Advice about Universal Credit

[StuckMummy]

Hello everyone I’ve just joined and in need of a little advice.

I’m a single parent to a 2 year old and have recently been told that if I don’t get a job by the time my little one is 3 my benefits could be cut.

I currently have NO support network at all meaning no family or friends at all and next to no contact with child’s father. I am also in a very expensive temporary accommodation in which my council tax/water rates/rent charges will go up when I work ( over £1000 pm)

From September my child will be doing 2 six hour & 1 3 hour session a week at school under government funding. I am willing to work and want to but with her hours I’d only be able to work on the two long days for around 4 1/2 hours each day ( I don’t drive )

Also I would have issues during all the half terms & summer holidays as would need to pay for childcare due to no support network

I was just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation and how they worked around it? I am desperate to work but just a bit lost right now and scared we will be left with only £80pm child benefit in September.

Any advice will be welcome 🤗

Doesn't UC pay towards nearly 85% of any childcare fees?

gafferareyouthere Yes I’ve recently seen that on here but you have to pay the first month or so yourself but it’s definitely something I’m willing to explore if I could get a job that somehow covered my bills and enabled me to pay the other 15% which would be quite high due to my location 🤗

I’m also aware I probably put this in the wrong section 😂

Once they are 3 they expect you to be actively looking for work, before 3 you just have to be preparing for work. They shouldn't stop your benefits just because your child turns three though, you just have to be actively looking. See here:www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/what-youll-need-to-do-on-universal-credit/claimant-commitment-what-group/

If you are unsure ring or visit CA for help.

Are you on Universal Credit atm?

"have recently been told that if I don’t get a job by the time my little one is 3 my benefits could be cut."
Who told you this, your work coach?

The fact is that after your child turns 3, if you have a job you can get 30h funded childcare (term time only) which means that in theory you could get a job for 30h/w, in reality it would have to be compatible with the childcare you can get and you may need to pay for extra childcare. But as a PP said, you would get up to 85% of childcare costs covered.

On Universal Credit you will only be expected to work 16h/w while your child is still a preschooler. After she starts school it will go up to 25h/w. However they care about earnings, not hours, so if you earn more than minimum wage you could be working fewer hours without any issues.

Under the Universal Credit system, people are generally much better off in work, so you will probably find that if you do get a job you will be better off even with some childcare costs.

www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Claimant-commitment-Universal-Credit

Are you getting any maintenance from your ex?

Yes my work coach said that which is why I was panicking but thank you both for the advice i am a little calmer now. I have been doing some long distance courses to try and help me get into a different sector of work but my advisor didn’t seem to care about that unfortunately.

Hello summerhouse, yes I recieve a tiny bit each month but that doesn’t cover hardly anything and they get angry if I mention them possibly paying more

Your work coach sounds like a bit of a dick.
(Probably not helpful sorry!)

You should go through the CMS for child maintenance. If he is in the UK and employed they can ensure he pays. Abroad and/or self employed and it's more complicated!

They expect you to have a plan to go back into work and working towards it.

They don't just cut benefits. You'll be called in for interviews and go with what they suggest, in terms of voluntary work, training etc.

Courses can sometimes count towards work search, depends a lot on the coach/job centre.

The commitment should take into account childcare needs and travel time (eg to travel to collect from nursery).

If you are able to get child (not spouse) maintenance it will not lower any of your benefits as the income is ignored.

I don't know about the UC aspect but from the term after your child's 3rd birthday if you get a job that pays more than the 16 hours a week at minimum wage then you can claim 30 hours a week (term time) childcare, (this works out to 1,140 hours per year which can be spread across the year).

Thank you so much for all your advice everyone it’s made me feel less worried and more positive 🤗

You’re always better off working. You can get 22 hours throughout the year paid and any extra they will pay 85%. You can get an advance. By age 3 you are expected to look for work.

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