To not want to work more hours? (Universal Credit)

[Abneyandteal19]

Hi
Have never claimed benefits before except child benefit as we've always earns over threshold, situation now is....
3DC ages 4 (preschool) 6 and 8.

I work part time professional job management - but job share 15hrs PW. Income £14500

DH professional job in region of £60-65k has never been out of work until now. His contracts ended in Dec. Had a job lined up for Jan- company funding issues have meant they've delayed his start indefinitely. Of course he is desperately searching.

Done all calculations and looks like we are entitled to some UC, so filled in all forms. Have to agree to commitments, DH has to look for work log jobs applied for work coach etc...all fine no problem

But my commitments have come back with I must agree to look for more hours work. I am not sure I can do this... my job is job share split 40/60 so there are no more hours. I have my preschooler everyday I don't work.

Main point is we were just looking for a bit of help for a few months until DH starts and then gets paid for a new job. Chances are he will absolutely get one in next 3 months and then of course will will cease claiming anything and then me working part time will be totally fine again.

It's not that I don't want to work more just not that easy to find something for a few hours a week that will pay more than childcare will cost? Any thoughts/experience? So AIBU not to want to work more hours?

Jesus.

I’m not the one for benefit bashing but you are really taking the piss. Could you not have saved some money from the 60K per year for a rainy day? Do you expect to sot on your arse next to your husband also sitting on his arse while my taxes pay for you? Many people have 4y olds and would love more time with them.

And for those posters saying “you’re only part time, get more hours” etc. Three children is a lot of work and no, the OP isn’t doing more than 15 hours paid work but I bet she’s not sitting around painting her nails and flicking through Netflix. Good grief. This race to the bottom is insane.

It’s ok to ask for help temporarily. It’s not in the childrens best interests to suddenly have to do pre/school, childminder, after school clubs etc just for a month or two. Some children would be ok. Lots at that age really need a parent to be with them before and after school. The OP isn’t suggesting a new lifestyle choice based on UC. She’d be in trouble if she was - especially with a mortgage to pay.

Also, for all those “how do you not have more savings!” posters - have some grace here. Covid was tough. £80k sounds like a lot until you have three children, a mortgage and all the everyday costs of living. Again, it’s not a race to the bottom.

OP, I agree that CAB might be a helpful place to call. And if it is just an extra hour work you need, that should be pretty easy to get?

Hope your husband finds a new job really soon.

I’d ask myself a few questions

• Is your DH definitely going to secure a job in a month? There was a thread running for days where Mumsnet posters couldn’t get jobs and were saying it was the worst they’ve ever seen in professional jobs.
• If so, it’s one month: put expenses on credit cards, borrow from parents or siblings, or explore a short term loan
• If this is not guaranteed, then both of you start looking for full time ASAP so the other minds the kids.

Millions of other parents are both working to supplement the social welfare system to help those who can’t work which is entirely right. But you can both work..

But if you are only working 15 hours a week and your husband not working at all - then surely the solution is for one of you to work more to tide you over? Not to claim it from elsewhere?

@LegoDeathTrap you’re right. All the parents of 3 children that I know do not much other than sit on their arses. Of course. Lazy parents.

You have my sympathies, but if your hubby is not working I am a bit confused why you need to cover the costs of childcare if you work more?

You just need to agree to look for a job, you don't actually need to get a job. By the time you're offered an interview your husband will likely have something else.

Sometimes the system is stupid and you just have to nod and smile with it.

But to be honest by the time you actually get a UC payment he'll probably already have been paid from his contract, so it's more hassle than it's worth.

Not on UC.

We seem to have gone 'off piste' into an argument about rights and wrongs.

The issue here, from the OP's point of view is earnings thresholds.

If she's on £14,500 then I'd have thought she was above the Administrative Earnings Threshold so should she not be in a light touch regime where she's not leaned on too hard?

Whether, as @Babyroobs says circumstance means extra work is needed to make ends meet is a different question.

UC is a rights and responsibilities benefit. It’s designed as a safety need for those in need, not for claimants to pick and choose which responsibilities they do and don’t want in return for the benefit.

OP are you a civil servant? Just based on the flexibility, pension etc.

I'm a civil service DD/G5 and I'd happily sign off increasing someone in my team from 15 to 16 hours to enable a UC claim - there's always enough work to go round.

Do what you have to for the next few months until your husband gets another job.
Be careful if you have savings though as they can check your bank accounts. £6000-£16000 they'll take some money off your universal credit. Over £16000 you aren't entitled to anything.

She’s in a management position in teaching.

Batshit is exactly what this is 😀. Smh 🤦🏾‍♀️

Actually, OP, is he looking for contracting work or an actual job?

Whilst I have some sympathy with your situation I've also tried to put myself in your shoes and actually I'd be shitting my pants and doing everything possible for DH or I to generate extra income- be that in a supermarket, in hospitality or the care sector. Both of these would be perfectly possible for you or your DH in the evenings/weekends and would not interfere with job hunting during the day or your professional job. I get that it might not be pleasantly but as you've already said yourself, it's only for the short term. My ds is 18, he has had a string of those types of jobs (hotel, dominoes and now a supermarket) and never had any problem finding one. He currently works from 6-11 stacking shelves 3/4 nights per week. I have 4 DC and if I needed to I would absolutely do the same.

Your husband could have predicted this scenario- he’s a contractor! And would
frt all the benefits as well as the risks of this.

you should have had savings. Benefits are for people who have genuine reasons to not have adequate jncpme - not for contractors between jobs

there are many many many jobs you or your dh could do outside of the hours when you say you need to do child care so your husband can have interviews

OP you have my sympathy.

The pile on about wanting the "luxury" of part time work in your current situation is quite mind boggling. You have forged a career around your family commitments which is what women are now expected to do, which while it might not sustain you as a single parent worked well in the circumstances while your DH was employed, and has potential long term benefits and security.

Your DH has been dealt an unfortunate hand, and you are trying to work round getting back to a situation where benefits won't be necessary.

The pandemic shafted so many people and has made the entire world economy unstable. Employers hold the whip hand - zero hours contracts are a blight on society, and this rose tinted view that you can just waltz into something that will solve all your problems is risible.

People forget that one of the primary motivations for setting up the welfare system after the war was to prevent civil uprising and revolution as disgruntled soldiers coming back from war to economic chaos had to be appeased.

Down the line it was used for the same reasons, when we lost our industries in the Thatcher years, and so on.

Institutional gas-lighting and propaganda is used to claim that anyone needing even a short period of assistance is feckless, stealing from their community, etc etc

It is over-looked that long term economic insecurity leads to family breakdown, poor mental and physical health, homelessness and crime. There are industries now around these issues which would collapse if the world was a more equitable place, which cost a huge amount to administer yet also allow profiteering as capitalism is king and funneling money from the worst off to the most wealthy is the ultimate goal.

A population constantly on the brink of financial security is malleable - keep offering "just enough" and "jam tomorrow" with the implication that any period of personal difficulty is simply down to lack of resilience etc, and people will exhaust themselves to comply, because without hope there is nothing.

Everything appears to be falling apart - my local council has been reported today as not considering it financially viable to maintain our hollowed out town centre despite being a tourist destination that is becoming less and less desirable to visitors due to lack of retail - even big chains are gone - and the proliferation of social problems and crime. Not sure what the end game is but I'm more alarmed at everything at 55 than I have ever been before.

Anyway, back to the point - I wish you luck OP, as it's clear you're just trying to get by in a world very different to the one where getting a job didn't demand degrees and experience for the least little role, psychometric testing and for everyone to worship at the foot of money and technology. I really do wish you all the best.

@Akire The "system" does actually care if you've worked for 40 years and had a stroke etc. My dh was awarded Contribution based ESA when he became ill, precisely because he'd worked and paid NI contributions in the previous 2 years (he'd actually worked full time for almost 40 years).

If your dh isn't working he can look after the kids. UC says both of you need to be working or job hunting, this is fair - he can job hunt when your toddler is in childcare and/or evenings and weekends

when she's not working, just like mine when i worked 60 hours a week and DH was primary carer.

Not to kick OP when she's down, because she really is in a tough position.
Saw your update, OP about your lovely job. That's why in your shoes I'd be looking for a temporary 2nd job that worked around it. And maybe checking if your place have other jobs you could do

Whenever I've changed jobs I've been working full time. A company that wants your DH will arrange interview times around him. He can totally look after your DC while applying for jobs. The way you're coming across is that you as a family are too special to do this (whether that's your intention or not)

Am I missing something but are not all benefits rightly based on household income.
Why is the OP's husband not out there doing a part-time job as he is not currently earning a wage. He also has a commitment to work as he is the one who is without a job.

Also having been a single contractor myself in the past working through a limited company there was always the possibility of a 'dry spell' and that is where 'the company' would step in to pay out of the company funds.

So far as I know 'benefits' were not available to cover the gap between freelance jobs even for a single parent like myself

the DH has 0 working hours and can do the childcare while he looks for a job.

Or why doesn't your dh take a temporary low paid job? Benefits are for those who cannot work rather than those who who see low paid work as beneath them.

It's probably easiest to look for a basic zero hours contract evening/weekend job to top up hours so then DH has childcare for calls/interviews in the week. These jobs tend to have little in way of start up time/training, I've used agencies for immediate start for various office jobs but also waitressing, factory/warehouse in the past. It will get the work coach off your back and you can sack it off guilt free once DH gets another job. Can look into your option for new FT job but know for some it just doesn't stack up financially/practically with nursery fees & covering days they can't attend as sick.

Hopefully DH gets another contract soon, he may need to be willing to compromise on the next job and view as temporary stepping stone as seems lot get hung up on finding right job for their career ( though usually when have partner still working go cover bills) but will start getting pressure to apply to totally unsuitable jobs and you're expected to travel up to 90mins to work so that would make harder to find career job and they can sanction and stop your payments.

If have a mortgage speak to them to request a payment holiday or temporary reduced payments.