How many jobs per week am I expected to apply for on universal credit

[jisak]

My youngest has turned 3 so I am now looking for work. It's my first meeting tomorrow to check im doing my commitments.

I can only work 10 hours per week. I've applied for 15 jobs so far

How many should I be applying for?

It is hard to find many 10 hour jobs in my local area and within school hours. I can also only travel 20 mins agreed with my work coach

I'm so scared I get sanctioned

Don't be daft! The vast majority of children are in some kind of mixed childcare arrangements and do very well thank you!

And this is what is so wrong with our system. She should be expected to work full time and get herself off benefits. Working 10 hours when receiving state benefits that I and other pay for is a farce.

The Op appears to be asking for advice as to how to do the absolute minimum. So 10 hours a week and no more than 20 mins travel....well that is a walk to the bus stop

@ThatOchreRobin are men also selfish for working when they have young children?

When my sibling did this, they had the grand sum of £10 per week left after paying bills and shopping for food.

The level of judgement/ignorance here is breathtaking:

While your child is under 13 your work coach has to make sure your work activity fits around school or nursery hours. This includes the time it takes you to travel there and back.

That's from Citizens Advice's website.

I think it's a difficult balance. Is it likely the OP could earn enough to pay for full time childcare? Almost certainly not, but it seems to be setting her up to fail as a 10 hour job probably doesn't exist.

I think many are in an impossible position which is why they can't get back to work.

I know many will say 'I went back full time so the OP should' but most of those would be earning more in an established career. We also do not know what other support the OP has around her like the child's dad and extended family.

@IzzyHandsIsMySpiritAnimal
"When my sibling did this, they had the grand sum of £10 per week left after paying bills and shopping for food."

Yes but she had earnt it instead of claiming benefit from other working people paying the tax

@notgettinganyyounger said Why would you have children if you expect the tax payer to pay for them. Go to work and use some form child care like everyone else has to.

People have children when they can afford them and then misfortune is visited upon them.

My neighbour's ex died at the weekend. Late forties and in a good job, young kids for marriage #2. The Cancer fairy visited just before Xmas.....

They had, but it didn't help their household budget at all, and the nursery fees then increased meaning they were worse off than before.
I'm not saying don't work, but sometimes the fees that enable people to work don't make it financially beneficial for them to do so.

@Bromptotoo exactly my point if you read the rest of my post!

If thsts what the work coach has suggested stick to that at first and increase when you can

It wasn't; you were being judgemental with a but maybe at the end.

But never mind.

Better than being £10 short!

Thats about £10 more than we had left with us both working and paying for childcare, it’s just life with young children. It never entered our heads that it wasn’t “worth it”. Now we’ll at the other side of it and both have healthy pensions

you're aware of the OP's exact circumstances?

No, thought not.

Please ignore the idiots, OP. Any thread on benefits brings out the bigots.

I didn't say it was 16 hours but that she has to earn to AET. Sounds like OP is lucky and has an understanding work coach who is being lenient.

@pickledpoppetpickle

Bigot??

The OP has not suggested any other reason for working 10 hours, no more than 20 minutes away.

Just how many jobs she should be applying for! That in itself tells me all I need to know. One would expect her to apply for ALL suitable jobs.

I don't blame OP. I am in a joint claim and work very part time. I probably will do so until they start school. I like mid day supervisor roles but then would have to pay for five days nursery. No thanks!

@notgettinganyyounger and how many 10 hour per week jobs do you think are out there to apply for?

@MarieG10 the point is that working and doing 'the right thing' nets you £10 a week for the hassle of 37 hour week. Yes £10 a week was earned and there is pride in that but it's not enough to sustain weekly food and bills?

@NerrSnerr No idea, but clearly can't be expected to apply for non existent jobs, therefore would be expected to apply for ALL suitable ones, whether it be 1 or 10

Mumsnet at its finest.
Mum posts clearly anxious and looking for advice about her specific circumstances which sound tricky to say the least.
Most of the responses are suggesting that she is clearly work shy and leaching off the tax payer.
Nice.
I went back to work when youngest was 1 and eldest 3. That was hard. Finding a Job and a nursery able to take them.
I was lucky enough to be married, have healthy kids and a supportive husband. Whenever I think back on my hardest times I can still do so through a lens of a supportive husband.
Just check your privilege as they say

OP asked a question. She is not required to give her personal circumstances to anyone, let alone those who think they have a right to judge whether or not 10 hours is reasonable in light of those circumstances. If the work coach says it's OK, it's OK. What does it have to do with you?

I think so too.

I've had clients expected to earn 30 x NMW per week with pre-school age children.

Op would get 85% of childcare costs reimbursed.

I think lots of women reading this post would feel bewildered. To choose work hours around school runs? What a luxury. I think that some people on benefits and top-up benefits have a better quality of life in terms of time spent with the children, than career women or just normal working women. Makes you think.