Can I be sanctioned by universal credit for being unable to start work due to childcare issues?

[lisamxxx]

, I am just wondering if anyone can offer some advice sorry if this is a bit long. My partner was made unemployed in October therefore we have been receiving universal credit. I work part time Monday- Friday 4 hours a day. My partner has been watching our 1 year old son when I am working since he lost his job. He attends weekly universal credit appointments and has been applying for jobs doing everything he can to find a new job. Before he lost his job we relied on his mother to watch our son whilst we were working she had to travel to ours by bus daily as she doesn't drive and nor do I. Unfortunately, due to ill health she is no longer able to come and look after our son when my partner finds a new job. My partner got an offer of employment a few weeks ago and told the job centre this. However, we have no one to look after our son when he was due to start, therefore he was unable to start the job. However he had already told the job centre had had got offered the job and they cancelled his future appointments etc thinking he was now in employment. I'll add that I did contact my local private nursery, however they said they only had space for my son 3 days a week, meaning I wouldn't have anyone to look after him the other 2 days. I don't drive so would find it hard to get him to any other nursery other than the one in our village and the hours my partner would be working in this new job would have been both 7am-7pm and 7pm-7am as he would be switching between dayshift and night shift. My partner let the job centre know that he was unable to start the job due to childcare issues and they have basically just replied saying thanks for letting them know but haven't gave him an appointment yet. I am wondering if there's a possibility we will be sanctioned for this? I will add that I am down as my son's primary carer on our universal credit claim not my partner. Thanks

What would have made much more sense would be for your DP to take the full time position and you take unpaid parental leave until you could arrange childcare.

I have never heard of anyone taken parental leave in my work before and the times I have had to phone in due to childcare issues in the past they haven't exactly been happy about it.

Childminders?

Child minder

Could you condense your hours so you only work 3 days? Or find a different job which would suit the nursery more?
Any childminders in your area?
Could you or your husband work nights instead?

Do You earn more in your job than your partner would have been earning in his FT job if not common sense would have been for you to stay home and him to have gone to work and I would imagine that the job centre will think

I think it would be hard to argue that he needs a job that fits around yours due to childcare.

Perhaps if you can demonstrate you've tried all local providers. Or you've tried to change your hours.

But it seems as though his reason for kit being able to work is that you work 20hrs, M-F and the local nursery can't accommodate your DC.

Try to show some flexibility.

I hope you aren't sanctioned, because I imagine they would be difficult.

You won't be sanctioned as your child is only one and you are not required to work until he is 3.

Make sure you are down as his main carer on your UC claim and it will be fine.