School job pay gap

[TheSunnySide]

Posting here for traffic.

I have just left a job in one school to go to another. My previous school will be paying me through the summer and my last pay packet is mid August. However my new pay date (different local authority) will be on the last working day of September. I start work there on 30th August.

What do ai do about not having any salary coming in for all for the two weeks from Mid Sept to the end of the month?

I am a single parent on some benefits that top up my salary but they will soon be reduced due to a slight pay rise which I will have informed HMRC about in August.

Is there anything I can do apart from take a mortgage break?

Can you use the local food bank?
Alternatively, maybe the local authority could arrange to pay your first month’s salary in two halves?

Can you spend very little in these coming weeks to give your self a buffer

I have never used a food bank so not sure but it is paying things like my mortgage and bills and petrol that I am worried about.

I only have one child
and a small house so feel fortunate but the summer is going to mean an increase in all bills meaning I am already short.

I just wondered if anyone else had had this experience particularly with a school job and if the LA has anything in place to help. I am not sure if I will even be on the payroll of my new school until Late August so may need to contact my old LA.

I can but I have very little to spend in the first place and a child at home all summer so likely will see an increase in everything.

my mortgage goes out on 15th along with most of my other bills so I will see about getting a mortgage break and changing the date things go out but I can’t magic up two weeks pay by spending less.

This is difficult but really not the responsibility of the Local Authority. Changing dates for when your bills are paid etc is the way forward.

The problem with having my salary paid in two halves (is that something you have experience of being able to do?) is that I am then still short the following month. As far as I can see I won’t be getting any extra pay when I DO get paid.

when I spoke to the school I have just left they said that I would get paid through the summer. However, because of the differing pay dates in the two local authorities I am expected to work a whole
month before I get any pay. And because my large bills like council tax/mortgage/gas all go out in that month it means financial hardship that might mean extra bank charges, difficulty buying petrol etc.

Are you a teacher?

I know this isn't terribly helpful, but I've never heard of teaching jobs paying any other time than the last day of the month. And in previous jobs when I was paid a little earlier, I was paid on the 25th, but that was pay to the end of the month iyswim.

Thinking about it though, this is going to be annoying every month from now on, so can you switch all of your DDs to go out on the first of the month? With your utility bills that should be fine, you might need to speak to your mortgage provider soon they don't charge you for six weeks the first time.

Any DDs you can cancel then reinstate after you get paid with no consequence?

Yeah. I will do that asap but it doesn’t solve my short term financial issue tbh.

does anyone who works for a LA know if they offer loans/advances/hardship grants to their employees?

I m not asking for free money, just wondering if there may be something already in place to help employees.

Hi there.

I am not a teacher, I am what is classed as support staff and for the past 5 years all support staff in my school
were paid on 15th of each month.

No. I am a school librarian.

If you are part of a union speak to them. They might be able to offer support or advice.

Oh shit!
so if I am quick I can get a mortgage break in September but no chance for August.

thanks - I will call them on Monday.

Ime schools pay until the end of the academic year so 31st august.

You only need to give 4 weeks notice so it's usually given from whatever date means you finish your last day before the first day of term.

Have you had any written confirmation of your last pay day?

So about £20,000 salary?
Plus some benefits.
How much notice did you need to give?
Did you discuss pay dates at interview?

I'm thinking that you maybe could have been better prepared for this situation.
Which of course doesn't help you now.
I think they advise to contact mortgage and other agencies to tell them you've got a payment problem, explain you are in work but need a temporary extension.
Companies don't want you to fall into arrears.
With you being off work now you do at least have the time to sit on hold for hours while you wait to talk to someone!

“Ime schools pay until the end of the academic year so 31st august.
You only need to give 4 weeks notice so it's usually given from whatever date means you finish your last day before the first day of term.
Have you had any written confirmation of your last pay day?”

Hi there. I gave my notice in April with a leaving date of 29th August as I start my new job on 30th. I confirmed with them that I would be paid up to then, before I accepted the new job and have had it in writing that my last pay date is 15th August and will include pay up to 29th as they pay two weeks back/two weeks forward.

I have also had it confirmed that even though I start at my new school on 30th August I won’t get a pay packet at the end of that month and will have to wait until the last working day of September.

I did discuss pay dates but my experience with my old school is that I DID receive a small payment just over a week after starting my last role five years ago. It was only this week that my new job confirmed I would not be getting any pay from them for over a month after starting my new job.

I guess I am just unfortunate in the way it has worked out. I am not even sure I will be on the pay roll until Sept so I have no way of checking the salary app through the council yet.

Things I’ve done in a pinch before with paydates is straight away move all direct debits to the last day of the month including mortgage or rent. Opened a new bank account that pays cash back to do so. Requested to be paid back any credit with utility companies.
Have a no spend couple of months, this includes eating all store cupboard and freezer items and only buying a couple of extras to make it a meal.

How much money do you need to find? And will it be a reoccurring issue? Or once the next pay packet cones in will everything be ok?
Would getting a credit card now for all food/petrol etc for 3 weeks or so give you enough breathing space and, crucially, would you be able to pay it off in full with the September pay packet?

Buy yes, I'd be having a very frugal summer.

Ah I see. So you get a full months wages to last 6 weeks.

Bummer! I'm a LP so I get that every penny counts!

Do you get UC? I don't know how it works but if you pay is 6 weeks apart you'll have 2 weeks nil technically?

Pay is always retrospective though? You won’t lose out on pay, it will just come 2 weeks later. Could you get an interest free credit card to put expenses on over the summer and then pay it off at the end of September?

I'm surprised you're expecting bills to go up. Mine are at their lowest in the summer holidays. No heating needed, lights not on til late. Less meals that use a lot of cooking or energy like soups, roasts etc. Using a food bank will free up money you'd normally spend on food for bills. Call your energy provider and explain the situation. They'll accept a late or part payment without charging you a late fee if you contact them. My internet has a long window before they will cut you off or add a late fee so get some wiggle room with that. Yes theres a knock on effect for a couple of months while you catch up but it's better than having to absorb the cost all in one go. I am also a single parent, 2 dc and work as school support so in a similar situation. 2 weeks without a wage will indeed be hard but it's doable. You can contact citizens advice too to see if any other shirt term grants are available. It might vary depending on local authority. Council normally have hardship funds

Are you in a union? They often have hardship funds you can apply for.

Thank you
Yes, as usual I will be being frugal this summer, autumn and winter. I l also have my MOT coming up so will be using my credit card for that.

We don’t have anything booked for summer.

As far as I am aware I won’t be getting any extra pay to pay things off so the debt will just be pushed down the line. I will be having a slight increase in salary (one of the reasons I chose to change my job) but I guess I am just unlucky to have chosen to change my job at this time of year when things are tough. My mum has offered to help me out but she is a pensioner with increasing bills so I would want to pay her back.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions none thing is for sure all these comments have really made me check my privilege and think about how I would respond
to other people asking similar questions.
‘Could you use your local food bank’ for example, is not something I will be using 🤣

I guess this kind of job change impacts on the low paid a lot more than it would on those with a decent, higher than average, salary and I just forgot that this would be the case for someone like me who has managed to struggle through so far.

thanks again.

thank you. This is helpful advice. I will check tomorrow. 🙏🙏