can fuck off cos at least we are trying, surely better than sitting our backsides living of the government but still not good enough for some.

I will make an appointment with CAB to see if they can help and will continue to try and look for more.work.

Unfortunately the one employment agency won't take DP on as they once upon a time offered him a job he could not do and he had to turn it down (accounts work with no accounts trainingincluded DP is badly dyslexic).

Job centre won't help now DP is signed off they don't want to know.

DP has gone to work and will make sure he sits down with the manager and explains his situation to see if they can sort these hours out.

If nothing changes then we will make up a plan B.

Mouseface DP has applied for everything going that he possibly can I have helped him with the applications everything, he has had a few interviews but unfortunately DP never got any of the jobs except this one but its not for lack of trying.
He would work 24/7 if it meant he could provide but at the moment this is all thatson offer.

Where are you op?

I'm an owner driver, and belong to a forum of us. Lots are self-employed and have to cover for our own sickness/holidays etc. Our company operates 6 days a week, so people are often looking for someone regular one day a week. You only need to average 8 hours so that could be doable.

Just to show you can come from a shit situation. Once upon a time I was pregnant, by a severely disabled, terminally ill man, I was homeless and penniless also. We fell through various gaps in the system, because we were unable to live together for 5 years since he was in residential care. This buggered up money, because I couldn't get benefits as a single person because we got married, but couldn't as a couple because we lived apart. The system wouldn't help us because social services wouldn't provide care until we had appropriate housing, and housing wouldn't help us because we had no care. Clearly both were hoping he would die before they had to do anything with us. He eventually died at 31, 13 years past his life expectancy.

During this time I always did odd jobs involving driving. Leaflets, parcels, phone books, food etc. I am now pushing towards earning 30k from this type of work. It is doable.

I have a zero hours contract and it sucks.

I booked and paid for childcare last week for the 3 days I was due to work and at the last minute they took the 3rd day off me. So no pay and £16 down because I'd paid for childcare

Maybe we could start a Mumsnet petition to abolish zero hours contracts.

Clouds and treees err, the previous poster suggested that the OP was on a windup because she dared to have another child when they were hard up. As for their friend being an idiot, maybe a bit strong but a bit niave really to think that was a better financial option than having the children closer together, having to fork out more for childcare in the short term but at least then building their career so that when both children at school they will be in a better position, i was not for one minute suggesting they should rely on benfits.

OP Do please get your DH to consider volunteer work - genuine voluntary work that will build on his skills and possibly even qualifications, rather than working for this company. Those sorts of jobs are just not suitable for people with families to support. There is no sense in your DH doing this job, he will get better skills elsewhere - ok no pay but you wont lose out benfit wise and he will feel if he is contributing. Get in touch with your local volunteer organisation, send his CV and you will be surprised at how this will improve his self esteem and employability!

Also, if he is dyslexic he should not be discriminated against.

I think a trip to the CAB is a good idea. As well as advising you on your benefit entitlements, they can also put you in touch with non-governmental organisations, such as food banks (e. g www.trusselltrust.org/how-it-works ) who can help you keep your head above water until things get better.

The thing about being employed is that it plugs you into a network of people who could help you advance and find new opportunities, as well as making you more attractive to other employers. A lot of jobs aren't advertised: you find them by way of mouth in your professional network.

My sympathies to you and anyone else who is trying to claw their way out of our arse-backwards benefits system. The important thing is to remember that you are not alone: there are people and organisations out there who can help you. I hope your situation improves soon.

same happend to me. Got myself a job, told me no more shifts for me after 3 months which basicaly cocked everything up made me get into rent debt, live on own with two dc with no money, just a mess. It is frightening an i cant sleep for worry. Just applying like mad for anything an eveything, it so stressful.

Surely the 16hours is paying more than JSA anyway? On a low wage you will still get HB and CTC plus three lots of child benefit. Then theres maintenance for the three children.

Life is tough but as others have said, you are an adult and chose to have another child. Given you are only 24 from your other posts and already have three children then your CV is going to be very patchy so your new DP is realistically the only income earner.

Volunteering as mentioned would be good for both your cv's as its likely you will both need to work to support a household of 6.

Maintenance whats that lol.

With all 3 dc I worked throughout and after its just this time round.

HB is the biggest issue after lots of research as having no real contract means they will work out entitlement ob a monthly basis which means having to work out how much of dps wages is going to have to go on rent and council tax every month and then sort every other bill out.

Problem is as well is although the amount he earns even on 16 hrs is more than jsa he still has to pay out for his own petrol (gets some milage but doesn't cover it) so he is no better off.

If the car goes bang then he cannot work yet will still technically be employed so cant sign on.

It's all such a mess.

We want him to work but financially we are worse off and although volunteering is a great idea it he can't sign on unless he is sacked.

hmm If he has already asked about the 24 hours (which is after all what he was originally promised) and they keep promising but not following through then i can see that sooner or later you will probably have to use a food bank OP. Which might not look too good. An employee of a food outlet having to use a food bank.
Maybe this needs to be hinted at to this "employer"

It really is ridiculous tonight he was meant to work 5-10 he walks in at 9.30 as they sent him home early this has happened every shift so far.

I can't deal with the stress of it, he said he'd spoken to them but yet again he is sent home early he is doing bugger all hours but yet has to stick to it or quit and not be able to sign on for 26week.

Shit shit shit.

I'm hormonal and stressed now