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Original poster

DH just lost job. No furlough.

156 replies

FirstladyKirkman · 05/01/2021 14:32

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.

OP posts:
Peppafrig · 05/01/2021 20:13

Our food banks don’t take people off the street you need to be referred . Do you have a social worker or a GP who could refer you?

Original poster
FirstladyKirkman · 05/01/2021 20:15

@buttcrackmcheese

CAB advised him to do it. He didn't do it as a cheeky request off the bat.

OP posts:
cuparfull · 05/01/2021 20:27

Just another suggestion is to join your local NEXTDOOR group and canvas for local work...offer to do paid jobs within the local community if he has any relevant skills.

ConquestEmpireHungerPlague · 05/01/2021 20:48

@buttcrackmcheese

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.
Not at all. The treasury designed the furlough system to be deliverable via company payrolls and actively encouraged people who slipped through the net because of being newly recruited or newly laid off to use solutions like this. OP's husband's ex-employer's reaction is a perfect example of the perverse outcomes they didn't anticipate (mainly because they didn't design it - or, as ever, explain it - as well as they thought they had).
Original poster
FirstladyKirkman · 05/01/2021 20:49

Thank you all for your advice. Has been very helpful and supportive. MN can be great sometimes ❤️

OP posts:
Peppafrig · 05/01/2021 20:51

But that was what was advised before employers had to start making a contribution . You honestly think a company who the OP husband quit from should pay a percentage of his furlough? In what world would that happen ?

SendMeHome · 05/01/2021 20:58

It's what people were advised to do last lockdown

Yeah, it worked better then because there were no costs to the company, really. It’s illogical now that it costs, sadly.... but his old company could have been a lot more empathetic and explained the couldn’t, rather than responding like assholes.

Forestshade · 05/01/2021 21:02

FlowersWine.. sorry OP... This virus is terrible and callous :(.

Just wishing you some good luck. Take care.

Littleposh · 05/01/2021 21:27

@whatwedontknow erm why??

Littleposh · 05/01/2021 21:29

@Babyroobs I am well aware but thanks for the update

Eileithyiaa · 05/01/2021 21:35

Make a list of all your bills and utility providers.

Call each of them one by one, explain the situation and ask what help they can offer. Would they allow you to skip a payment and spread over the next 12 months?

You will be surprised how helpful companies can be in these situations. I was in a similar spot once upon a time and I was pleasantly surprised.

CiderJolly · 05/01/2021 21:35

NHS recruiting fast for Covid support staff.

udnertheradar · 05/01/2021 21:59

Sorry to hear this. In the meantime do get in touch with your local food bank if things are tight x

whatwedontknow · 05/01/2021 22:15

[quote Littleposh]@whatwedontknow erm why??[/quote]
@Littleposh
Numerous reasons, one you already know, the system is in disarray, which is reason enough. Two, timing is relevant with UC, claim on the wrong date and you could lose £ hundreds. Three, it is not the right benefit for everyone. Four, anyone on Tax Credits needs proper advice before switching. Five, once claimed you can never go back. Six, conditionality.

I could go on but perhaps you could give reasons why it’s a good idea for everyone to put a claim in for UC just in case?

Tanith · 05/01/2021 22:16

"You honestly think a company who the OP husband quit from should pay a percentage of his furlough? In what world would that happen ?"

We're explaining why the Op's husband went back to the former employer. He wasn't being cheeky: it was what he'd been advised to do.
There was no need for the company to respond so vindictively, and is a fair example of why the husband probably left in the first place.

checkedcloth · 05/01/2021 22:21

So sorry to hear this OP.

Can I suggest that your DH contacts local NHS hospitals for work? We are so stretched any many Trusts are looking for porters, reception staff, health care support workers. You do not need hospital experience, but a warm, kind attitude.

Do look on NHS jobs. As we scale up the vaccine programme there are roles

Best of luck

MadameBlobby · 05/01/2021 22:31

So sorry xx

Littleposh · 05/01/2021 22:58

@whatwedontknow

1- the system is in disarray- please explain how it is?? Not my impression

2- timing is relevant with UC, claim on the wrong date and you could lose £ hundreds- again, explain?? No idea how you mean

3- it is not the right benefit for everyone- it's pretty much the only benefit for families, other benefits are being phased out

4- anyone on Tax Credits needs proper advice before switching- correct but my impression from the OP was that they weren't claiming anything

5- once claimed you can never go back- for many good reasons

6- conditionality- and again, explain??!!

Need2escape2021 · 05/01/2021 23:06

Fill out the form for universal credit. Apply for an advance in your journal. This will get you help very quickly. Apply for job seekers allowance. Go to county council fill out form for council tax support - discretionary payment. This will reduce your overall bill by £150.00. Then when UC kicks in the bill will get reduced again very heavily. In the mean time phone council tax department and ask to put account on hold for a month. Do this as many times as you can then when the overall council tax bill comes in the months you have held will come off the bill. Keep copies of redundancy letters etc as you will be asked for evidence.

Babyroobs · 05/01/2021 23:15

[quote Littleposh]@whatwedontknow

1- the system is in disarray- please explain how it is?? Not my impression

2- timing is relevant with UC, claim on the wrong date and you could lose £ hundreds- again, explain?? No idea how you mean

3- it is not the right benefit for everyone- it's pretty much the only benefit for families, other benefits are being phased out

4- anyone on Tax Credits needs proper advice before switching- correct but my impression from the OP was that they weren't claiming anything

5- once claimed you can never go back- for many good reasons

6- conditionality- and again, explain??!![/quote]
I deal a lot with Uc claimants and helping people to sort out Uc cock ups. The DWP have obviously had massive amounts of new claims at a time when many are off sick or isolating. A lot of staff are new , they don't advise people properly and have no clue as to how to trouble shoot basic problems. I mainly deal with ill people, namely those with cancer and people are not being awarded Uc correctly or getting work capability assessments in a timely manner, since covid this problem has escalated hugely, people cannot have face to face assessments. A large amount of my working day is spent helping very ill ( often terminally ill ) people to try to navigate the system, leave appropriate journal messages, try to speak to UC staff on the phone to establish why payments are grossly incorrect. It is an ongoing battle ! I think the DWP did fairly well to get so many new claims up and running when furlough hit and there were a lot of redundancies. They adapted and changed procedures due to covid. However it is not a problem free system . Maybe disarray was too strong a word to use but the whole system is currently under a lot of stress and not working well for many.

hayleysmiles · 05/01/2021 23:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Babyroobs · 05/01/2021 23:48

@hayleysmiles

I deal a lot with Uc claimants and helping people to sort out Uc cock ups. The DWP have obviously had massive amounts of new claims at a time when many are off sick or isolating. A lot of staff are new , they don't advise people properly and have no clue as to how to trouble shoot basic problems. I mainly deal with ill people, namely those with cancer and people are not being awarded Uc correctly or getting work capability assessments in a timely manner, since covid this problem has escalated hugely, people cannot have face to face assessments. A large amount of my working day is spent helping very ill ( often terminally ill ) people to try to navigate the system, leave appropriate journal messages, try to speak to UC staff on the phone to establish why payments are grossly incorrect. It is an ongoing battle ! I think the DWP did fairly well to get so many new claims up and running when furlough hit and there were a lot of redundancies. They adapted and changed procedures due to covid. However it is not a problem free system . Maybe disarray was too strong a word to use but the whole system is currently under a lot of stress and not working well for many.

I think you are doing a massive disservice to a workforce that are under extreme pressure but I can assure you that everyone there is working as hard as they possibly can. 9.5 days, 6 day weeks, over 50 hour weeks. And the amount that those staff care is huge.

All that aside, people that are entitled to universal credit should be applying for it as they may desperately need any help that they can get and telling people not to is not gong to pay their bills is it??

No -one ever said that people shouldn't apply for Uc if they qualify. But when someone says everyone should get a Uc claim in just in case when the system is already under huge pressure is ridiculous. There are plenty of ways to check whether you qualify without applying unnecessarily.
PrincessConsuelaBananahamm0ck · 05/01/2021 23:50

I'm so sorry. Have been in a very similar situation due to covid. Just wanted to say that where there's a will, there's a way....the general consensus is that there's no jobs out there. I disagree, there are some jobs, as long as you stay open minded and knock on any and every door. Your husband sounds like he will do this. I've gone from living a very easy, comfortable life, owning our own business that we sacrificed and worked our arses off for.......however, I finished 2020 working in a warehouse on minimum wage through an agency. I took whatever I could get and it was pretty shit, but helped to pay the bills. I kept looking around for better, permanent jobs and through various contacts, one pretty much fell into my lap. I feel exceptionally grateful and I start next week. Our business is gone and we feel bereaved to be honest. But my husband has also found a couple of basic temporary jobs in this madness to see us through. He's yet to find a 'proper' job, but I have faith he will. Don't know if we'll ever enjoy the lifestyle we had previously, but without wishing to sound wanky, 2020 has genuinely taught me that you make the best of what you have. I'm nowhere near as materialistic as I was before and I didn't even realise I was materialistic! I wish you all the very best.

caringcarer · 05/01/2021 23:55

Can you go through your monthly budget and cut anything back possibly Virgin media/Sky/BT Sport? Change to cheaper utilities do a search on comparison website. Shop at Aldi/Lidl, move to cheap meals made from scratch. Always cook two meals at once to save on electricity eg. making a shepherds pie then cook a quiche as well for next day. Use own brand washing powders. Go through bank statements and just see where you can cut back. There is usually somewhere.

SleepingStandingUp · 05/01/2021 23:55

"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." Who cares of it's cheeky? He's trying to feed his kids not pay for a lads holiday to Corfu.

Op hoping you or DH can find full time work soon. Def contact anyone you pay money to to see if you can rebalance payments, I know banks are supposed to be trying to help

Do you have any local food banks open around you? No idea what's happening with them over lockdown but it's worth calling round.

Good luck