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

OP have you thought about an AAT qualification, this might enable you to do bookkeeping work part-time (and possibly from home) whilst your DC is little and build up to a better paid accountancy job in the future. You might be able to get this funded and study evenings at a local college or online. Or similar with a paralegal and building to becoming a solicitor though paralegal work might not be so flexible. It sounds like you are bright and capable so might be worth making steps towards a future career.

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/116231/pdf/

have a read. Funding childcare can unlock 28 billion.

Oh, just stop it. Yes, OP probably needs to adjust her expectations of what's realistic, but 'workshy' people typically don't create threads that relate to job searching. Especially not if they know what a snake pit Mumsnet can be.

I'm sensing more than a touch of bitterness in your posts. Labelling a mother workshy because she'd like to find a way to make work fit around being with her DC if possible. I hope you don't call yourself a feminist.

So many silly comments on this thread.

The OP has 15 hours of childcare available, so she needs to find work within those hours.

She can't put her child into nursery full time while she's job hunting - she doesn't have any money.

Anyone who is jealous of the OP being at home with her child or only working part time is completely free to quit their job, leave their husband and live in poverty.

I think @Nousernameforme may have forgotten to factor in the larger income tax take produced by mothers being able to work more hours.

Whether it's benefits or being a stay at home mum with a husband that pays for everything it seems to bring out a lot of anger on here. I think some do resent putting their children in child care for long hours.

The fact that Sahms with husbands that provide attract similar vitriol is proof that it's not just about how they feel their taxes are wasted

Thank you but that's the reality of being a FT working parent. I talk from experience.

I think the issue here is most families need both parents working and people who perceived that they have done the 'right' thing find that they are both having to work full time just to get by.

Lots of parents (not all) would love to be a sty at home parent or work less hours but their finances/career choices don't allow it.

It therefore feels 'unfair' when someone gets funded by the taxpayer to have that luxury and get away with working 10 hours a WEEK!

Some people are doing more than that in a single shift.

There are 000s or arguments for each side about what is best for the children re childcare etc but based on emotion its what feels fair.

Just the way in which the OP is written implies she doesn't want to get job.

The problem is the workers can only afford to pay so much tax and the country can't afford to have as many people out of work.

I think Labour is going to implement some pretty sharp changes.

@Parker231 why is that any of your business? Oh wait it's not

I know people who are better off financially on benefits than those in FT work, that's a fact and what is perceived as unfair by many, understandably so.
As for living in poverty, the people I know on benefits live comfortable lives.

Go for it then, no one is stopping you.

I wouldn't want to do that. I'm simply stating a fact.
FWIW, I raised my child as a single parent and always worked FT to support. From my perspective I couldn't afford to work PT. I appreciate that we are all different and each to their own

That's bullshit that I always read on here I was unemployed in Covid and had to claim benefits. Now I work full-time and even though it's only minimum wage definitely have a lot more money

Thank you but that's not been my experience

According to OP her work coach has told her this is the maximum because of childcare. Seems reasonable.

Funny isn't it - no one actually wants to leave their husband or job so they can be a single mum on benefits. But at the same time they just want to be able to hate single mums on benefits for somehow being better off than them.

Can you explain your experience? When I was unemployed in covid the universal credit was only 400-500 a month after paying the rent (just the rent not the bills) and that was with one child. Now I work full-time and even with minimum wage am a lot better off. Hence I don't see how your experience can be true

I know it isn't everybody's first choice but could you do some cleaning or a few hours in a care home to work around nursery.

I study part time with the OU and I have DC aged 17, 14, 9 and 7. I am also in receipt of Carer's Allowance and various other benefits. My point being I have never been asked to look for work.

Being in work has many positive benefits and will open new doors. We can’t keep thinking working is optional

OP isn't thinking of work as optional, is she? At no point has she said she won't work. Until we have 24 hour a day childcare as standard and non-resident parents are forced to financially support their children, there will be very many women out there who struggle to work full time.

As for opening doors, sure, it does. But frequently those doors are slammed in your face if you are unable to attend early/late meetings, not able to work weekends, don't have your own transport etc. etc. etc.

And whilst I have some pension as a result of all the work I have done as a single parent, I genuinely don't think it was worth it in terms of my children's mental health and long-term security. And I won't be living the high life as a single person on a very average wage. I'll be lucky if I stay afloat.

What is your experience? Living on benefits with no additional factors? Because as a parent of high needs children, on paper my household income isn’t on the breadline. If there were no extenuating circumstance, I’d absolutely be scraping by every month living only on UC. I know because before our youngest was born, both me and my partner were made redundant. The following year or so was the toughest (and at times most humiliating) of my life financially. So would you like to expand on your experience?

If 'they' want the full tradwife setup, they need to find a man who is both able and willing to finance it. It is not the taxpayer's role to do so.

When I was on UC, they never asked me how much jobs I've applied for. They just ask how is the job search going and do I have any job interviews coming up. You'll be fine op

And this is with a nice guy landlord who charged reasonable rent. There's a limit to how much welfare helps pay your rent and most people would have to cut into their 400-500 meant for everything else in that situation. I Don't believe the poster who claims to know people better off on welfare than working, sorry

I would ask your coach how it works if you go back to your studies - I think now would be a great opportunity to get yourself back on track - and then you can build your career once the dc are in school.

For 10 hours a week you could consider cleaning - you can find slots that work around childcare and studies.