To think this isn't a reasonable suggestion from DWP

[Jenneypops]

Claiming universal credit as husbands hybrid role went fully office so he's looking for a new role and we qualify for support as low incomes.

We are in Staffordshire his office was in London. The staff member asked why he's given up his job instead of moving to London.

That is not a reasonable suggestion in my opinion, and it was delivered with a very snotty attitude. Why are some people on jobs to help people they clearly don't want to be or are useless at? No consideration for the fact we could never afford the rent there etc.

Mumsnet for you! Wonder how many posters suggesting it would live in a travelodge Monday-Friday away from their family and a pay cut for doing so.

You do know that if she'd just written that he quit his job before starting a new job as he didn't want to go into the office every day, you most likely would have got sanctioned? Her unreasonable question was to get enough information from you to potentially avoid this.

It’s just a tickbox question. She’d be asking the same if he refused to relocate 10 miles away. Don’t worry about it, it’s not personal. Good luck with his new job

it depends on why you left the job, which is why she was asking, the decision makers need the reasons the job was given up and then they decide if it’s reasonable (and you get paid) or not (then you don’t).

It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a question.

I would temporarily rather than claiming benefits.

OP didn’t initially say how much her husband was earning. Clearly it’s not a viable option for someone on just above minimum wage, but many people working in London earn significantly more than that.

Just explain why you cannot and that's it? I understand why they are being careful with the public purse.

I can well believe they were arsey, it seems to be the default of some of them.
One spoke very sharply to my dh and I spoke to them after and said can you put it on his records that he has mild cognitive impairment and doesn't need to be spoken to as if he's an idiot. The bloke did apologise and said he hadn't realised so I just told him to maybe speak to everyone with respect.
It makes me so cross there's just no need.

If he's on a low wage the train fair alone will be unmanageable. Don't be ridiculous

The lot at the attendance allowance section are cold and uncaring. By contrast the carer's allowance part are invariably lovely.

An absolutely ridiculous thing to suggest in the circumstances. For a better paid job it would be feasible, but no way would it be possible on the money you describe. Some people are completely clueless.

That’s quite an assumption!

Im so sick of clearly middle ‘clarse’ attitudes on benefits threads.

TBH I also think it's a reasonable thing to ask- for the reasons others have said.

But it's not pleasant at all to have to go through these processes, I know. And I can well imagine that you both feel raw and defensive and no doubt upset.

I got very annoyed once when I had been offered a professional job in my field that I have a Masters in that started in under a week and was told I still had to attend a cv writing class otherwise the 6 weeks of benefits I had received to that point would be taken back. (TBF this was not in the UK, but a similar system).

This. I'm not on low wages, but I calculated I'd need to double my salary for a job in London to pay me any extra after commuting costs and that's based on 2 days a week (£500 a day for rush hour travel).

I don't think it's reasonable, but I do think he had to be asked.

The answer is obvious, it would cost more than his wages to rent a room, just say that. I know it sucks, but it annoys them that they have to ask too.

The dwp phone me every month to see if I can increase my hours. I can't. But they have to check.

I think you have to look at it as the DWP have a duty to safeguard public funds and are coming under scrutiny for not doing so lately so they will need to ask difficult questions sometimes. In which case you just give your explanation and move on. She’s ultimately just doing a job.

I mean it's just asking a question. OP's DH can answer it.

It’s a valid question.

he had a perfectly good job and gave it up instead of making it work. Why do you expect the tax payer to support that?

To be fair, it is really scary in that situation. You don't know if they're just going to sanction you, and that's frightening enough, let alone if you have a family!

One month they upped my availability to 40 hrs a week. It's always been 16, and I work 30.
You HAVE to agree to it, and then argue it, otherwise you don't get benefits. It was a bit of a faff, but my work coach sorted it out and changed it back.
If you don't know the system it can be very frightening.

And I'm a benefits advisor, and I was worried about it!

Of course it's silly and those courses are usually crap as well.

I've also had jobs starting in a few weeks and had the JSA people just go through the motions with me because officially you have to be looking for a temp job for just those few weeks, but they know it's not realistic.

i think its a reasonable Qn, additionally one she will be told she needs to ask for her job.

However, we cant afford it with the commuting costs and a commitment here to our mortgage and kids is an equally reasonable answer

To be honest it’s not, is it?

He took a job in London knowing he lived hours away. The presumed answer would be move closer to the job.

It was a remote job, and now it's not.

Why don't they eat brioche? (c)

He must have known. I just don’t think it’s really a very good reason to be claiming benefits isn’t?