To be raging at DH and UC meeting? Are we getting sanctioned?

[sticksand]

Sorry, here for traffic really

Meant to be at UC right now.

DH had to do something, said he'd be 10 minutes (about 50 minutes ago) and I'm left in the car (can't drive) with both kids waiting. Tried calling 20 times, no answer. No, not an affair as he's with his mum (she was in the car with us and went with him. I have no idea when they'll be back, we're 7 miles away from the job centre. What's going to happen to our UC now we're either going to be quite late or not attend? Fuming doesn't describe how I feel. I'm freaking out. AIBU to be raging at him? Not a surprise birthday thing either as my birthday isn't for months and we're skint.

Does everyone on UC need to attend regular meetings? How does that work? They can't have enough staff to manage that; what a complete waste or resources!

The joint claim is still sanctioned. It's one of many reasons why women in abusive relationships are made even more vulnerable by the UC changes.

Yes can see this being a problem, tax credits seems to be simpler as done online. I guess they will want any transfers from tax credits in for an interview also. But when that happens (in 2023?) maybe they will have so many they will end up just transferring people over. But I guess an interview will be still be required in due course.

I can see it resulting in more relationship breakdowns to be honest, coupled with the one payment thing- as then the woman would be more in charge, just have to attend themselves and have the payment themselves.

Absolutely get on the phone to the jobcentre if you have a direct number, or the general UC helpline if not. Unfortunately yes you can be sanctioned for lateness / missing an appointment.

To the pp who asked, UC is universal credit (a new benefit that roles a lot of older benefits together).

Any update OP? You’re better off ringing UC than not.

Can you phone the actual job centre and ask to speak to your work coach?
Keep an eye on your phone, they'll most likely ring you.

Whoever you get through to, explain that you're stranded 7 miles away with kids and ask if you can do your interview over the phone. If it's a joint claim say that you're not with your partner because your stranded - but to give him a call too.

Hopefully, they won't sanction you but it entirely depends on what your work coach is like and whether they can sympathise or not.

I'd be worrying about partner and MIL too.

Good luck.

TaliZorah- being at work is the only reason they will allow you to change an appointment. There is a magic amount of money that you have to be earning before you don't have to attend job centre appointments. If you are earning ove rthat amount then they leave you to get on with it. Preparing to be shot down here, but I prefer UC to tax credits as you can't get into arrears with UC because it reacts in real time.

To the PP who asked think it is manly the first interview for UC which really matters. Then there are others for some people as well, but there is one main one to start the claim

I checked online and it says here-

Once you have put in your claim to the DWP you are normally required to attend an initial evidence gathering and claimant commitment interview at the jobcentre. If you fail to attend your first interview, DWP guidance says your claim will usually be closed the day after the failure to attend. It also suggests you will have to make a new claim and ask for it to be backdated.

On Rightsnet, where the advisers chat, they recommend doing this-

The most common scenario I’m seeing goes like this:

-potential claimant goes through the claim process putting in all their details etc and is invited - at the very end of the claiming process - to verify their identity
-potential claimant is unable to use any of the online ID verification processes and is invited instead to call the helpline and make an appointment at the job centre to verify their ID (I think they’re taking a claimant commitment at this appointment as well).
-potential claimant either doesn’t ring up and book an appointment or doesn’t attend the one they’ve booked
-claim gets closed without a decision being made or reasons being given 1-2 weeks later

The rationale for closing the claim, as far as I can tell, is the DWP policy is that a valid claim for benefit simply cannot be made without proving that you are the person whose NINO you are using. If you can’t prove your ID, then the DWP will essentially refuse to acknowledge it - similar to what happens occasionally with JSA claims.

In this scenario, the simplest resolution is for the claimant to make a new claim within 1 month and put an entry on the journal asking for the date of the first claim to be treated as their date of claim. If you do this, DMs seem pretty happy to treat the first claim as a “defective claim” which was remedied by the 2nd claim.

I’m really not sure if or how any of this process is legal but that’s what we’re seeing happening.

Sorry - look here in case helps anyone

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/11578/#53962

HereInMyHead I work 26 hours a week currently as DD is not even 12 yet and I work long days. They will hunt me down for not work enough eventually.

UC is a good idea in practice but they've manage to fuck it up so spectacularly.

Get a taxi you'll be sanctioned if you don't turn up.

I hope your H and his mum are OK - is he usually this unhelpful and thoughtless? Also hope you managed to get through to the relevant official and spoke to someone with enough common sense to be able to help you out.

You aren’t going to get sanctioned if it was your ID appointment. Just call the 8000 number and rearrange

Have you heard from him OP? WTAF has he been doing?

Hope you are ok op

That is a pretty awful thing for him to do.

I assume he knows how crucial it is?

It looks like the claim is closed not sanctioned - well that is what happens if you don't go to ESA or PIP interview anyway. (and mentioned before from the advisers). Might need to make a new claim

I hope everything is sorted OP

What happened to him?

What happened, OP?

Did DH come back? Where was he?

Does everyone on UC need to attend regular meetings? How does that work? They can't have enough staff to manage that; what a complete waste or resources!

If you don't meet the in-work requirements you have to regular meetings with your work coach as well as update your dairy daily and make sure you spend a minimum of 30 hours a week (or whatever your in-work requirement is) job searching.

If you don't do or can't prove you've done the job search and you don't or can't attend the work coach meeting, you will be sanctioned.

Sorry, OP. It does look like you'll be sanctioned. You can appeal. The sanction letter will tell you how. While waiting for the appeal to process CAB can refer you to foodbanks and if you're on key meters for power most councils provide top-up vouchers for those in need. Again, CAB can refer you to this.

I hope DH and MIL are okay.

Hopefully the OP’s H came back and they went late.

I hope they make it in time fingers crossed.

I'm not on any sort of benefits but I find it very sad how strict they are.

I hope things are okay for you OP.