UC: After a quick heads up

[MiMiChuna]

Being migrated over to UC from CTC.

Have 1st appointment tm to discuss initial agreement contract.

What's the typical expectation for lone parents with no support network? Looking for real life experiences, not unhelpful opinions & judgements.

My DC are in age brackets 13+ and 9-12.

My initial thoughts are no weekend / evening work. School hours. Not full time (this would break me mentally on top of everything else I have to manage & support singlehandedly).

Also I'm returning to college part-time in Sept (1 day / wk, continuation of course I was on last year, doing the next level, to lead to hopefully a new career path in finance / accountancy). If that has any bearing.

Want to be prepared and realistic in relation to people in similar personal situation.

FWIW comparing CTC to UC in theory UC pays more, but I can manage on CTC level of payments if it meant less expectation so I can keep supporting my children & being there for them as there's is zero other persons to step in.

Much appreciated. Feeling a bit stressed now the appt is close.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/your-dependent-childs-age-universal-credit

25 hours per week.

School aged children you’d be expected to earn the equivalent of 25 hours a week at minimum wage

To not have any appointments you need to earn over 677 but I believe it's going to change to 812 before the end of the year

25 hours but once youngest turns 13 that increases to 35. You can get help with child care costs but they have to be Ofsted registered so after school clubs /breakfast clubs are covered as are some holiday clubs

As the other PPS have said, i have iust recently had a review and had to go from 16hrs pr week to 20 hours( to take me over the £677 a month threshold). My work coach is really good / understanding. I am a lone parent who also cares for my dad ( not officially) . But, she has said no more appointments for now.just be really honest about your situation OP and mention the college thing as well. Oh and dont forget to accept the bloody commitments on your journal!! 🤣. Good luck.

Yeh I've seen that 25 hrs for ppl with kids under 13. That's a very different expectation on a parent with a partner / support network who can juggle all other life's responsibilities with at least 1 other adult. So I'm querying whether there's accomodation or compromises on the rules depending on people's circumstances / responsibilities. Specifically LP with no support. Is it crazy to wonder if they see the person?

@mommatoone thanks. I plan to share my situation fully! My course is to gain professional qualifications to help me get back to a better paid job / profession so I'm assuming the time taken on that is going to be taken account of in terms of any agreement. Am I delusional?!

I (am about to) work 9am to 3pm, 4 days a week, with paid break which is 24 hours - and also school hours. I would have thought that your college day would count as it's geared towards work but I don't think they're going to drop the requirement much, especially given you can claim help with childcare costs. You can only ask.

I don’t see how that stops you doing 25 hours a week though?

I believe you would get a large amount of the childcare costs paid for - I believe it’s around 80% but please check this with your work coach. That should make it easier for you to find a solution. I believe education counts too but discuss this with your back to work coach. They are there to help you. Good luck to you :)

I worked full time in a professional job with kids that age

What qualifications are you working for at college? There are employers that fund accountancy qualifications like ACCA etc so you'd still be able to work the hours that UC need you to.

25 hours is a really reasonable expectation with children the age of yours tbf

I thought it was just the equivalent £ of 25 hrs at minimum wage? So you could work less if you meet the earnings threshold? (Not sure if this is correct) . But either way, agreed with other posters. Childcare be heavily funded. You can do that easily. I can't see them being too forgiving when kids are school age

Your kids are old enough for you to work the 25 hours. I’m not sure what kind of accommodations you’re expecting, 25 hours isn’t loads and you’ll get help with childcare costs if you need any for wrap around and in school holidays.

No, definitely hours. From gov.uk:

"You will be expected to work a maximum of 25 hours a week (or spend 25 hours a week looking for work). This might include some training and work-focused interviews."

Some of the other things (30 hours free childcare at 3 for example) are monetary.

A maximum of 25 hours? Surely that should say minimum?

Hope you get on ok. I'm absolutely dreading this and it's next month for me. I stand to lose money and the whole process seems so intrusive and judgemental compared to tax credits. There are no suitable childcare places available locally (I've tried repeatedly) so any help that might be available to pay for childcare is not much use really, I can't increase my hours unless I want my kids uncollected at home time. I have no other parent to share the load with and limited family help due to age and health.

@MrsKeats how many children & what support did you have to work full time? Genuine question.

Two children.
No support-they went to a childminder.
I usually worked 50 plus hours a week as a teacher and had a second job tutoring.
24 hours is nothing.

No, it's maximum because it's based on an earnings requirement equal to 25 hours x minimum wage, rather than 25 hours worked regardless of the person's pay rate.

Therefore if your hourly pay rate is higher than min wage, you can meet the earnings requirements whilst working fewer hours. For example, someone who earns £20.84 per hour (2x current min wage) will only need to work 12.5 hours to meet the UC 25 hour work requirement.

So it's based on earnings not hours.

@MrsKeats what age did they attend a childminder until?

I think 8 and 10 or so.

Till about 14 I think