DH just lost job. No furlough.

[FirstladyKirkman]

Just that.

Because of this new lockdown his factory are shutting down. He's only been there for a month so doesn't qualify for furlough. He asked his old company to re-employ and furlough (completely legal) and they gave refused despite it not costing them a penny.

I can't stop crying. My part time wage just covers our rent with £50 spare. Universal Credit claim can take up to 6 weeks possibly more. We have 2 DD's.

I don't know why I'm posting, but need to have an outlet. DH suffers from depression so has just dropped into a pit of despair.

Can you imagine the guts it must have taken for someone to go back to a previous employer and ask for your old job back, how desperate you must be?

I can, yes, and I'm extremely sorry this is happening to you at all
But unfortunately DH's previous employers were never going to agree, since he wouldn't actually have been working at all for now - he just wanted the money which comes with furlough and they'll have seen that very clearly

I am so sorry OP.
What are the arrangements during this lockdown for rent 'holidays'? I know they were a thing last time.

Meaning if you stopped working on or after 23/09 But then rejoined and was working for them 30/10 - would likely not be entitled to furlough

Yep, I agree. I was pointing out that section of the screenshot as it says rules differ if you leave and then are re employed

Sorry if I am misinterpreting the info. It's what he was advised by CAB and that's the screenshot he sent me.

@bluebeck

He's been dismissed as that was the only thing they could do as he's only been there a month. Others that qualify have been furloughed. Even the finance guy who told him has been let go to as he was only there from November 😔

I can only shift my hours once in a 2 year period and I already did it last April to return from Mat Leave. In the grand scheme of things it wouldn't add up to much either although appreciate anything is better than the current situation.

So sorry OP, what a worry.

If you have already applied for UC (or when you do) you can apply for an advance. If I recall correctly I got an advance of around £1,200.

I pay it back at £90pm and it really saved us at the time.

You really can’t blame his old employer maybe leaving a job a month ago when we knew this new variant was here wasn’t the smartest thing to do .

Hope the DPD job materialises. My DH has lost 3 jobs so far this pandemic (since March 2020) and is currently unemployed and looking. It’s grim. I know how you feel. We do have savings though as went through this in 2008/9 with young children and learnt our lesson then! But even those are almost exhausted, so fingers crossed for your DH and mine.

Straight on with the UC claim.
Check all your bills to see if any savings can be made. Look at all your outgoings.

Take a breath and be easy with yourself. Be there for each other. I'm so sorry you are having a tough time and I hope he finds alternative employment soon. Supermarkets etc always seem to have some vacancies.

Yeah as others have said - it does now cost the employer money unfortunately - the employer had to pay the national insurance sand pensions, the employer builds up annual leave, and the government are only paying 70% (possibly less) employer has to top it up to 80%

That’s probably why places are less likely to use it this time round in some cases

I’m so sorry you’re in this position op. My DH was made redundant in the autumn after being with the company for 15 years. It was such a shock.
Have a Google for track and trace jobs - there were loads when I looked the other day. They might suit both or either of you.
Supermarket jobs pop up and disappear all the time - keep looking - my DH has just started with Tesco and then Asda rang back about an application that he’d put in several weeks ago.
Hermes, DPD, Amazon etc are all going to be in high demand with all 4 home nations now in lockdown.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from anywhere and anyone. I’m sure you know plenty of people who are willing and able to help you through this tough time.

Sorry should have said I’m sorry you are going through this you will get through it OP

When does he get paid and when do you get paid? That is an important consideration for making a claim to UC, some people lose out when rushing to make a claim.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Would your work give you more hours, now that he’ll be at home?

Some practical things you can do. Please don't wait do it immediately

Join universal credit essentials on Facebook they will be able to advise you of accurate amounts of benefits.

Money saving expert redundancy guide will help you to reduce your outgoings

Contact pink orange for food boxes to be delivered to your home (free)

Go to your local council website and apply for help with utilities and food

Sign up for free school meals for your children (thank you Marcus Rashford) you will receive £15 per child per each week of the schools are closed this is given in the form or vouchers for Tesco Sainsbury's and the like

Forgot to mention collect all the children's clothes that they've grown out of and sell them on eBay.

You can do this but you have to be savvy about it.

for you OP, my DH went through exactly the same thing in March, and we had many sleepless nights. We took a mortgage holiday and I picked up extra hours where I could, and DH homeschooled the children. Good advice here about speaking to your LL and seeing if you can have some breathing space for this bill at least.

DH kept applying for jobs but his CV is full of his previous career and didn't mention his recent agency warehouse position and once we corrected this, he ended up working agency shifts for Morrisons in their warehouse on night shift. It was still difficult with working/child care and we didn't really see each other for 3 months as we worked opposite shifts but at least we survived financially. Please take care of you, and ask for help from whoever/wherever you can.

You need confirmation of benefits before you can apply for free school meals

OP - so sorry to hear this. my heart goes out to all those suffering as a result of this bloody virus.

Ditto what others have said - if he can drive do get him to contact supermarket delivery centres, i.e. Ocado (they call them CSTMs) , Morrisons, Tescos.. etc. they're always seeking drivers.

Good luck OP.. hugs

I'm sorry for you.
But "refused despite it not costing them a penny. " This is not true. They still have to pay PAYE, NI, holiday and pension. So it's not surprising that they refused.

Hopefully he will find something else very soon.

Just in case you don’t know you need to apply for council tax reduction through your local council.

If you have a child under four you can also apply for healthy start vouchers. www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

If you have a child at school look into applying for free school meals.

Universal credit is coming through much quicker at the moment I think.

@MegaClutterSlut

He should be entitled to jsa or esa whatever its called now which is about £146 every 2 weeks as well as UC

Contributions based JSA is deducted pound for pound from Uc so op would not be better off claiming both.

@SupremeDreamz

Universal credit is coming through much quicker at the moment I think.

It is one month and seven days from applying to first payment. It has always been that long although some issues can hold it up in a few cases. People can apply for an advance once Id checks are done.

Universal credit can not be paid until 5 weeks after the claim, it is the advance which comes through quickly. But it’s a loan. Many of the other options such as free meals, healthy start, depend on what benefits are in payment and can take 8 weeks or more to process.

You really need proper advice from CAB or welfare rights when someone loses a job, especially if you are switching to UC or need to get the timing right.

Contribution based JSA and tax credits (if already on it) may be better than claiming UC.