Unfair benefits sanction?

[Snowymorning]

Not a begging post and I’ll make things work but just wanted opinions whether I’ve been unfairly treated. I lost my job about 9 months ago due to cuts at work and I’m currently on Universal Credit and have been looking for work around school hours as I’m a single parent and my daughter is in reception . I was signed up for a back to work programme called Restart. Restart kept booking appointments in at school pick up time even though I had told them I can’t attend at these times. I always let them know and asked to rearrange but they kept doing it. I’ve now been sanctioned by the job centre for not attending two Restart appointments booked in at 3pm and they’ve took £363 off me this month. I just think this is unfair at Christmas time especially as a single mum with a 4 year old. I really don’t have anyone else who could have collected my daughter for me either. Fairly new to area and don’t know anybody who could have. Is this fair for them to have done this?

Think you’re right, 😔

In whose world can you arrange a 1 off child care session just like that?

OP, i think its pathetic of them to book appointments at times when you're on the school run - firstly it is discriminatory against single parents as they are far less likely to be able to get childcare for a one off than a 2 parent family, and claimants with older or no children wouldn't be impacted at all. I would make sure you put that in your journal!

So typical of the dreadful benefits system. I think it's very unfair. It's one size fits all and is utterly ridiculous. Can you appeal?

I think any type of sanctions are stinkingly unfair and inhumane.
Why the Human rights brigade aren't stamping their feet over this I don't know. If it were me in your situation I'd be thinking they're deliberately giving me those appointment times knowing I can't make it as an excuse to sanction me. It's not like they're not aware of your situation is it!.
Can your local MP not kick up a stink about this.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider why are any type of sanctions unfair? Surely they can't just let people not look for work without any consequence. There'd be no incentive to look for work if that were the case. Or am I missing something?

Actually you can usually. Organize a baby sitter for a couple of hours who can do pick up.

https://www.sitters.co.uk/

How are you going to get a job if you can't miss school pick up?

OP didn't ask for help looking for work or opinions on what hours she should be working- that's what Restart are there for. Restart were really bad with communicating with me also, when I needed to reschedule, or ask anything. Even in the job centre, they would check with me first before making an appointment, or reply when I needed to change one. OP please appeal this and gather all the evidence you have that you tried to change the appointment times and that your daughter is in school.

Because even disgusting child abusers and rapists are given 3 meals a day. Those who are subject to cruel sanctions are probably lucky if they get one meal. 300+ plus taken is nye on 100 PW. No one will ever change my views about that being unfair so with the greatest respect its not worth even trying.

Restart appointments are every two weeks- you obviously have no idea how much Universal Credit a single mum of one child will get, if you think someone in that situation (during a cost of living crisis) can just pay a private babysitter for two or more hours. Restart appointments are usually 45 mins to one hour, so depending on travel time, she'd have to pay for two hours minimum.

So you are happy for them to sanction a mother that much she might struggle to feed her child? Surely we can encourage them to get back into work without that?

If OP is on UC she will be counting every penny - why on earth should she have to pay a sitter when she is not working so can look after the children herself - just because the benefits people can't move the time of her appointment, which costs them nothing?

No offence but I don't think I would be comfortable getting a babysitter who I don't know.

With a four year old, they would only expect her to work 16 hours per week- dinner lady work, part time shop work, part time admin work, deliveroo driver. There are school hour jobs out there, just few and far between.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider I'm not sure what the 300+ on nye on 100 PW means.

@ginandtonicwithlimes no, if you look at the 3rd post on the thread, I've said I think it's unfair in OPs situation and given advice on challenging the sanction. That being said, there are plenty of people sanctioned because they've not done what they signed up to do. I don't necessarily think this is unfair, so I was trying to see whether I'd not thought of something.

No this isn’t fair, but you really do need to look for jobs that are beyond school hours and use wraparound care. School hours only is a luxury most can’t afford.

If they warned you that you'd be sanctioned if you didn't attend, I think you should have taken DD out of school early and gone to the meeting.

But she needs to work, and she needs to demonstrate she’s actively trying. School hours jobs are very limited, so she can’t even be applying for much.

The whole system is ridiculous. You need childcare in order to work and whilst you can claim a % back the provider must be ousted registered and must be able to provide the exact right wording and invoices to send to UC as proof of payment. My friend has had a nightmare with them.

Also it's not all that easy to find a well paying secure job. I've worked in hospitality for years and recently attempted to find a more secure salaried job, more admin/office based. I got nowhere because I'm not qualified, I've done a degree (hospitality) and worked in various top hotel chains as well as less top chains but I was still being rejected because of not having experience in that kind of job. I used my hotel reception experience as an example to prove that I knew my way around a computer but it wasn't good enough for an entry level admin job.

I gave up in the end because I'm lucky enough to have a flexible job in school hours and we aren't desperate enough for the small payrise I would get after paying for additional childcare and likely fuel. Now I only pay school holidays and hardly use my car.

Not fair at all. I hate this government.

I'm sorry you're going through this. It's appalling.

But if the rules are that you have to be looking for work, and available, then they are the rules and they have to be followed. Taxpayers are funding these benefits (& possibly arranging childcare for their own kids, so they can work). So, in that case and if all done in accordance with the law, yes it is fair.

Schools get very snotty about taking children out early and you then get threatened with being reported to the LA and fined.

Another person with an empathy bypass I see 🙄

It's not fair. However - the reality is that the days of being able to pick and choose what you do, where you work, hours you work, turning down jobs, appointments to suit you when you're on benefits are long since gone. It's a horrible game that's brutal and not fair but play it you must if you want the money unfortunately.

Appeal against the sanction, but I guess it might take some time and that doesnt help in the short term. Is the sanction ongoing? Dont assume they will change it.

Next time, do whatever you need to to get to the appointment, and explain to them in person what the problem is. Take your daughter out of school early if necessary, but just get there.

I know you're new to the area but just saying, if you'd come up to me in the playground and asked if I could look after your daughter for an afternoon in this situation, I'd have said yes - so it might be worth asking if there's a friendly looking parent. I know it's not at all easy to do that but maybe worth considering. Perhaps ask your daughter who she plays with and ask those parents? Making it clear of course you're not looking for long term free childcare!