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.

The key thing to remember when appyling for Uc is to make sure your husband's last pay from work and any holiday pay etc owed to him has been paid.

@Babyroobs

The key thing to remember when appyling for Uc is to make sure your husband's last pay from work and any holiday pay etc owed to him has been paid.

This is so right, timing is important, the claim now, don’t delay is not the best advice in these circumstances.

@FirstladyKirkman

Thanks all. I feel physically sick. I just keep looking at the kids and then I start welling up. They haven't got a clue what's going on, but the thought of not being able to provide for them is just...... I just don't know 😭

💐💐focus on what you can do for next few days. Investigate and get benefits lined up. Get DH to sign on. Get him to gp for something to prevent depression worsening don’t wait till it sets in- he does need to be positive about helping manage situation. Take action on your housing situation in terms of mortgage/ rent breaks. Discuss ALL options of generating income between you - who can get part time casual work the easiest, what could you sell, etc. Keep busy Once the shock has worn off and you understand your path forwards you will get used to the situation and feel less sick and panicking. Focus on what you can control. Eliminate the unknown. Focus on minimising stress in your relationship and interactions with each other. It’s shit. But you will get through it

And ask now to go full time and partner be Sahp...you can’t wait for him to be full time...if it’s an option for you, you have to bite that bullet and go full time. I had to..hated it..but it was necessary.

I'm so sorry OP. DH lost his job two weeks into the last lockdown, it was unrelated to covid at the time which made it very hard as wanted to re-jig some positions. He is now working again but when they announced further lockdowns this time around, I could feel my anxiety rising and a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Your employer may have the bizarre "only change hours once every two years" rule but they may also have staff who have found themselves unable to work due to them needing to be home with the kids so may welcome someone calling and asking if there are any extra hours going. Worth asking them in the morning.

Loads of useful info here if you're struggling to pay bills:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/

Hi

We had to apply for UC and it did not tak 6 weeks. It only took a month and that was because DH was getting paid this month.

Please don't be hopeless, you will be fine.

Lots of love x

So sorry to hear this, OP. We were in a similar position back last March when my DH's main employer refused to re-employ and furlough. It wouldn't have cost them a penny as he was on an IR35 contract but there was, and still is, a lot of ignorance on the part of companies about the furlough rules. Your situation sounds nastier though. We ended up having to massively diversify what we do and have just about survived, but it hasn't been easy and the fact that it was unnecessary really rankles. I hope there's some support out there for you or that something else turns up, however unlikely that must seem right now.

@Pugdoglife

I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through.

I haven't got much advice other than what has already been suggested, but remember that your landlord wouldn't be able to evict you straight away, so if you have to, miss a payment (or more) and make it up in the future when things are easier. It's not perfect, but you need to buy food. It would be better however if they agreed to it in advance.

I am also so very sorry, OP (I also lost my job in March - single parent).

However, it is terrible advice to shift the problem onto someone else (namely a landlord). I am also a LL (one house) and people paying their rent is the only thing that has kept me away from poverty (can't claim UC due to having equity in the property which disqualifies me).

Please don't advise people to pass on their despair to people who are already desperate.

Just to say, your DDs are exactly the people I want to feed when I buy things for the foodbank. I'd be so pleased to know I was helping you out, or someone in exactly your situation.

I really hope your DH gets a job soon. This must be so stressful for you, I am so sorry this is happening.

So sorry to hear this. Contact you DD’s school. They will have contacts who can help you and are probably already supporting other families.

Sorry you're going through this OP.

Care and Support Worker is an excellent job (temporary or permanent) and there are always vacancies. Hard but rewarding work and you'd get more coming in than you would from Universal Credit.

You have the option of selling a valuable asset though so it's hardly poverty is it.

OP
UC does not take 6 weeks of more, it 5 weeks and you can get an advance to pay the rent etc as it is paid in arrears (like a salary)
I was made redundant in November I know how you feel, it's so shit at the moment but I promise you will be ok xxx

My husband will be losing his job after 17 years working for Debenhams, He was looking for other employment before lockdown but he is shielding as he has underlying health conditions and we have decided that it’s best to not look for work straight away I am worried and so is he but we know there are many others in similar or worse situations, we haven’t really claimed benefits before but we have been looking into it, we do claim child tax credits so will probably have to move to universal credit, we know his last wages will probably be January.

Universal Credit is a minimum of 5 weeks due to how it works but you would be eligible for an advance once you have had everything verified so keep on top of your claim and make sure you provide all evidence and information ASAP. Even if he gets a job you should claim as you may be entitled to some even with his wage and you would be ready to go if anything happened again. Claims are being kept open for 6 months at the moment, even if payments are nil during that time.

I'd recommend everyone put in a claim at the moment, just in case

@Leninahux

You have the option of selling a valuable asset though so it's hardly poverty is it.

In fact, I don't (though you obviously couldn't know that).

I haven’t read the full thread, sorry but once you have UC in payment, as long as you are receipt of housing costs then you can look at applying for discretionary housing payment from your local council if you have accrued arrears. Check out your council website anyway because they will have lots of information regarding benefits and also things they have in place to support their community.

@Littleposh

Universal Credit is a minimum of 5 weeks due to how it works but you would be eligible for an advance once you have had everything verified so keep on top of your claim and make sure you provide all evidence and information ASAP. Even if he gets a job you should claim as you may be entitled to some even with his wage and you would be ready to go if anything happened again. Claims are being kept open for 6 months at the moment, even if payments are nil during that time.

I'd recommend everyone put in a claim at the moment, just in case

The system is already in complete disarray with so many applications being made without people claiming just in case ! It's very easy to do an online benefit check or get a check at CAB to see if you qualify. There are literally hundreds of thousands of new claims going on at the moment.

I thought Universal Credit would be a lifeline back in May when I was in a similar situation. My first payment was £9, and the subsequent two payments were no more than £200. Decided to get a low-paid job instead! As far as I'm aware, if you manage to make any money at all (I scraped together around £300 per month selling belongings on eBay in order to buy food and partially pay bills) you reduce your payments down to almost nothing. The government think £400 per month is enough to live on so I don't recommend being innovative if applying for UC.

Don’t forget your local food bank is there for you too . Our local one is very well stocked thanks to the huge generosity of our donors .

@Littleposh
I’d recommend everyone put in a claim at the moment, just in case

Fuck no, worst advice ever!

Sorry you're in such a position OP. But it's a bit cheeky of your husband to ask what he did of his old company.

"Sorry you're in such a position OP. But it's a bit cheeky of your husband to ask what he did of his old company."

It's what people were advised to do last lockdown - and the company's response is appalling. They don't have to do it, but nor do they need to be so unpleasant.