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Original poster

Work for my wife

54 replies

Dekrissh27 · 18/05/2019 16:30

I am applying for U.C.
Please anyone advise me on this.
I work 37 hours a week. I got two kids age 10 and 16.
My wife doesn't work she look after kids, teach them, doing school run, shopping, cleaning etc.
Will she be forced to work?
My both kids preparing for their exams
She cant for work for 3 years.
Will job centre will impose any conditions.
I am confused.
Please advise me.
Many Thnaks

OP posts:
CruellaFeinberg · 18/05/2019 16:32

She cant for work for 3 years.
Why?

BlackcurrantJamontoast · 18/05/2019 16:34

What exams age 10 and 16?

GCSEs over in a few weeks,

DamnShesaSexyChick · 18/05/2019 16:40

I certainly hope so

KnittingForMittens · 18/05/2019 16:57

When you apply for UC, you have to include your wife as well as a joint account. Failure to do so will get you done for benefit fraud. She will be required to find work because the children are at school. I believe they expect you to find a job that is at least 35 hours a week, and spend 35 hours a week looking for work if she is currently not doing so. This is under the new reforms of DWP. What is the reason she is not able to work for three years?

KnittingForMittens · 18/05/2019 16:58

There are many kids preparing for exams while their parents are working. There's absolutely no reason why she cannot work unless there's a very valid reason (i.e. disability, for example).

Babyroobs · 18/05/2019 17:29

In reality if you earn above a certain amount which is very low ( around £530 a month I think), they will just put her in a light touch group and she won't have to do much job searching. It's not right in my opinion when kids are school aged but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

CostanzaG · 18/05/2019 17:32

Why cant she work for 3 years?

Oldbutstillgotit · 18/05/2019 17:33

When children are aged 5 and over , both parents are expected to look for work ( assuming no disabilities ) so the Jobcentre will require your wife to look for work .
Why can’t she work for 3 years ?

Cloudsurfing · 18/05/2019 17:44

Why can't she work if your children are 10 and 16? If there is no valid reason (i.e disability) then she will have to work a certain amount of hours for UC. Exams are not a valid reason.

NGC2017 · 18/05/2019 17:55

I can't understand why your wife can't work. Your kids are 10 and 16. So at school most of the time? Why can't she work school hours then?
When my son was 9 months old, in 2015 I was told I had to work. I had no safety blanket of waiting until he was 5 and in school. It was work or lose your home. I remember there was a woman next to me being told she had to start looking for work as her child was now 5. She was in tears pleading it was impossible as she had house work and dinner to prepare, and there was me with a baby having no choice. Best thing I ever did was work, for me and my child! They maintained the rules are the rules.

Your children have been in school for a number of years now. There is no reason for her to not be looking for work, in the eyes of Universal Credit unless there it a good reason for it.

CruellaFeinberg · 18/05/2019 19:35

still no word from the OP? @Dekrissh27 why cant your wife work for 3 years?

Myhelp · 19/05/2019 06:10

Thank you all for the reply.
She is coaching our kids for the exams (11 plus and GCSE.). She can't work full time eithet due to school run. We can't afford to pay for tution classes.
I think the child care will cost more than the money you earn.
She has never worked in this country. I am worried because the kids are grown up they need more attention and support from parents. If both of us go to work I am worried about their future.

I earn over 530 pounds a month. I did ask UC the advisor said if I work 37 hours a week my wife doesn't need to work. I am not sure whether it's correct or not. I am a bit confused.

Please clarify if anyone got similar experience.

Many thanks

Rainycloudyday · 19/05/2019 06:32

I hope she is made to work! Lots of people would love to be at home helping children and doing school runs but we work to support our families instead of looking to the state to support us. A stay at home parent is a luxury that most families (including yours) can’t afford, not an essential. Especially at the age of your children. Even if the 10 year old needed some wrap around care, on even minimum wage she would earn far more than the cost. Sorry to sound blunt but why should my taxes pay for your wife to be a stay at home mum?!

Rainycloudyday · 19/05/2019 06:32

I hope she is made to work! Lots of people would love to be at home helping children and doing school runs but we work to support our families instead of looking to the state to support us. A stay at home parent is a luxury that most families (including yours) can’t afford, not an essential. Especially at the age of your children. Even if the 10 year old needed some wrap around care, on even minimum wage she would earn far more than the cost. Why should my taxes pay for your wife to be a stay at home mum?!

Rainycloudyday · 19/05/2019 06:34

I hope she is made to work! Lots of people would love to be at home helping children and doing school runs but we work to support our families instead of looking to the state to support us. A stay at home parent is a luxury that most families (including yours) can’t afford, not an essential. Especially at the age of your children. Even if the 10 year old needed some wrap around care, on even minimum wage she would earn far more than the cost. Why should my taxes pay for your wife to be a stay at home mum?!

KarenTheCashRegister · 19/05/2019 06:36

Presumably if you earn little over £6k a year you are also part time?

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 19/05/2019 06:51

What are the plans for the 16yo? They may not even be at home in three years.

Also 11+ tutoring is a few hours at most.

KnittingForMittens · 19/05/2019 07:35

To put it bluntly: she can work full time. Not doing so because of doing the school run is bullshit. They will not accept that as a reasonable excuse.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 19/05/2019 07:38

She could work part time!

giddyyup · 19/05/2019 08:44

Wouldn't we all love to stay at home and just do school runs and a bit of tutoring?!

SAHP is for those who can afford it not for those claiming benefits to do so- send her to work!

mintbiscuit · 19/05/2019 08:50

So OP, you’re basically saying that you think you are entitled to benefits so your wife can stay at home and look after your children to prep them for exams?

Whilst the rest of us have to go to work full time AND raise our kids to pay for the benefits you are claiming?

Are you serious???? Tell your wife to get a job or stop claiming benefits. Staying at home with kids should be funded by YOU not the taxpayer.

This thread cannot be real....

CostanzaG · 19/05/2019 08:56

She can definitely work. It is possible to work and still support your children.

Not working is a luxury it appears you can't afford.

Todaythiscouldbe · 19/05/2019 08:57

The 11+ isn't until September, GCSE's are over soon. School run is 10 minutes twice a day. Absolutely no excuse not to work, I'm really hoping this thread is a joke

NGC2017 · 19/05/2019 08:58

She can't work because she has to coach our kids.

And.

Now the kids are older they need more attention.

REALLY?

It sounds more like your wife is too scared to work as she hasn't worked in this country as your say.

I'd be amazed if you are allowed to claim UC and she remains unemployed based on the ages of your children alone. The cut off is 5 years old. Your kids are well beyond that. The 16 year old should be more independent than ever. As you haven't mentioned any additional needs I can't understand why she is unable to work?

I know many people with children in your kids age bracket and the majority of comments made are that 'they are at that age where they don't want to be around us', so I can't see why your kids need more attention now they are older?

It honestly sounds like you are hoping that UC will top up your wage and allow your situation to continue. UC doesn't work that way. It isn't designed to keep the unemployed comfortable and off work. Especially without a valid reason for not being able to. The fact you are applying for it shows you know your family cannot live on one wage alone. You cannot depend on handouts. Your wife has to look for work. She is able to work school hours at least.

To be blunt if you are awarded UC, I hope it comes with conditions that she must work or be actively looking for work. My son was only 9 months old when I was told I had to work and I have worked every since. 25 hours, 30 hours, 35 hours and now 30 hours around my sons day. I still have to clean, shop, prepare meals, wash clothes, iron, and do the school run as well as be at school events! As my son gets older he will also need support for exams etc. That does not mean I can choose to not work and support him. I will have to do it as well as work and everything else.

Bottom line your wife needs to work.

Decormad38 · 19/05/2019 09:02

We have such things as buses. Your 16 year old could do the school run. Get a grip.