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?!

I know. But I don't get how, we aren't entitled to anything

Sometimes they're dicks the other way though! When my DSS & DIL split up, and DIL started claiming UC, they didn't get round to asking her to take her tenancy agreement in for 3 months, so she didn't get any housing costs in her UC for four months.

Luckily, we were able to help her financially, otherwise she probably would have been given notice to quit.

But they've already been rolling it out for 4 years so it wouldn't make 2 years to get the whole country done. www.gov.uk/government/news/managed-move-of-claimants-to-universal-credit-set-to-restart
end of 2024 according to gov.uk

I'm surprised you're entitled to anything. As a specialist nurse B6/7 and a builders salary must be over the threshold.

He's a self employed builder working 11.5 hours a day. Normally you would expect a builder to make around £45,000 a year. I can only assume OPs DH charges fantastic prices for his services as he must be on less than minimum wage. If you're feeling the pinch OP I would suggest your DH ups his prices. He should be charging £200 minimum for his services (and that is cheap)

OP I feel your pain, when DH was made redundant he sighed on, and they wanted me to go to the job centre as part of his claim to prove my identity (the online verification of my bank account/passport/driving licence didn’t work).

At no point did anyone ask what my salary was, just that as we were married/living in the same household that’s what they needed.

I took time off work, took documents in when they said, stupid office with nowhere to park etc, no alternative/Sat appointment option.

They finally decided we weren’t entitled to anything anyway because of my salary - if they’d just asked for that initially it would’ve saved loads of unnecessary time & effort.

I don’t know how anyone has the patience to deal with it when they are actually entitled to anything.

Where I live to drive to the job centre, park, walk to the JC, walk back to your car and drive back to where I live would take more than an hour and that's without having to wait to see someone and sort it out. Not sure why you are so sure it would be an hour tops.

It is a ridiculous system. I'm going to become my DD appointee, but the UC wanted me to take time off my full time job to attend the job centre with her weekly or instead of her.

Erm no, her long term MH problems won't resolve weekly and that's why there a bloody fit note uploaded to your system. I teach fgs, time off is hard enough.

@MillyMoo1113 it's actually in the internal Universal Credit guidance that if someone is so unable to manage their affairs that they have an appointee, they should have their work commitments switched off thus not need to attend weekly appointments. Unfortunately there are a lot of work coaches that were employed over the pandemic that haven't had the thorough training and the confidence to implement it properly. You really need to challenge them on this, ask to speak to a team leader in the job centre.

I’m surprised a specialist nurse plus builder income working full time qualifies at all. The job centre as is ridiculous but the jobs you do don’t quite add up.

Thank you for that advice, I will definitely challenge. She was literally a nervous wreck when we left the job centre, there's no way in this earth I'm putting her through that on a regular basis.

People need to stop assuming all self-employed people can take time off as and when. Sure, in OP’s DH’s case he’s able to (although it’s not convenient), but I’m self employed and I personally really, really couldn’t.

I get booked for projects 2-3 months in advance. An average week might look like M 10-2, Tue 9-12 and 3-7, W 8-8, Thu 9-11 and 6-midnight + full weekends. If my appointment fell on the Wednesday I would have to give ALL those hours up. That’s up to 30-40% of my monthly income. And I’m a very low earner.

I’m not allowed to participate in a project if I can’t make 100% of the required times. If I were sick, I’d simply get kicked off that week and replaced with a back up.

So unless you’re going to give me an appointment with 3 month’s notice, chances are I won’t be able to attend it. People love to say how flexible self employment is, but that’s simply not true for all industries.

I get it OP. What a pain.

It would annoy me too, but just look on it as an hour out of his life for which you will get enough money to make it worthwhile. Hopefully it will be a one-off!

Maybe that's why the want him to come in? OP how much does your DH earn?

Construction is still booming so he should be able to earn £30/40 or even £50k+ pa for those hours, so I'm surprised that you're entitled to top ups with you also a decent earner, you must be bringing in £60-80k between you.

If your DHs business isn't paying him what it should be, can he do agency work?

DP works in construction outside the summer when he does something else but he still gets several messages a week from the agencies offering him work and rates are increasing all the time.

@GrandSlamFinalee the idea with the new system though is that if you earn below a certain amount your better off getting a job, your in an unusual and very risky type of self employment
Any if us could have something come up last minute and believe it or not those of us who are employed also can't easily take time off at a drop of a hat either

I think I know what you’ve done there is a question about tax free childcare, it’s right there in the middle of the application, it’s a curve ball if you tick yes it stops your tax credits, many people do it especially if they are in a hurry. There is usually a a warning but unless you go back and change it your money stops.

As for the work coach stating 2025 that will be the timetable, however that timetable has been altered time and time again. Tons of people are still on legacy benefits and tax credits and it may take 3 years or longer to get everyone off.

Some people believe they are better off on UC but are they when you factor the 5 week wait or advance? Certainly women on maternity and returning to work are worse off and those with disabilities. Many people are not better off on UC some are hundreds worse off even in work.

Of course they will need to go through his finances. There has been a big crackdown of those who claim they are self employed but actually out of work. I had a neighbour who claimed to be self employed, never worked but didn't have to go on job seekers. She just said she worked 16 hours a week and the cleaning business never turned a profit. She claimed tax credits for many years.

This could be a good thing for your finances. They will look at ways your DH can earn more money. With the hours he is putting in and the job he has it doesn't seem right that you are struggling as much as you are.

Get real people! I know this will be a shock but! .. not all people are honest. People lie. Fraud is rife. If it was your money being given out (which it is) wouldnt you want to know the right people get the right amount? And virtual doesnt allow for a proper human being to assess that.

This is such a ridiculous situation. If the op cant make it, ring and reappoint or ask through uc account. If broke and need the money, then turn up and prove income. Simple. If that means missing work, then work around it. Being a self employed builder usually means you quote for a job not by the hour. So as long as you make up time, your income is protected. If subbing, then arrange appt in unpaid dinner hour, the job centre will change it if you explain why.

Band 6, and we are entitled to very little as mentioned in my OP.

But, as mentioned in my OP we are in financial dire straits at the moment. We have been willy slapped in the face by a few financial issues that we could never have predicted. Therefore, we really do need to claim the piddly bit they allow us.

Plus, we are only entitled because DC3 is in childcare.
Other than that we aren't entitled to anything.

Yes!!! I had this. I work 30 hours a week get a percentage of childcare costs due to being single. They wanted me to go at 3pm but I don’t finish work until 3.30. I said what is the interview for? They said to prove you are looking work??!! I’m not looking for work, I like my job and it’s too busy to leave there at 3pm. It’s mind bending.

I have no words other than please don’t vote conservative when you’re all next at the ballot box. The UK welfare system is beyond a joke.. it’s just shocking. good luck to you op sounds like a shitshow & I hope you get it sorted xox

So you earn more than 33k? I can only assume you husband work 57 odd hours a week then as a builder for about 15k? When a builder's average earnings are more than 40k? Hmmm something is not quite right here. Either you're a troll or someone isn't reporting their actual income, maybe that's why they are wanting a meeting?

Earns*

Fuck me, I wish. 😭