Please Help! Universal Credit.

[Pinksunset40]

I am a user of MumsNet but I have had to set up a new account due to login details.

Anyway...
I am so confused and stuck in a situation where I think I ANBU!

I am currently a single parent. Two children 5 and 2. I have just finished a university course and I am graduating with a BA (Hons) in October. As part of a uni requirement I had to do a unpaid work placement or volunteer, which I do once a week.

I want my children's dad (they have the same dad) to move in. We have been on really good terms recently and I would like to make a go of family life and he move in with us (he currently lives with his parents). He works Mon-Sat but only earns £17k a year (commission based job in sales). This would help massively with childcare.

At the moment I claim
Child tax credit
Child Benefit
Housing Benefit

I do not claim Income support every though I am entitled to it.
I did have student loans and maintenance but now I have finished my studies this has obvious stopped. So I am also paying full price nursery fees whilst I still volunteer.

I have to now apply for Universal Credit and claim as a couple when (and if) he does move in. But I have found out that involves going to a compliance and work based meeting. He already has a job but the advisor has told me he needs to attend at least one meeting (so book time off work to go to a work based meeting?!) only one of us can claim and be paid in to one account anyway so I do not know why we both need to go. This would also mean having to find childcare too if it is on a day my youngest isn't at nursery and we both need to go. If we don't my claim can be suspended.

I cannot work it out on the benefits calculator because I am putting single parent claim in but trying to add "my partner" so I do not know where to start or what I am meant to do, who am I meant to get in touch with.

Is anyone else on UC who can shed a bit of light on this or advise?

My BU is that am I being unreasonable thinking we both need to attend the meeting (him book time off work) and that I am being made to go to work based meetings even though my child is 2. I do want to work that's why I've been studying for the past 6 years! (College and university). I want to look for my own job as I know what sector I want to go into I also can't afford to work full time at the moment with childcare fees (not an excuse but it is different to income support and a young child).

I don't know who else to ask I have rang and looked online for days (seriously!)
I am also worried about how long a claim takes to process and having no money until then. I literally have £4.11 in my bank. It is all so stressful, it is making me feel ill, I stay awake at night wondering what to do and it is the first thought on my mind in the morning, I have to get up because my heart races and I feel physically sick.

Please any help?? I don't fancy a Benefit bashing thread and I am just looking for help and advise.

Unfortunately thems is the rules...when you apply those applying need to attend an interview and because your child is 2 you are expected to attend interviews to discuss plans for a future move into work. You don't need to actively look until youngest is 5...but you never know they may be able to help you find a job or prepare better for a job in the sector you want.

UC usually takes 6 weeks to be paid (then you will be paid a months UC). However you can ask for an advance that you then pay back out of of UC a little bit at a time

Quite honestly, the whole system has been set up to deter anyone who isn't in dire straits to claim. I would strongly advise that you get a job yourself before your partner moves in, although I realise that will be harder logistically because of childcare. If you already have a bit of an on/off relationship, the stress of trying to make a UC claim work for you would probably not be good for anyone either.

Sorry, I genuinely wish I could tell you that you've misunderstood something or that there's a way around the ridiculous demands.

..from claiming even...

Thank you so much for your help amy85. It's so stressful! I do want to work, I do want a family life, it just all seems so... confusing?!

I understand they are the rules, it just seems ridiculous that he would have to take time off work to go to a work compliance meeting! Oh well there's not much I can do about it anyway if I want us to go ahead and live together.

Thanks again 😊

Taking the dc with you will make them hurry tfu with the meeting imo!!

Thanks Silver, any advice is good advice. I have been seeking work but nothing local has come up (another childcare issue). I thought him moving in would make life easier but this has put a big spanner in the works!

😂😂 I never thought of that boat, I might give it a go just before nap time so he is a moaning myrtle!!

^^ my DC not their dad 😂😂

Meant to say you can take the kids with you if needed for interviews I always have my youngest with me.

And they are usually pretty good and you can usually pick the day and time of the interview so you could book first thing so your oh just goes into work late or book one of the last interviews so your oh just has to finish a bit early

Amy85 may I ask what is done during the interview? Sounds more like an interigation. Is it just where you need to take paperwork (bills, NI card ect?) or is it a why are you making a joint claim how long have you known each other interview?

If you don't mind me asking of course

Has anyone else got any advice?
Or could I claim working tax instead of UC?

Please don't follow the pp advice to take the kids to the interview. A lot of places won't even allow you in if you do this and will turn you away. You will then be marked as non compliant for missing your appointment and receive a sanction ( suspension of payments) for a period of time. The rules that applied to job seekers with regards to attending appointments and following the guidence issued in those appointments is now the same for everyone. Ring them and see, if you are lucky and they will work with you to get a time that suits. If not, then yes, your partner will have to book time off work and you will have to find alternative childcare.

See if you meet the conditions for claiming UC in your area. The website usually lists them. If you do not, then you are able to claim tax credits.

Glad you can take kids Amy, where I am, you cannot, so if you do need to go op, check first.

I'm going to try the calculator again because I was putting the details in that I am claiming HB but I added a partner too it so it wouldn't have been right. Thank you for your replies. Again, first thing on my mind when I woke up this morning!!

You have to take identification to prove who you are eg national insurance number, bank account details, what you have claimed before, passport, driving licence. They will probably try to calculate what you will be paid and when. You may be asked to sign an agreement electronically. They will explain when you will be asked to look for work, I can't remember how old your child needs to be.

Thank you Today, I can understand why they would need him there then if it involves taking identification and what not. I originally thought it was a meeting for getting a job, which wouldn't have made sense for him to attend. They do not make things easy or clear!