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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unfair benefits sanction?

212 replies

Snowymorning · 16/12/2023 21:17

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?

OP posts:
BabyMinnie · 17/12/2023 17:03

somedogsdo · 17/12/2023 15:17

Thanks @BabyMinnie but I do know something about this - having been in a v similar situation myself.
As a single parent, I did not have the luxury of choosing to stay at home and had to go out to work doing a 9-5 hr job from when my son was 12m old - however, I did get a considerable reduction on childcare costs through the tax credit system. And this made the whole set up viable.
It also meant I was employed and earning plus I was in turn providing employment (albeit subsidised) for a childminder to look after my son.
I appreciate this was a few years ago before UC was brought in so I might not be completely up to speed on the current system
but I certainly do know what I'm talking about thanks v much.

Your backstory is irrelevant. You don’t know what you’re talking about in terms of OP’s situation. I could expand on it but it’s very self explanatory.

If you were familiar with the old TC system and not the current UC system then again, you don’t know what you’re talking about

JenniferBooth · 17/12/2023 17:06

nimbys · 17/12/2023 13:00

the op needs to be careful , from late next year, and when/if the op has been unemployed for 18 months after completing restart. She will be placed in mandatory employment and if she doesn’t do it, her benefits will be stopped. So she’s got some time, but if she’s not employed by the 18 month point, she will be given mandatory employment.

@Frasers

Isn't this similar to workfare Shock

That was scrapped, and for good reason, years ago. There was outrage at the time.

It IS workfare On the news it was described as a mandatory work PLACEMENT The poster you quoted is being disingenuous.

WingsofRain · 17/12/2023 17:10

Beezknees · 17/12/2023 12:55

If she could find childcare, why would she be choosing to stay unemployed? I can assure you that unemployment benefits are not the life of riley. When I was unemployed earlier this year (single parent of one child) I received a grand total of £1300 a month. Working full time, I receive a salary of £1500 plus £600 in UC.

Show quote history

I’m truly mystified by this. I earn £950 per month and was told my income was too high for me to qualify for UC.
Something is wrong with the advice I got if you can get it while earning £1500!

BabyMinnie · 17/12/2023 17:13

WingsofRain · 17/12/2023 17:10

I’m truly mystified by this. I earn £950 per month and was told my income was too high for me to qualify for UC.
Something is wrong with the advice I got if you can get it while earning £1500!

Show quote history

You always see comments like this on any thread that has to do with benefits.

Are you a single parent or are you in a couple? Do you own your own home or do you private rent or live in social housing? How many children do you have, if any?There are many, MANY factors as to why people receive UC and you may not. If you want to a check, why don’t you go on EntitledTo and fill in your information.

I earn between £700-900 each month and receive just under 3K in UC

Beezknees · 17/12/2023 17:41

WingsofRain · 17/12/2023 17:10

I’m truly mystified by this. I earn £950 per month and was told my income was too high for me to qualify for UC.
Something is wrong with the advice I got if you can get it while earning £1500!

Show quote history

Well, what are your circumstances? Are you a single parent? Do you rent or have a mortgage?

ChateauDuMont · 17/12/2023 17:46

I think it's fair. They make the appointment times because there as many people they need to see and almost all of them will say they can't make this or that time so you have to attend or face sanctions.

somedogsdo · 17/12/2023 17:49

@BabyMinnie errr so a comment on receiving benefits, being a single parent and having to work and arrange childcare is irrelevant to a post on receiving benefits, being a single parent and having to work and arrange childcare. Grin jog on!

User8646382 · 17/12/2023 17:51

BabyMinnie · 17/12/2023 17:13

You always see comments like this on any thread that has to do with benefits.

Are you a single parent or are you in a couple? Do you own your own home or do you private rent or live in social housing? How many children do you have, if any?There are many, MANY factors as to why people receive UC and you may not. If you want to a check, why don’t you go on EntitledTo and fill in your information.

I earn between £700-900 each month and receive just under 3K in UC

Show quote history

3K a month in benefits? Sorry, what? Did you type that in error?

GatoradeMeBitch · 17/12/2023 17:55

It's not fair, but they aren't fair. I hope the links posters have left on your thread help you out. Next time collect your daughter earlier and take her with you.

Beezknees · 17/12/2023 17:55

User8646382 · 17/12/2023 17:51

3K a month in benefits? Sorry, what? Did you type that in error?

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It's possible to get that amount depending on the number of children, cost of childcare and cost of rent. Rent is £2k+ in some south east areas, and if she has 2 kids in childcare for example that is another £1k easy.

Northernsouloldies · 17/12/2023 18:36

Her rent is going to landlord not the claimant. If there was more council housing, housing benefit would be a fraction of what it is now.

Redburnett · 17/12/2023 18:41

Just take any job that fits your available hours, eg lunchtime supervisor. Problem solved.
If you cannot do this you need to arrange for a friend to pick up children, and attend appointment.
The system is designed to get you to work, not make excuses.

ginandtonicwithlimes · 17/12/2023 18:45

WingsofRain · 17/12/2023 17:10

I’m truly mystified by this. I earn £950 per month and was told my income was too high for me to qualify for UC.
Something is wrong with the advice I got if you can get it while earning £1500!

Show quote history

If you don't have children or disabilities or a single person you don't get much. We have children and a mortgage and get some UC due to low wages.

Beezknees · 17/12/2023 18:53

Northernsouloldies · 17/12/2023 18:36

Her rent is going to landlord not the claimant. If there was more council housing, housing benefit would be a fraction of what it is now.

Yes exactly. I live in social housing in the midlands and get £600 a month in UC, if I lived in London in private rent I did a calculator and I'd get around £2k in UC, but it would just mean more going towards rent, I'd still have the same amount leftover after rent.

PepperIsHere · 17/12/2023 19:54

LakieLady · 17/12/2023 13:48

This is very true. I also think that some job centres have a culture of being "awkward".

I work in welfare rights and every time I've helped a client who's been having an issue with a work coach, it's been one particular job centre out of the 9 in the area I cover. My colleague who does the same role in the next county has found similar.

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While this doesn't surprise me, it os shocking that some agencies go out of their way to make life difficult for people living with poverty. Thank goodness for people like you but what a travesty that you're needed.

BabyMinnie · 17/12/2023 20:06

User8646382 · 17/12/2023 17:51

3K a month in benefits? Sorry, what? Did you type that in error?

Show quote history

Nope!

I’m a single parent so there’s an element for that. An element for having two children. An element for childcare which is around £515 a month. An element for housing which is £1450. An element for being a carer and an element for having a disabled child.

If I lived in social housing and didn’t have childcare costs then the amount would be much lower. It just depends on your circumstances

Original poster
Snowymorning · 17/12/2023 20:52

Thanks everyone for your comments. I am still looking for jobs outside of school hours but my DDs school doesn’t do wrap around care for after school. After school clubs are only for Y1 and above, not reception. There is a breakfast club though

OP posts:
Original poster
Snowymorning · 17/12/2023 20:54

My daughter only started in September. Before that she wasn’t in nursery but I have been applying for many jobs. Not heard back from many. I did have one interview but went to someone with more experience

OP posts:
PepperIsHere · 17/12/2023 20:57

Sorry its so hard for you OP. And sanctions at Christmas, when it's freezing, doesn't exactly help the confidence or ability tp get to interviews/have something nice to wear etc.
Take a breather, appeal the sanction, ignore the right wing arseholes on this thread then bloody good luck to you in finding another job.

Original poster
Snowymorning · 17/12/2023 21:08

It’s also made it harder for me as I still have to attend Restart next week and then job centre the day after so that’s transport costs as well whilst being sanctioned

OP posts:
Caffeineislife · 17/12/2023 21:13

As you communicated the time was difficult for you then it is unfair of them to keep booking a 3pm appointment. We're you able to suggest an alternative time that works for you? Next appointment you need to say, I can't do _ but I'm free _.

However, you really need to be proactive with looking for work. Missing appointments or showing resistance will lead to sanctions.

Have you explored all options in school hours? There are loads of cleaning companies and care companies round me that are recruiting and one of their selling points is school hours. We use one of the cleaning companies and it is entirely staffed by mums who need school hours, all cleans are 9.15- 3.15. I have a friend who works for a local private at home care company and she only works school hours - she visits clients and makes lunches, meds runs, late get ups until 9.30am, shopping/ cleaning, medical appointment runs. I have another friend who works at a cafe over the lunchtime rush -10am - 2.30pm. She has to do the odd Saturday when the DC are with Dad.

You do also have to show willing with out of school hours work, make use of wrap around care at school. You may find that employers are more flexible once you get working and prove yourself to be a good employee.

It's tough out there nowadays. Make sure you are getting CM and if dad is safe to have the children that he is having them as well as a regular contact. This gives you the weekends as a possibility for work as well as school hours.

PlipPlopChoo · 17/12/2023 21:20

Drop them an email and ask them to clarify if you should leave your 4 year old daughter waiting for you alone outside of the school whilst you are attending.

You should kick up an absolute stink!

Northernsouloldies · 17/12/2023 21:36

There are lots of cleaning jobs is a bit of a glib reply do you even realise that some of these jobs have 400+applicants.getting a job is not easy if you have different factors to contend with my own being age and I'm under 60.

Beezknees · 17/12/2023 22:00

Northernsouloldies · 17/12/2023 21:36

There are lots of cleaning jobs is a bit of a glib reply do you even realise that some of these jobs have 400+applicants.getting a job is not easy if you have different factors to contend with my own being age and I'm under 60.

And you need your own car which not everyone does.

DrCoconut · 17/12/2023 22:01

@somedogsdo I have to work round school pick ups as there is no after school childcare available for my DC. No after school club and no childminders collect from their schools. in general places are like hens teeth everywhere (locally) and snapped up immediately. There was more pre covid, places are massively reduced since. i do keep checking. UC might pay childcare but they only can if it exists. My ex deciding that family life was not for him has totally pole axed my career and left me dependent on UC till the kids are older.