UC - what to do?

[sunshini]

So I'm currently a single mum, working part time around childcare and receive UC top up.

I'm leaving my current job at the beginning of September and going to university as a "mature" student.

Since the threshold of UC has changed dramatically I'm being asked to go to my job centre every week as I don't earn enough.

Now the problem I have is my current employer cannot offer me anymore hours and nobody else is going to take me on, put me through training for me to leave in just over 2 months.

UC will not listen to this and they're making me want to pull my hair out.

In an ideal world I'd just sign off UC all together but I just cannot manage to do that until I've completed my degree.

What do I do?

You need to look at temp work or take a second job and don't tell them you need to leave in 2 months. Other option is just go to the job centre every week. There are no alternatives sadly.

Do you still basically just need a proof that you have been applying for jobs? Then do that, log your application hours and present it as evidence.

Get some supermarket work? Not much training to do that? And don’t tell them you want to leave

Just to point out that even supermarket jobs need training. 3-day induction and mountains of online training courses in my experience

Are you sure you can actually get UC at Uni?

My friend was told no.

Plus it is not that easy to get a supermarket job.

Why can’t you go to the job center?

What about joining an agency or hospital bank to do care work? Then you can pick up extra shifts as and when needed and continue when you go back to uni if you need extra money and have the time.

As a member of management in a discount retailer with quite a few staff asking for more hours, the common theme seems to be they are asking their doctors for sick notes to cover the hours they cannot get from us 😬😬

You have to accept the rules or you can't claim UC. Tbh they see anyone studying as a bit of a luxury - UC is there to fund the basics and they view a uni course as above that. You need to check that you will continue to receive UC at uni, because student finance is definitely taken into account.

Conditions for receiving UC are that you adhere to the requirements. If you don’t then you don’t receive it.

It’s on a month by month basis so telling them uni starts in 3 months isn’t going to change anything. If anything it will add you to the numbers of “unemployed- not looking for work”
Job centre coaches also don’t seem to understand that it’s not easy to get a job and start the next day as it was before. Recruitment can take time. And some businesses can’t afford to pay their staff more.

It can be very frustrating but it’s a matter of like it or lump it.

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do-you can find more work until September or risk being sanctioned by not finding enough work.The weekly appointments they will do until September.

Can you continue to claim UC at uni?

You've been moved to the intensive job search group. You will only have to attend weekly for I think 12 weeks

Yes I can still claim UC at uni, I have already discussed this with them but if I can manage with student finance and bursaries etc I would 1000% close my claim.

I obviously can/do/will continue to attend the job centre but as a few have pointed out, it is very frustrating that i obviously can't become employed by someone else overnight and I didn't think it was fair to lie about the fact I'm having to leave in September but will give this ago.

Bank staff is also a good shout. Thanks.

I asked my work coach if it’s possible to start a college course and she said I’d still have to work my 25 hours round the course? Is it different because you get bursary/ loans that count as income?
id pick up an extra hospitality job till September- it’s a good time of year for hotels and restaurants recruiting

Can you get a similar job at another company? At least you would be experienced and wouldn't need much training. Then you wouldn't owe them anything when you do leave.

You can if you have children.

www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students

I don't suppose you can link me to it? I've just googled again and it seems to say no.

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility#:~:text=If%20you're%20studying%20or,person%20or%20as%20a%20couple

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students