Graduates and Universal credit

[Tempnamelady]

DS 21 has just finished uni. He had a Temp job lined up with one of the examination boards which he has done for the past 2 years, but they have now said that given there is no exams, there is no role for Him.

Obviously he’s disappointed but is now looking round for other work, and I imagine there are many others in the same boat.

So my question is , can he claim UC until he gets a job? And how do you go about it? I realise we are very fortunate but other than Child benefit when he was young, we have never been entitled to any other state benefits and so I’m unsure where to start.

As I say , he is keen to find work and has a semi decent CV as he has worked summer jobs in offices since he was 17 , but there isn’t much out there at the moment.We are ok for money and so it’s not a case that he will be homeless or starve.

It would help prepare him for the reality of working if he logged on and researched this himself, he's an adult after all.

🙄 I’m not concerned about his readiness for work, he’s worked the last 4 summers and put together a good CV. I thought we might get some pointers on here , but clearly I’m looking in the wrong place.

www.gov.uk search for apply for universal credit

@Grobagsforever

It would help prepare him for the reality of working if he logged on and researched this himself, he's an adult after all.

I agree, everyone should have the skills to sort this kind of stuff out for themselves. Finding out how the benefits system works is time welll spent

He can apply online via the Gov.uk website, he won’t have to attend an interview while all of this is going on.

It's a really tough time for grads but I'd really encourage him to speak to his uni careers service. I work for one and we've moved all our appointments and services online as I imagine most have done. Although there's more limited opportunities out there he will find out about the grad summer internship schemes that many unis are currently offering.

Hope he finds something soon

OP, I work in graduate recruitment, trust me young lads who don't have the initiative to figure stuff like this out won't be front of the queue. This is his problem, make him solve it.

If he can finish a 3 year degree I’m sure he can google universal credit and not ask mummy to do it.

No need for sarcastic comments

Yes he can. I'll be helping my 19 year old to apply soon when he finishes college. He will be back to his part time job when the schools re-open but Uc will top his income up until he can find a better job or more hours.

Can't help noticing both posters filling in forms for their DC have sons.

Three posts Grobagsforever and not a helpful word amongst them.

This is MN OP, once your offspring reaches 18 you’re to cut them off with no help, nothing whatsoever, no financial, emotional, intellectual input. Nope. Nada.

Good luck with it all.

Bitchy bitchy. Google is pretty much the answer to half the questions on mumsnet, if we were being honest, but usually people are a bit more helpful than that! I don't know the answer but I hope someone comes along who does. I guess it depends on the official end date of the course, regardless of whether exams went ahead?

Thanks . I’d be the first to say I have been a helicopter parent in the past , he’s my only one , had a few SN in primary ( relatively minor to do with speech and language but stressful at the time ) plus I had a pretty shit early childhood ( alcoholic mother , custody battle etc etc ) so always wanted /want much better for him.

Cant be bothered responding to the snippy comments above but thanks for the supportive ones. I’ll do me and you do you. He’s doing his own UC application today . If he gets it and it tides him over till he gets work great , but if not it’s not the end of the world

Wow, a lot of bitchy posts on here for some reason!

@Tempnamelady he can claim UC, it's a 5 week waiting period though so he might be employed before he gets it anyway. It'll be £342.72 per month that he's eligible for.

@Rockchick1984 thanks . Hope so on the job front . Sadly like many people his plans have been impacted by CV, he’s only after a years work as he is planning to do a Masters the year after. The job he had lined up would have been ideal but hey ho !