I'm about to give birth and were going to lose our home

[Worriedmumof2dc]

DP has just been informed that his hours are being hugely reduced at work. He's on a 30 hour contract but has been working 55 hours a week for the past two years since he was hired. The understanding was that the 55 hours would be standard and consistent, so not to worry about what the contract says as he will always have the 55 hours. The company is a disgrace in how it treats its employees but that's another thread.

This company branch has a new manager who has now decided to reduce him to just his contracted hours to save money, he's forced to accept that as per the terms in the original contract.

The problem is his amended wage won't cover our outgoings. We will lose our home eventually, we are safe for another month and a half maximum by which point we will have a baby of a couple of weeks old. I'm at home with a 15 month old and am about to give birth to our second in less than a month so the timing couldn't be worse. I can't realistically go back to work yet and by the time I can, we'll owe the landlord alot of money in arrears.

My hands are tied as to what I can do to help, I feel useless. We have no savings and no family help. I'm worried we will lose our home. It's inevitable isn't it.

He's applying like a mad man for every job he can find, but we're worried.

I can't claim benefits because he works and even with the amended wage will earn over the threshold in which we'd be eligible for anything, despite the lower wage not being enough to cover the costs of living in our London flat.

We have no savings

Please somebody tell me that we can't be made homeless with a newborn and toddler. I'm scared.

You will absolutely get some help with his wage dropping that much OP, please don’t worry. When I was out of work and my partner earned more than what your OH will start to earn we got help. Have u gone on the benefits calculator? I would say with two children you will get tax creds (or UC now) about £100 a week at least.

Haven’t read the full thread so sorry if I miss the point but did scroll over about a loan. Get yourself over to moneysavingexpert.com and join the debt free wannabe forum, they have absolutely incredible people on there who have helped people in desperate situations sort out debt.

I’m 99% sure you will be able to get top up housing benefits and I would recommend going on the website entitled to ASAP, it’s easy and straightforward- do a hypothetical one eg 2 kids and what the wage will be and it will tell you all you can get help with - prob under UNIVERSAL CREDIT but nevertheless it will really help you. I think even in your current situation you should already be getting help as your rent is high in proportion to his current take home pay. Let us know how you get on xxx

ThisMustBeMyDream fantastic advice given.

Use the policy in practice better off calculator as it is a lot more user-friendly and you can see the difference between staying on tax credits and claiming universal credit.

You will almost certainly be better off on universal credit

Also there is Watersure to restrict the water rates payable op isn’t eligeable for watersure.

Actually she might be eligible for watersure if someone living in the house has a certain medical condition that means you have to use extra water.

This can include skin related conditions such as eczema.

How much holiday pay has he had over the 2 years he's been working 55 hours? If he's been getting holiday pay based on 30 hours a week, could he be entitled to any kind of back payment?

If you decide to move, you’ll struggle to find a place that accepts benefits. Just something to be mindful of.

Just to add OP (I'm the pp who was in a similar situation when DC was born) - I bring home over £2k pm and we only have one DC and similar sounding rent and we get nearly £600 UC pm. Definitely look into it.

118 loans are rip off merchants - they charge something like 75% interest. It's definitely worthwhile trying to shift the loan to a cheaper one or a 0% credit card. I think you should let your midwife/health visitor know the financial situation you're in. They may be able to refer you to other agencies or at least get you set up with emergency food parcels if things get really tight in 6 weeks time.

DrinkFeckArseGirls

Not really. Universal credit simply ask for tenancy agreement and proof rents being paid. Bank statements are sufficient. No more No DSS landlords :-)

You should be entitled to UC on that wage, ring them in the morning for a calculation.

With Universal Credit and stopping the loan repayments, I don't think OP will need food vouchers.

Thelieswetelltoourselves I mean the new landlord/ agency will need a proof they can afford the rent. So either they’ll be showing bank statements on which there will be UC payments or they will have to show payslips out of which it’ll be clear they can’t afford the rent. Either way it’ll be clear the family is on benefits.

I feel for you op, but this WILL be ok.

We were in a similar situation a few yrs back. Our landlord served us notice when we asked him to fix something minor & moved into a new, more expensive property. We just about managed.

I then found out I was pregnant & we knew the maternity wage from my employers wouldn’t be enough to cover all the bills.

We moved. We had to. We couldn’t afford a damn thing in our area.

We moved away from the town we were both born in, where all our family & friends lived with a special needs toddler & a new born to a place where we didn’t know a soul simply because it was cheaper. We planned for a year, then to move back to our home town

4 years on we’ve not moved back. We talk regularly about how this was the best thing we ever did & how much better our quality of life is here. We’ve just bought our own just.

Even a temporary move to a different area might be the best way to get back in track.

But don’t despair op. You CAN do this. You WILL get through it. It might feel like a huge weight on your shoulders right now but it might also be the nudge into a good direction for your family

OP if your do has worked the same number of hours and same shift pattern for 13 consecutive weeks then it becomes part of his contract regardless of what the contract actually says. He needs to speak to his union about this point. I am doing some work around contract hours with a project I am working on and have been advused the above by legal and hr

DrinkFeckArseGirls depends on agent/ landlord. Child tax credits is often taken as an income with less stigma than housing benefit has. Now universal credits encompasses that it will be hard to penalise so harshly.

Partner works in Universal credit. I work in a housing /welfare advisor type role. We qualify for UC. Both full time on good wage. I'd hope landlords would see the bigger picture.

Bank statements would be an indicator of whether rent was paid regularly and if good financial capability.

He is handing this letter into management tomorrow:

Opinions on how it sounds? Is it ok?

FTAO (managers name)

Further to your proposed change of my hours, i have sought adviceand been advised that my current hours are my terms and conditions as established by custom and practice.

As those hours are now contractual, by way of custom and practice having worked these hours consistently for over two years, I have been advised that adequate discussion, cooperation and consent is required in order to vary them ahead of any proposed changes.

Unfortunately I'm not in a position to be able to afford to amend my hours and wage to the extent which will result from these proposed changes so I am not prepared to give consent at this time. Making such large changes to my working schedule is going to render me unable to afford my accommodation, which will result in my two young children being made homeless.

I respectfully request that my contractual hours will remain at 55 hours per average week in the interim whilst we seek to find an alternative that works for all concerned. Any reduction in my pay or refusal to allow me to work my usual hours will regrettably result in a claim for non payment of wages and breach of contract.

I have been a loyal and dedicated member of the team since the very beginning and hope we can work together to ensure a fair and holistic outcome. Please understand that my position stems from a place of genuine concern and not wilful refusal or abject defiance.

Respectfully,

(Dps name)

I'd get union input ASAP.

Hopefully someone more knowledgable will be able to comment on your letter.

Ive no advice re benefits etc but if they don't work out for some reason then you may be able to work something out with the landlord where he/she would effectively pay you to leave. It may be better for them to 'help' you with your moving costs and deposit for a new place than have to go through the expensive and time consuming eviction process.

If he's in a union he should probably consult with them before handing in the letter.

How long has he worked for the company? Better to cut loose if possible rather than try and force their hand into keeping him on with increased hours. As an employer this would be a red flag for me I'm afraid for any future employment/possible promotion/development etc...not that it sounds as though there are any opportunities for that which is another reason to try and move on if possible.

Have you put all your data into the benefits calculator? You should do this without delay as you may not be as badly off as you are expecting to be

I wouldn't send any letter like that unlessl had the advice from a solicitor or someone l could quote..... not just Mumsnet.

Have you contacted tax credits? Have you looked at sorting that loan out?

I reluctantly agree with MrJolly. Unless he has the support of a union, a letter like this will inflame management and they may simply sack him...they will be relying on the fact that he's not a union member and won't be able to afford legal support to take them to court.

Don't hand that letter in. It's 'right' but it will just inflame.

I agree with those who say to run that letter past his union before handing it in.