To think being forced to get a job when a student is ridiculous?

[onedaybabywelbeold]

I am a 29 year old single mum, I have just finished my 3rd year at uni and going into my honours year. I worked for 10 years full time before going back to education. During the term year I receive student loan which is topped up by universal credit. I have about 1100 pounds to do me for the month so it's doable but tight.

Now that uni is finished for the summer I am obviously getting more universal credit to see me through. However, today I had to meet with my work coach and he told me I should be job hunting for a job over the summer and should treat job hunting as a full time job.

I told him that I might struggle to get a job as I can only work during the hours my daughter is in school, I have no one to help me and she finished school for the summer end of June. Also I told him it would be hard to get a job as I would be leaving again in September, to which he suggested I stay in a job whilst at uni as 'you don't really have to do much work until the end of the year'.

To be honest I don't really want to work when at uni, I mean I wouldn't be any better off than I would be on universal credit yet running with a substantial decrease in time so why would I? Honesty I don't understand the point in this, surely it's just wasting employers time as I'm not very serious about getting a job as I don't have the childcare. However, I'm worried that if I don't get a job they'll start reducing my payment.

AIBU to think the system is absolutely fucked?

[quote onedaybabywelbeold]@GiantToadstool that's weird that you don't know one person who didn't work alongside their degree. I know plenty. No they're not medical placements. Social work placements. [/quote]
I only know two people who didn't work alongside their degrees; both were wealthy.

I finished a few years back and know hardly anyone who had a job. So no, not ALL students work alongside a degree at all.

There's loads of jobs in hospitality I worked all through summers at uni which was often at least four months so pubs were happy to take me on
If your on placements if you're doing something health or medical you can get bank shifts as a health care assistant which are really flexible and mean you choose when to work- this is what I'm planning on doing if and when I start my nursing degree

I worked throughout both of my degrees, part time evenings and weekends during term time, and I either increased my hours at my existing job or got an additional job over the summer.

I couldn't have afforded to live otherwise!

well for one I will be working in a job I actually enjoy and interests me rather than stocking shelves or cleaning.

that's right, you're far too good for shelf stacking.

So you think the system is fucked because you can't be arsed to work and would rather receive the money for doing nothing? Most people would probably prefer money without working, but your coach is correct, most people work and it's a good opportunity to do so.

[quote onedaybabywelbeold]@Waxonwaxoff0 well for one I will be working in a job I actually enjoy and interests me rather than stocking shelves or cleaning. Secondly I will be making a wage that is worth my while to actually work and be able to pay childcare. Working part time and paying childcare would make me come out worse off [/quote]
It wouldn't make you worse off. I am a single parent working a minumum wage job. Working tax credits are much higher than JSA/income support. You get help with childcare costs as a single parent.

why would I work when I would be coming out with the same amount of money than what I could not working?

This mentality around benefits really bothers me.

@SuperMonkeys glad I amused you, you better go for a shower now...you'll be stinking

We had single parents on my nursing degree who also worked alongside. I'm assuming they had family to help with childcare, but they needed that anyway for placements. I worked too, but I have a DH. We still got benefits as well, but it wasn't UC so would not have had the pressure to job hunt if I wasn't working, I just wanted the experience (financially, I agree, I was no better off).
As a single parent with no family childcare, I can't see how working is practical unless you live somewhere with accessible professional childcare.

But, YABU to say students should not have to work, most do. Most courses are not full time (nursing wasn't, outside of placement blocks) so still time for a shift or two a week.

[quote onedaybabywelbeold]@Waxonwaxoff0 well for one I will be working in a job I actually enjoy and interests me rather than stocking shelves or cleaning. Secondly I will be making a wage that is worth my while to actually work and be able to pay childcare. Working part time and paying childcare would make me come out worse off [/quote]
Yes, but stocking shelves and cleaning is how the vast majority of graduates fund their degrees. I have a relative who is now a judge; as a student he cleaned rooms in a hotel.

The bottom line is that the tax payer is paying you and you need to meet the eligibility criteria for the benefit you are claiming. You nod, smile and apply for jobs so that you don't get sanctioned.

I agree with the OP. She needs to spend time with her child before September. Last year in a SW degree will be hard enough so some time off is needed.

@RosaBudDrood I know I'm a bit at all these people saying EVERYONE they know worked along side their degree. The majority of the students in my classes don't, especially not parents.

My father died intestate a month before I went to university to start my UG degree, so worked throughout - term time and summer hols - because we had no money and I couldn't get any kind of grant or loan, because our finances were so up in the air.

When I did my Masters, I juggled three PT jobs.

Granted, I didn't have children, which complicates things a lot, but I think you're coming across as a bit entitled if you think students shouldn't have to work: in my experience, all those but from very wealthy families had at least one PT/MW job.

YABU it’s totally normal to work alongside a degree

Why shouldn’t you be expected to work?

University is finished for the summer, of course they expect you to work like every other benefit claimants with a school aged child. Why do you think you deserve not too?

I'm struggling to see why you should have the next 3 months off, why anyone else should pay for your long summer break, and what you think you'll do when you've got your new career.

@Brefugee no I didn't say that. I said i won't enjoy it nor will it interest me.

Just say you don't want to work, no need for all the excuses about childcare. Loads of single parents work low paid jobs and pay childcare.

I had to work my whole way through university as I had a mortgage to pay and didn't qualify for any benefits, I was also paying my adult DS's rent as he was ill.
It was knackering but you do what you have to do. i got a 2:1 despite working all hours.

Who has your child during placements?

Do you think you'll get summers off once qualified?

Seems odd you think you should just get benefits to do nothing for 3 months.

[quote onedaybabywelbeold]@RosaBudDrood I know I'm a bit at all these people saying EVERYONE they know worked along side their degree. The majority of the students in my classes don't, especially not parents. [/quote]
If they genuinely aren't working they are in a minority.

Don't know anyone who didn't work tbh. I know you're probably just frustrated but your attitude towards manual labour seems to be a bit snobby.

You're right that there's little point if you'll be better off on UC, but they can cover up to 80% of your childcare costs.

I tended bar while away at uni and then did the same when home for the summer. The hours were flexible and the money was good. It really wasn't a hardship.