So worried, work and UC related

[Mangogogo2]

I’ve recently got a part time job after a few years out of work (single parent raising DC who has now started school). I was very proud of myself pushing through my anxiety and low confidence to get an interview and this job offer and I’m enjoying the role. However, UC rang me today and have said I need to be looking for full time work, looking and applying for jobs and attending job fairs. I’m just worried as I’ve only just started this new role and it’s in an area I’d like to work in, my colleagues seem really nice and I’ve only been there two weeks yet UC have said I need to already looking for something else. I’m worried that if I don’t find something they will stop my benefits. There is also no childminders with availability in my area to take on extra hours at work and I have no family who can help out e.g doing school runs. No after school club at the school at the moment

How many hours are you working? Is it possible you could look for a another small part time job to top up the hours?

Look up administrative earnings threshold for single people on UC. So long as your monthly earnings are above that (it’s around £900/month) than you should be left alone under the category of “working enough”

If your youngest is under 3, they may ask you to go in/have a phone appointment every couple of months to discuss what you’re doing to increase your hours/income, but, as you’re already working, they should just be catch up appointments.

If no wages have shown up on their system yet they will still have you down as unemployed and having to do work search, this should stop once your earnings show on your next statement.

Advisors often get it wrong, you don't need to work full time as long as you meet the AET.