The bloody benefits system

[ItsNotChristmasInOctober]

Sorry, I'm annoyed.

I had my first 'work' meeting today. For anybody that has applied for UC, you know it's all about the expectations required of you. Fair enough.

I told my work coach that I've been offered a full time, well paid position, starting at the end of this month. She informed me that I'm still expected to look for work until my start date.

I've also been offered another 'sensitive' position in my local council. This position starts sooner but the pay is NLW and not a penny more.

According to the system, I need to accept this position even though I have a better one lined up that starts just over a week later.

As far as I'm concerned, accepting this position will not do me any favours, or the council! I'd practically have to hand in my notice on the day I start. They'd then have to spend time finding somebody else who can fulfil the role.

This isn't a complaint about my work coach, she is simply following orders.

However, if I were to turn the (sooner starting, low paid) position down, we'd likely be sanctioned.

It doesn't make sense!

Feel free to look at my previous post...

I just can't get my head around it. Maybe I need somebody to tell me the positives of this particular situation.

For what it's worth, I understand that I need to look for work until my start date, I get that.

This isn't about UC in particular. Just the system.

If I was to take the low paid job that starts a week earlier, I'd have to hand my notice in on the first day. That doesn't help anybody.

Actually she is being pedantic there. It isn't in anyones interest for you to take the council job. I would put your commitments as preparing for new role and exploring temp opps until the start date.

The whole system requires an urgent and drastic overhaul.

that is utterly ridiculous! but not surprising. I hope you can appeal to someone with common sense.
good luck

Your mistake is being too honest. Keep fulfilling your requirements, and don't tell them about job offers until your first day at work.

I made the same mistake years ago (pre UC). Told the advisor I was starting work the next week, so he said that would be my final appointment and I'd be paid up to my start date. Needless to say I wasn't paid for the next week because I wasn't actively job seeking!

YANBU. The system under Universal Credit is nonsense.

Never tell them you have been offered a job until you start work.

this Is one of those things that isn’t just UC. I had a similar situation on JSA. It’s ridiculous and I suspect a lot of places interviewing know that a fair proportion of the people on JSA applying don’t have any intention of taking/keeping the job because they have another one lined up.

YANBU and your work coach is unfamiliar with the rules. You have a 'good reason' for not accepting the lower paid job and so should not be sanctioned.

See rule K2181 in here:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/288073/admk2.pdf

If you get sanctioned challenge the decision by requesting a mandatory reconsideration. If they don't change the decision you can then go to appeal. I think you'll be fine though.

Congratulations on your new job!

same happened to me on contribution based JSA. It's bonkers. In the end I just stopped claiming JSA as I couldn't deal with the stupidity of the system anymore and went for a couple of weeks without an income (had savings) until I started a new role.

sometimes, one truly despairs.

The whole UC system is ridiculous, a massive overhaul is needed , and the attitude of some of the work coaches (not all) is terrible

@joyfullittlehippo WTF? That's ridiculous!

I don't want to sound like a bitch but it's almost like they assume everybody applying for UC is dim.

I'm not a genius, however until August I've always worked, Mat leaves aside.

I just think it would help if there was a bit of leeway?

The benefits system needs a rethink.

@PencilsInSpace thank you for that! Much appreciated!

I don't expect my work coach to know every aspect of the information she's required by law to give at all. However, I don't want to potentially take away a position from somebody else. Can I ask you where you found that information?

That’s weird, my brother was on UC a few months ago, and then found a well-paid job in marketing, starting a month after the interview. He went in and told his work coach, and they said, “Cool, good luck,” they didn’t make him keep looking for work during that month! And he still got his UC payments.

@MsFrosty my current commitments are 'intensive job search' for atleast 16hpw at NMW. Yet I've been offered a full time position at almost double that starting in a couple of weeks!

I don't want to let anybody down. If the sooner starting job was at KFC then I wouldn't be bothered. But it's in the council safeguarding team. The hours are better but the pay is low.

The desperately need somebody. Morally, I cannot accept it. When it comes to benefits, I have to accept it!

I've not been in this position before. For me, it just doesn't sound right.

@DrVonPatak @Waxonwaxoff0 @MrsBlobbys

I couldn't agree with you more.

The way I see it, the system is unconsciously designed to keep you on benefits.

When my OH was out of work they set him an appointment to attend to do a review he said he had an interview that day, they told him if he didn’t attend they’d sanction him

The new system just makes people feel humiliated & it’s evident more & more people are having to rely on food banks which is putting food banks under more pressure. I always feel sad around Xmas because I know people are out there who haven’t got anything or have had to go to the food bank.

@SachaStark I'm happy for your brother! I hope he's doing well in his new position!

I wish my work coach was able to say the same! Instead I've got 2 more meetings organised for the same week I start my new position. I also felt a tad inconvenienced when one was rearranged because of an upcoming interview...

The system is trash and had been the main reason behind food bank claims in my borough.

If you want to change it, there's a clear choice: get out, campaign, register for a postal vote, and vote Labour on December 12th!

I really is a benefit trap.
One of the biggest obstacles in coming off benefits is their own unnecessary punitive rules.
YADNBU

There is assumption that anyone on any kind of benefit is a workshy scrounger. People like Iain Smith (he likes to use his middle name because it sounds posher) seem to actually believe it.

At one time I was unemployed after being made redundant, I was put on a retraining course to get me "off the register" and got an interview for a good job in my own line. I told the course organiser and he said I couldn't go and would be sanctioned if I missed a day. I said I was going anyway. And did. And got the job. No doubt the course organiser was "just following orders" as they said at Nuremberg.

That is ridiculous, but congratulations on your new job

They bleat so much about helping people into work and reducing the needs for benefit, but the rules mean people still need them.

If people are helping themselves and being proactive, then stop bloody putting blocks in the way.