Uc not going back to work

[ash646668]

I was lead to believe in my first meeting for universal credit that I wouldn't be expected to get a job untill my baby went to school at 4. I've now found out they expect you to go back to work at 3. My baby is only 6 months at the moment but I'm thinking ahead. I don't have any family who can look after her and my partner works full time. I am really against her going to nursery and even if I did send her I can't imagine I could get a job with limited availability as a carer. They are typically 12 hour shifts including weekend. Has anyone else experienced not working after baby turns 3 and waiting until they are ready for school. And what happened with universal credit.

If you don't want to work until your child is 4, then wait until you have the money to take that time off before you have a baby. Working parents all sort out childcare - you can do nursery or childminder - and you've got 2.5 years to sort out a new job if you don't like your current one. It's not up to the taxpayer to pay for you to be a SAHM.

I don’t have experience, but I wanted to tell you that school nursery classes start the September after a child is three and many do 30 hours so you could send your child to school not a day nursery at that age.

Does your partner also work odd shifts, or during the day?
You've got a few years to find a job that will work for you. You can't expect to have a year off funded by tax payers.

How much does your partner earn monthly?

If you can afford to live off one income, then go for it! If not, then you’ll have to do what the rest of us do, and return to work to help support your family. UC isnt there to support the lifestyle choices of wanting to be a SAHM.

Her partner works and presumably pays tax. Also if he earns over £1347 she is not expected to work search and will be in the light touch group as things stand.

You can still get UC in that situation.

They might help you and ask about your work plans but as long as he earns over the couples AET (£1437) they will leave you alone. This might change in a few years but I wouldn't worry yet.

Yes, he works in hospitality so very long days and no regular days off.

Yes he earns over this.

Here it is. My son is three soon but I shouldn't be asked to work more than the day I work.

Thank you.

When your DC turns 3yo and gets preschool hours you can study part time with somewhere like the OU.
I have been studying part time and not expected to look for work. I am doing my degree part time, takes six years.

It is if you are a couple on UC

I feel I need to clarify as there seems to be a few comments that are insinuating at I'm wanting to be funded to be a stay at home mum. I simply want to raise the child I was told I wouldn't have due to infertility. I will be sending her to school when she gets to that age and I will resume working. As I have since I was 16. I have never been on benefits or taken statutory sick pay. The amount of universal credit I get currently is about a third of how much tax I used to pay in tax monthly.

UC will pay 85% of your childcare

I don't mean to be rude to you, and I understand you've worked hard your whole life and that this was a much wanted baby. But yes you do want to be funded by UC to be a SAHM. That is literally the question you are asking.

Parents raise their children if they are working too.

I just wouldn’t rely on the AET to stay the same in a few years or even still be a thing.

I was trying to find out what my options were for the year in-between age 3 and 4. I'm not wanting to be a stay at home mum untill my child is 16, just long enough to get her to school. And if anyone else had experienced this. It just Seems like a weird cut off at 3 years old.

I am a sahm of school aged dc and I have not been expected to look for work. I assume it is because my partner earns enough. If your partner's earnings meet the minimum requirements there will be no mandatory work related requirements for you.

Thank you, he does.

You can do what you want, provided you can pay for it.

What a snipey remark , no need for it. OP ignore the people who think they're single handedly paying for your UC, your partner is earning and paying tax too so they have no argument.
As you say you've paid taxes all your life, I think you're entitled to some time to commit to the most important job of raising your dc without feeling guilty or being ridiculed. You'll be paying tax for the rest of your life, you'll more than make up for a few years of not working. Enjoy your time with your little one, you won't ever get it back.