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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

615 replies

onedaybabywelbeold · 07/06/2021 20:01

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?

OP posts:
Suffolkpunch345 · 09/06/2021 17:16

@Waxonwaxoff0

So who does the jobs that nobody likes ? Cleaning hospital/public toilets ? Amongst other things.

Babyroobs · 09/06/2021 17:17

@Suffolkpunch345

I think the problem is that our social security system makes it better not to have a job than to have.
That is completely untrue for parents on Universal credit though. At least the first £293 ( and much more if not claiming rent costs) are completely disregarded before wages start to reduce the Uc amount on a taper. Then people have their wages on top and the UC ! It is not great for single people with no kids as they don't get this disregard. How any parents can say they are not better off on Uc is beyond me especially when most of the childcare costs are covered too.
cupofdecaf · 09/06/2021 17:18

I had to get a job as a student so I could afford to go to university. Lots of students do. Never occurred to me to try and claim benefits, I worked.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 09/06/2021 17:20

[quote Suffolkpunch345]@Waxonwaxoff0

So who does the jobs that nobody likes ? Cleaning hospital/public toilets ? Amongst other things.[/quote]
What?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 09/06/2021 17:21

[quote Suffolkpunch345]@Waxonwaxoff0

So who does the jobs that nobody likes ? Cleaning hospital/public toilets ? Amongst other things.[/quote]
I think you quoted the wrong person.

crackofdoom · 09/06/2021 17:22

Ariela Of course, how obtuse of the OP not to think of schooling peoples’ horses for them as a lucrative P/T job! I mean, everyone went to riding school and pony club when they were kids after all, didn’t they?

vivainsomnia · 09/06/2021 17:33

It is that now she does not want to work since there is no extra money to be made but a lot of extra stress and childcare which will eat it up - therefore as of now it is pointless?
Well, that's indeed what can be referred as not wanting to work! She would be better off, albeit not massively. What should the norm be not to work and claim benefit instead just because you are only a bit better off. Many people are only a bit better of than they would be claiming benefits. Are you advocating that all those people stop working?

Supporting yourself and family is never pointless, but for the entitled and lazy people.

christinarossetti19 · 09/06/2021 18:23

I've never heard a social work student called 'lazy and entitled' before...

Do you have any idea how much work is involved, including placements, essays etc?

ChangePart1 · 09/06/2021 18:35

@christinarossetti19

I've never heard a social work student called 'lazy and entitled' before...

Do you have any idea how much work is involved, including placements, essays etc?

Not over summer.

And most SW students work during their degree, alongside placements and academic work. The bursary simply isn’t enough to live on.

christinarossetti19 · 09/06/2021 18:38

It's a bit tricky to work on top of a full time course when you're a lone parent, as the social workers and social work students on this thread have pointed out.

Lebowitzlove · 09/06/2021 19:24

Is it really so hard to understand that other people’s experience is very different from your own ?
There have been endless comments about teenagers working while at university topped off with the comments about pony grooming ( I won’t comment...).
My teenager has a part time job which he will continue into sixth form. He doesn’t have other responsibilities. It is so far from the experience of a single parent who has gone back to university that I can’t believe some are drawing comparisons.

Schuyler · 09/06/2021 19:26

@christinarossetti19

It's a bit tricky to work on top of a full time course when you're a lone parent, as the social workers and social work students on this thread have pointed out.
@christinarossetti19 She’s not doing a full time course or a placement during the summer break. Term time is a different matter. Plenty of students don’t pass the course because they’re lazy. Unfortunately some qualified social workers are lazy and entitled. Not that I think the OP is lazy, I hasten to add, but she’s misguided.
DeadGood · 09/06/2021 19:29

I’m so glad I don’t live in the UK anymore. All these posters proudly crowing that they ran themselves into the ground when they were studying, working 2 jobs while breastfeeding quintuplets. Talk about a race to the bottom.

3cats2kids · 09/06/2021 19:34

@christinarossetti19 christinarossetti19
I've never heard a social work student called 'lazy and entitled' before...

Do you have any idea how much work is involved, including placements, essays etc

Mention the word benefits or universal credit and these words often get uttered without a second thought.

SineOfTheThymes · 09/06/2021 19:37

I was lucky when I went to University, that I could afford to go there and focus on my studies 100% without having to have a part time job during term time. That's really ideal. However, some of my friends did need part time jobs, and it did take time from their studies. I did work during the summer months though, because I wanted the extra money and some work experience. None of us had to juggle child care complexity though.

It's really getting increasingly expensive for students. Frankly I don't know how they many, and I've heard of all kinds of horror stories from my niece (awful accommodation, overcrowding, trying onlyfans/website stuff, etc.)

SineOfTheThymes · 09/06/2021 19:38

typo....Frankly I don't know how they manage

Draculahhh · 09/06/2021 19:47

I am in my second year of my social work degree, we were categorically told that we should not work whilst we are doing placements.

I am on placement now with a fostering agency and work mon to fri 9 to 5, I couldn't do anymore hours without struggling physically and mentally.

ToffeePennie · 09/06/2021 19:59

It’s very very normal!
I have never known any students who could afford to not work. Well, there was one girl when we were younger at Uni, who’s parents were very wealthy and could afford to pay for everything.
Somehow I don’t think the system is fucked, I think you aren’t able to juggle everything and you want to make it someone else’s fault.

Soupforoneplease · 09/06/2021 20:01

@Draculahhh yes but OP isn't talking about a job whilst she's on placement, it's the four month summer holiday when someone said she might want to think about getting a part time job. I don't see why bank HCA shifts would do anything but prepare you for social work and also help you make some vital contacts?

christinarossetti19 · 09/06/2021 20:23

Eh? Where did a four month summer holiday come from?

Not to mention finding childcare for bank HCA shifts (so likely unsociable hours) at short notice over the summer holiday.

Draculahhh · 09/06/2021 20:27

I can only speak for myself of course, but when I finish placement I will have a grand total of 3 weeks off before my third year begins.

I do find it odd that the op has apparently finished her third year has 3 months off and is still studying in September though.

Soupforoneplease · 09/06/2021 21:20

Bank shifts can be 9-5, nights, earlies. Most hospitals want bank people every shift every day so you would just get childcare and then book yourself for a shift. Saturdays are time and a half and Sundays are double time in my place. Once you're qualified you could do bank shifts at something like a crisis call centre and get paid as a social worker.

Diamondnights · 09/06/2021 21:37

@lachy

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

You hope you will be working in a job you actually enjoy and interests you...

And just remember while you're claiming UC that some of that money will come from shelf stackers and cleaners.

Yes but the important thing is that the OP only does what she wants to work wise. I don't think she's fussed about the shelf stackers/ cleaners who are subsidising her...Hmm
christinarossetti19 · 09/06/2021 22:29

"so you would just get childcare..."

For early shifts starting at 7am? Lates that don't finished until 9pm or night shifts?

Really? Just like that?

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 09/06/2021 22:30

You can't afford to be choosy. Adult students usually support themselves working 🙄