Universal Credit implications for long-term SAHMs??? Help please!

[CSLewis]

Hi, I've just read the Mumsnet summary about Universal Credit, and read that parents of children aged 5-13 will be required to seek work during school hours, though I think those with a baby under one may be exempt.

Does anyone have any further details about this? It feels to me that a parent of young (primary-aged) children is being forced to return to the job market, regardless of whether they judge it to be in the best interests of their family

My SIL has obviously got this one sorted. Her DS will turn 5 in September and she's expecting DC#2 in August.... great timing, eh? 40 years old, she's never worked a hand's turn in her life and clearly has no intention of starting. :)

nfk.

No, I don't mean that all people at job centres are dregs of society. However, there are a certain element where I live that fall into this category and it is not a place I would like to go to myself, let alone take my 9 year old dd.
I'm talking about those that don't want to work and benefit is given straight to landlords of the nearest pub. Unfortunately we have a lot of those in our town.

I can see that there has been a change but I don't find the change particularly shocking.

I was shocked at the "dregs of society" comment too.

You don't have to go there though do you? You can find a job by another method. Or you can not bother and forget about the benefit.

Glad it wasn't just me.

There must be some mechanism of proving you've applied for jobs though. And if no suitable jobs are available where you are, what happens? If there are none to apply for, do you apply for unsuitable ones and hope you get rejected?

I was shocked by the "dregs of society" comment until I read it properly and realised she was talking about a specific group of people at her local job centre rather than everyone.

Thats my understanding NotADragonofSoup.

I expect you keep records of your applications. And I would have thought you aren't expected to apply for things that make no sense. Like jobs that require certain kinds of licences or qualifications that you don't have.

There are similar people at my JC.

But I wouldnt use that term to describe them.

Well, obviously you can't apply for things you aren't qualified for but how about jobs that actually cost more in childcare and travel than you would earn?

People who don't want to work and drink. That's what she means by "dregs." As opposed to not wanting to work because you hate it. Like herself. Still don't like the comment.

I don't know how that works. Maybe you are expected to be out of pocket. Or work to break even. Or maybe not. Does anyone know?

Its not so easy to forget about the benefit though when you are have one min wage coming into the household. In our case we would lose the money we rely on. I have never seen it as my money but the families, so its families losing out not a sahp.
As I believe from unemployed friends, when you attend an interview you are given a stamp on a card or failing this jc check up to see if you attended. The unsuitable element does exist also. One friend was treated quite badly at one interview as she was clearly unsuited to that work, but had to attend to meet jc/ benefit requirements. Employers must be really annoyed at this as it must cost them financially and waste their time.

hoping i am working or have a young baby by the time this comes in.....

I have said before. Who decides if a job is suitable. From what I have read I get the impression that if a job is offered that the JC deem is suitable and you turn it down because of childcare availability/costs etc then you will be sanctioned.

'she's never worked a hand's turn in her life and clearly has no intention of starting'

It annoys me when people say that about SAHMs. Presumably the kid didn't raise itself? Have childminders never 'worked' either?

nfk.

I am sorry if you don't like my term dregs of society. But I really believe you would call these people the same.
I am not talking about respectable people here, I am referring to drug addicts, wasters, those that get up 30 mins before signing on. Those having no families to support, just their own habit.
Why am I so bad not wanting my dd to see these people, having to listen to them etc.
However, it was pointed out to me that I would not have to attend anyway so crisis averted.

morethan

What makes YOU any better than these "dregs" at the JC?

I have fucking heard it all now. Atleast the other posters calling claimants scum have the decency to do it from their office desk.

I understand that people will have some tough choices. To go to work. To look for work. To be broker than before. I can see that it is tough. I can see that if you have been out of the workplace for a while, your confidence can be shot. That some employers are shits and some jobs hard to come by. And childcare is difficult to source and expensive. The difficulties are very real and I can appreciate them. To be honest, anyone who works can appreciate them.

But what I still can't get my head round is the idea that it is outrageous for a benefit not to have some of limitation on it. That it is reasonable to expect that it will always be handed out.

' Her DS will turn 5 in September and she's expecting DC#2 in August.... great timing, eh? '

maybe she just wanted another kid?

I have a large gap like that and am SAHM (although luckily DH on good wage). We didn't plan for large gap, we had problems ttc and also previously had 2 stillbirths and 2 miscarriages. Stop being so judgy! SAHP don't just have more kids so as not to do paid work! Paid work is probably much easier for many!

It does indeed annoy me this 'humiliating visit to the job centre.' God forbid anybody should be sullied by that. Oh no. Collect your benefit in a rose scented envelope. Some people really do need to get real. Benefits aren't an entitlement which allow you to make life choices like staying at home. Stay at home by all means but don't expect other tax payers to subsidise it. Nobody is forced to sign on.

Wannabe.

I live in a deprived area in NW, we are the first to trial the new UC. Our job centre and benefit office are the same building, same door but separate areas. There are muggings, stabbings and a Police prescence every Tuesday, mainly to protect old people drawing pensions in the area.
It is not a nice place and there are many that I would defy anybody to come up with a better term for.
Crime is really high amongst the drug addicts, alcoholics and those having never worked.
If I offend somebody with my terminology here then my sincerest apologies. However, it is a shame that many associate all unemployed and benefit claimants like this in our town. I however am not one of these people as suggested above. I do bring my children up properly, don't take drugs and wouldn't dream of spending their money in the pub scoring drugs.

I had a baby right on top of DH being made redundant and us having several debts (car payments etc). And even worse he was unplanned! Nobody else knew we had been told we would never have a baby.

DS was a true blessing but just came along at a difficult time. I didn't plan to avoid payments or claim benefits.

In fact DH found new work very quickly so benefit claims were minimal for us but pepple could have judged and probably did.