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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Universal credit what my husband to go to the job centre, AIBU?!

280 replies

ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 18:37

After a string off 'errors' that occurred out of nowhere, we have been kicked off tax credits, and we cannot reapply.

Both DH and I work full time and have not been out of work for many many years.

We can only apply for universal credit. We are entitled to a very small amount towards DC3's childcare but we are absolutely broke and desperate so need to apply.

Despite checking and double checking, during the application they did not ask for DH's income (self employed), but they did require mine.
DH had a phone interview today and has to go to the job centre next week to prove he is self employed and working.

We hare always just used his self tax form for that in the past.

Who can just drop work like that with a weeks notice?! I know I can't.

Is this a normal expectation?!

OP posts:
midgetastic · 06/09/2022 18:39

Erm they want him to take time off work to prove he is working ?!?

Needmorelego · 06/09/2022 18:41

Surely it would be a couple of hours off from his work - if that?
Even non self employed people can usually get a couple of hours off work for an unexpected appointment.

Original poster
ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 18:42

Needmorelego · 06/09/2022 18:41

Surely it would be a couple of hours off from his work - if that?
Even non self employed people can usually get a couple of hours off work for an unexpected appointment.

I can't, I'm a HCP and I would absolutely not be able to do this.

He is self-employed, we are broke and he will have to take the afternoon off (again) to get this sorted. Unpaid.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 18:43

midgetastic · 06/09/2022 18:39

Erm they want him to take time off work to prove he is working ?!?

Exactly!

OP posts:
SunshineClouds1 · 06/09/2022 18:43

Op, kindly, you sound stressed.
He'll be away from work for an hour tops

Always4Brenner · 06/09/2022 18:43

Bastards the lot of them.

Original poster
ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 18:44

SunshineClouds1 · 06/09/2022 18:43

Op, kindly, you sound stressed.
He'll be away from work for an hour tops

Kindly, I am stressed.

We are painfully broke, tax credits are wankers and universal credit are an insult.

OP posts:
SunshineClouds1 · 06/09/2022 18:45

It's a joke I know. But class it as his dinner hour. It won't take as long as you think.
It is a pain in the arse though

Saloop · 06/09/2022 18:46

It is correct - I had to go. I’ve not been out of work since 16, moved from tax credits to UC.

Had to go to the jobcentre, it was fine, spent about an hour going over all my forms and questions and then signed it off

mountainsunsets · 06/09/2022 18:47

It's a pain but it's only an hour - I'm sure he can organise things around the appointment as a one-off.

Original poster
ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 18:48

God that's infuriating, at least I know it's nothing we have done incorrectly.

OP posts:
Openrelationship · 06/09/2022 18:49

On the plus side OP, as a working couple you should be better off on universal credit than you were on tax credits.

But I feel your pain, they did this to me. My car was broken at the time too and I had to get 2 busses to the job centre and an (unpaid) day off work. Its ridiculous to send working people to the job centre when we live in such a digital world.

BeatieBourke · 06/09/2022 18:54

I'm afraid it is a normal experience OP. It's total bollocks. I recently had to take time off my new ft job to go to the job centre to prove that I was working full time. Crackers.

Every time someone doesn't turn up for a stupid appointment they can chuck out a claim and save a few quid. It's entirely deliberate and punitive.

Sorry OP. If its any consolation, once you have jumped through the required hoops (and danced on o e leg balancing a ball on your nose and clapping), the online journal system is actually quite good.

Crocwok · 06/09/2022 18:56

Yes he will have to. You'll be better off on UC as both of you work.

Smineusername · 06/09/2022 19:00

You should be able to upload supporting documents on your universal credit account. I would leave a note in the journal asking your advisor if it can be done online as he can't get time off work at short notice

strawberrysea · 06/09/2022 19:05

I really, really don't see what the big deal is here.
Very short term inconvenience for him for long term gain.

Original poster
ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 19:07

Openrelationship · 06/09/2022 18:49

On the plus side OP, as a working couple you should be better off on universal credit than you were on tax credits.

But I feel your pain, they did this to me. My car was broken at the time too and I had to get 2 busses to the job centre and an (unpaid) day off work. Its ridiculous to send working people to the job centre when we live in such a digital world.

Nope.
We're about £100 a month worse off.

The Joy.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 19:08

Crocwok · 06/09/2022 18:56

Yes he will have to. You'll be better off on UC as both of you work.

Worse off.

Things were fine before.

this is all bullshit what we're having to do.

OP posts:
BearPunter · 06/09/2022 19:13

Are you sure he will need to go in? I only ask as I recently applied for UC and they verified my identity through my online account (which I imagine he has if he is self employed for tax return purposes).

They did initially say I'd need a face to face meeting but then when I spoke to an actual advisor they confirmed I didn't need to. Didn't even need the phone call from them to confirm who I was.

Soontobe60 · 06/09/2022 19:14

Can neither of you increase your hours to cover the reduction? What’s your DHs job?

Original poster
ImEasyLikeSundayMorning · 06/09/2022 19:15

Soontobe60 · 06/09/2022 19:14

Can neither of you increase your hours to cover the reduction? What’s your DHs job?

DH works leaves the house at 6.30am
and gets home at 6pm, he's a builder.

Im a specialist community nurse who works full time, through my lunch hour and more on top.

So nah, we can't.

OP posts:
RaininSummer · 06/09/2022 19:16

Bigger job centres are open on Saturdays too so you could ask for an appointment then if it's works better for him or the earliest or latest appointment. The coaches can only work with law so they aren't being awkward on purpose.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 06/09/2022 19:18

RaininSummer · 06/09/2022 19:16

Bigger job centres are open on Saturdays too so you could ask for an appointment then if it's works better for him or the earliest or latest appointment. The coaches can only work with law so they aren't being awkward on purpose.

The law is awkward on purpose to discourage people from claiming help they are entitled to.

Universal credit props up low wages in the UK, and is beneficial to a lot of companies, but the hoops they make people jump through are ridiculous and punative.

Mfsf · 06/09/2022 19:21

The system is stupid . I recently applied for my 20 year old severely disabled son , he is on high pip and will probably never hold a job ( unfortunately but it’s a reality ) , he doesn’t speak either so I’m his appointee. They made me go to appointments every 2 weeks while they did an assessment to see if he was fit to work ( took 3 months ) . The system is broken

OreoMilkshakeExtraCream · 06/09/2022 19:25

When my DH went from self-employed to employed UC insisted he attend an appointment in person...god knows why. I had to explain as he's started a new job which required extensive training mon-fri 9-5 with other new starters, there is no way he can take time off to attend an appointment. They then sorted a Saturday appointment that week. The work coach even said to him it was a tick box exercise that was needed to release that month's payment, which was needed so we could pay our childcare so we could work.

You have my sympathies, we only starting claiming during lockdown, always worked and they make you feel like a parasite, threatening sanctions straight away, it's a horrible process. Hope you get it sorted OP