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

[ImEasyLikeSundayMorning]

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?!

Just as a side note it may be worth you checking again as we get 30 hours free childcare and a tax free childcare account, criteria is under £100k salary each and earning at least £152 a week so maybe worth checking. Our bill has reduced to half and then we pay 80% of the half left and the government top up 20%. It has really helped us.

He can ask for the appointment to be the last in the day or first in morning. I had to go in when I was self
wmployed and actually earning more than they expected me to.
it’s a horrible system and pointless people doing pointless work not you have to cooperate

You can actually request a more convenient appointment. I had one a few months ago and the time they gave me was during the school run. So I sent a message over my journal asking for an earlier time. They gave me one at 10:30 in the morning. They won’t confirm your exact entitlement until a few days before the first payment. I ended up getting double the amount I estimated from their online calculator tools.

Working 30 hours per week falls within the definition of part-time hours. So yes, you will have to go to at least one appointment and discuss if/how you plan to increase your hours/earnings. Caring responsibilities are always taken into account, so if 30 hours is all you can do, that will be accepted. You can update the work search section of your online account, but this isn't onerous -10 minutes a day, at most. If you feel this is too much to expect, then don't claim.

I’m a teacher. You’d have to take the time unpaid and might even get the request refused. Can’t class it as a dinner hour like in some jobs if the time slot isn’t over dinner!! Can’t make the hours up in a school.

OP it does sound like a really stupid thing to have to do, physically going in. I’m sure there should be a better system.

stop moaning and just go to the appointment - whats the point writing a mumnet moan about it? Just go to the appointment - he needs to prove his income. If you want UC, his has to go. The end.

Could he contact his uc worker online and offer to upload all of his documents there that he'd be bringing for evidence anyways? I was under the impression they're moving away from in person interviews especially since covid. As others have suggested could he use his lunch break for it and arrange the meeting for start or end of day or work an hour later to make the time up?

Yes but if we took this approach to life MN would have very little content at all!

Too much of this thread is people unwilling to believe the system is deliberately arsey in some ways, and thinking that if you just explain politely and clearly then the UC process will meet you halfway. This assumption is not borne out well by evidence. Of course appropriate checks must be made but the inflexible demands (short notice appointments during the working day, additional appointments at random, gateway appointments in person even though all data can be adequately verified online not least cos HMRC already hold and share it) are a feature, not a bug. I can only assume they act to minimise the UC bill, by acting as a deterrent and by triggering sanctions at a very low threshold.

Jobcentres open Monday to Saturday to enable people who are working to find a time they CAN attend without taking time off work

It won’t get better-
been self employed and on UC is difficult - you have to post income and expenses etc every month within your statement period.

he might be best getting an employed job until your finances improve

You can work part time on UC it’s actually income based not hourly based.
I forget the threshold but I think if you are earning more than 16xminimum wage it wouldn’t matter if it was in 1 hour or 35hrs

It's not just about checking he is self employed. They need to explain how UC works with self employment so he understands, for example, the impact of the minimum income floor and how to report earnings each month.

Completely sympathise with you. It is sheer nastiness on the part of the state, making claimants jump through hoops to get what they are financially entitled to, in one of the most heavily taxed countries in the west. It's no wonder working couples such as yourselves can't make ends meet. The aim is to make the process so humiliating - not to mention frustrating - that potential claimants choose to have nothing to do with it. As far as the state is concerned you may as well starve.

Actually you’re wrong, I did not have to go in. I don’t need to fill anything in or do anything because they realised that they had made a mistake. I am contracted to 30 hours but often work 35 hours due to be very being short staffed and covering 2 roles at the moment.

People are just making things up to justify having a go about the free money!!! People are so bitter that some people may get help with bills over the winter, I am seeing this attitude everywhere. I actually worked up til I was 2 weeks from giving birth and went back when she was six months. I didn’t need any support because I had my partner. My circumstances changed and I work as much as I can and do over time regularly.

I simply won’t be shamed by anyone, I have an extremely busy life and work hard.

Actually you’re wrong, I did not have to go in

So why are you complaining? You're being given money to help you and don't need to go in.

Stop the attitude I didn’t see the message until after I wrote on here. People are directly their anger at the wrong people is disgraceful.

All of the people being nasty about getting free money need to redirect that anger towards the government. We are all being shafted. We have all be completely lied to now and through out the pandemic. Yes people should be angry but not with people who work hard for a living. I don’t go on 3 holidays a year like some people but I don’t begrudge them that if I’d they have the money.

I'm not angry at people getting free money, if you need it, get it. But stop complaining because the government is asking you to attend an appointment, or fill in a form. If you want the money, understand you need to fulfil the requirements. If you don't want to, don't ask for free money.

It’s like people purposely miss the point, it’s not about going in. It’s about being asked to go in the next day which would take a whole afternoon when I’m covering someone else at work. Like I explained I pretty much work full time because most weeks I’m doing 35 hours. What should I do? Leave my 8 year old home alone and work 60 hours week to avoid the free money. There are a lot of people very angry about some people getting help with bills. I’d just be thankful that I was in a good position financially and not have to worry.

Yes this is exactly what me and my husband have had to do as we’re both self employed.
They have changed our appointments at the drop of a hat and expected us to change our work to attend appointments to supposedly help with with work!

But they do not operate on a drop-in basis! They tell you when the appointment is, usually with very little notice. The extent to which they're willing or able to reschedule for a more suitable time seems to vary, and if rescheduling it takes you past the end of your assessment period this has implications for whether/when you receive the money you're entitled to for that period.

What should I do? **

Call them and tell them you can't make that appointment and to give another, because if you communicate, they do.

There are a lot of people very angry about some people getting help with bills. I’d just be thankful that I was in a good position financially and not have to worry.

Actually there's a lot of people who aren't entitled to help and are struggling now. It's not just affecting the lowest paid. Then see people whinging about having to attend an appointment to get free money. I'd just be grateful if I was receiving free money, that I'm getting it. Even if it means attending appointments.

If you want to benefit from the system you have to comply with the system Disabled people have to keep proving they are disabled ( amputees are having to prove their limb hasn't grown back ) YABU

Again, you need to blame the government it is their call. I am not moaning about appointments at all, they admitted I did not need to go in. I cannot work anymore than I am it was an error on their part. I don't want mess around my job I have only been in this job 10 months. I found a better paying job than my last one with better prospects. I am not disagreeing that some people won't get help that need it and that is why I think this whole universal credit an absolute failure. No point in people turning on each other again like covid. I am getting the whole shopping your neighbour vibe from it and its horrible. Life is difficult enough

Welcome to the bullshit that is the job centre/universal credit op. You only get all your stripes when you end up causing a scene saying to just cancel your claim and you'd rather be destitute than deal with this shit and walking out with everyone staring at you 😂 good times, so glad I don't have to go anymore.