UC child element question

[DocMia]

I lost my job in July and claimed UC I’ve been getting standard allowance jobseekers and child element for one child.

I hate the fact I’m being forced to apply for jobs that I’m not qualified for when I’d rather concentrate on the jobs I am qualified for.

I want to cancel the jobseeker standard allowance so I can continue worksearch independently. But if I end my claim for jobseeker will this stop the child element part as well? I’ve only ever dealt with CTC and WTC so don’t know how it works?

When you sign up for UC you agree to their commitments. You can’t pick and choose your elements. If you don’t work search you’ll have your award sanctioned and possibly closed down.

@DocMia

I lost my job in July and claimed UC I’ve been getting standard allowance jobseekers and child element for one child.

I hate the fact I’m being forced to apply for jobs that I’m not qualified for when I’d rather concentrate on the jobs I am qualified for.

I want to cancel the jobseeker standard allowance so I can continue worksearch independently. But if I end my claim for jobseeker will this stop the child element part as well? I’ve only ever dealt with CTC and WTC so don’t know how it works?

It's not a job seeker element. You receive the standard element for yourself and your child element. The conditions of claiming UC are that you meet your work commitments. If you don't want to do what they ask, then you can cancel your claim but yes you would lose your child element with no alternative. Or you could just not do your job seeking requirements and I guess they would just sanction you, which would mean you would lose a percentage of your standard allowance but your child element would remain untouched. I guess that would be the best scenario for you, but I'm not sure whether the sanctions get increasingly more severe/ longer if you continue to not do as they ask.

Thanks I wasn’t sure how it worked because with CTC you just automatically get it until your child leaves education and I thought this was the same. I will be closing it all then. Thanks for the help

@DocMia

Thanks I wasn’t sure how it worked because with CTC you just automatically get it until your child leaves education and I thought this was the same. I will be closing it all then. Thanks for the help

I don't understand why you would close it completely and lose the child element too. Can you just not apply for jobs that aren't what you are looking for and just see what happens? How old is your child?

I’d prefer not to apply for jobs I know I’m not right for and I’m waisting their time. I’d rather be honest.

Yes it will.
But you get I think 3 months to focus on looking for jobs in your former industry before you are required to widen your search.

"Previous paid work
J3163 A claimant who has previously carried out work

1. of a particular nature or
2. paid at a particular level

must have their work search requirement and work availability requirement limited to work of that nature or level of pay1 . 1 WR Act 12, s 17(5)(a) & (b) & s 18(4)(a) & (b), UC Regs, reg 97(4) J3164 The determination to apply the period of limitation in J3163 can be only

1. where the Secretary of State is satisfed that the claimant has reasonable prospects of getting paid

work with those limitation(s)1and

1. for a period not exceeding three months

2.1 from the date of claim2or 2.2 if after the date of claim, from the date on which the claimant ceases paid work after exceeding the earnings threshold3 . 1 UC Regs, reg 97(4); 2 reg 97(5)(a); 3 reg 97(5)(b)

Example

Alex has just claimed UC after losing his job as a secondary school teacher. Before he was made
redundant, he was a main scale teacher with no leadership responsibilities. On making his claim to UC,
Alex informed Jobcentre Plus that he wanted to remain in the teaching profession at the same level as
he had been before his redundancy. There are a number of secondary schools within 1.5 hours travelling
distance of where Alex lives. Alex’s adviser is satisfed that Alex has reasonable prospects of returning to
work as a main scale teacher and so Alex’s work search and work availability requirement are limited to
that profession for a period of three months from the date of claim to UC.

From ADM-J3