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.

Yes it’s as easy as you make it.
We do it
We don’t claim any UC etc from the government.
Now you say your husband is not low paid ? So why claim UC ?
Honestly this sense of entitlement is what is wrong with things today .

"He is not low paid. We are working out fine as we are at the moment and there's no need to change."

But you're reliant upon £300 p/m in UC? I can see why you don't want to get a part-time job, but I don't think that should be an option.

I think our opinions on what is classed as low paid may differ. We are not on the breadline or minimum wage.

He earns under £30,000 which is not quite enough to support a family of 4 these days, hence our payment of £200-£300 UC. Which we are entitled to, until I return to work.

Honestly flabbergasted
So you say you are not on the breadline but happily claim 300 UC a month.
£30,000 for your husbands salary is above the normal national average salary.
Wrong on so many levels
I and many others work around our partners to earn a few extra hundred pounds a month by WORKING.

Yes!

I hope the Labour Government incentivises more people to go to work and pay taxes like the rest of us.

No one is saying that you are claiming something you're not entitled to, it's the fact that you are entitled that is baffling.

No doubt more kids will come along just before the obligation to return to work kicks in and so the cycle continues.

UNDER £30,000. Normally around 28k, but that's neither here nor there.
Do you want families to have the misery of struggling, instead of being entitled to UC?
Clearly someone, somewhere decided we were entitled to it, and thank goodness the rules say we are.

Read the room
Read the other replies

I think it's the fact that there is no incentive to work for 3 years when most people have a years' maternity leave at most.

But... you don't have to have "the misery of struggling". You could out your child in nursery and get a job. It's less fun than being at home with your child, admittedly, but you're being disingenuous to suggest that your only options are to struggle on your partner's salary or to claim UC.
I honestly believed that benefits were only available to people who were really struggling - lone parents, people with chronic illnesses etc - and have always been vocal that people who are able to work should help to support people who are unable to. I'm genuinely flabbergasted - naively I guess - that there are people with small children who just decide not to work, and believe that other mums should be obliged to facilitate that by giving up their time with their children.

Can you make after-school care magically.appear?It really isn't that easy.

You don’t need after school care if you go out to work evenings or weekends or your partners day off ?

Well tough. That is up to the the OP to decide.

Next time OP find some else to talk benefits!

Quite a few flabbergasted people here. Lol.
Does the country not yet know how the benefits system works, I'm amazed.
If only it was all so simple as you are stating. I have "read the room", which is why I am stating our situation. I guarantee I am not the only one in this position. There are even people who <extra flabbergast> cheat the system. I promise my 300 is nothing on them.

But... you don't have to have "the misery of struggling". You could out your child in nursery and get a job. It's less fun than being at home with your child, admittedly, but you're being disingenuous to suggest that your only options are to struggle on your partner's salary or to claim UC.

My thoughts too. Very disingenuous

There are even people who <extra flabbergast> cheat the system. I promise my 300 is nothing on them.

Let's hope Labour cracks down on this!

Haven’t they changed this now? I thought they had. If not, it is something that definitely needs doing.

Jeepers. I’m doing a part time degree alongside a more than full time job that involves 40% travel!

I would love to have years being a sahm but unfortunately I ended up going back to work when dc was 6 months and I had to pay a huge chunk of my wage to childcare - because I did not expect others to fund me not working.

If your oh earns then he can share his wage with you. If it's not enough you'll have to go and do some work in the 6 or so hours dc is at nursery.

I'm pretty sure UC are pushing to have everyone working 30 hours+ so in time the aet (or whatever it's called) will be irrelevant in time - most likely before your child is 3. Childcare is going to be offered from 9 months to support working so I think the expectation will be to work to claim UC once your child is 3. You will be expected to work search or there could be sanctions. You mention your partners work making it difficult for you - i'd suggest spending the next 2.5 years working on a solution to give a better balance to help you work if you really don't want to use childcare

@SouthLondonMum22

Technically they outsource some of the parenting - I think nursery is great for a childs social development though, no idea why the OP is so against it.

Similar situation. I'm recently out of work. My DH earns £32k and according to benefit calculators I could get over £400 per month in UC if I decide to claim.
*disclaimer - I do care for a child with disabilities so that figure includes additional elements.

do people not research into this BEFORE having children?

I am shocked at the amount of people who think it’s fine to have kids and bring them up on universal credit. I’m on UC, and also ADP for my disability, and I would no way bring a kid into this world with the view to being a stay at home mum unless I worked and saved up the money to pay for the child myself.

I’m not getting this. You only get £40 a month. So why does this matter?!

Why are you even asking about options for that year. The answer is either work 3 hours a month or spend £40 less.