Universal credit for couples

[Royaro]

Hi, messaging for a friend. We had a conversation about her son starting school in September and her husband works 20 hours per week and she works 16 hours per week.

does anyone know if they both will be required to work full time when the boy starts school? Or just one parent will have to?

thanks.

Why are you both only working such minimal hours?

She works day time and he works evenings because of the children. They was full time and then since covid both their hours was reduced.

You both need to work more hours or yes, you might well be sanctioned.

Thank you

The claimant commitment with a school aged child up to age 13 is 25 hours per week each at minimum wage. So if either of them are earning more than minimum wage they might be able to work less hours.

He is on a good wage to be fair she is on minimum wage. He works 20 hours a week and can earn up to 20k a year. I’m guessing she will be asked to increase to atleast 25hours per week. Although he works 20 hours a week, his work includes alot of travel

In September 2023 new rules comes in so least one part of a couple works a mim of 35h a week. So in this case if they are working 20h their job coach could make it part of their claim that they search for jobs extra 15h a week or face sanctions. Being at work or actively seeking work in the same way unemployed have to prove how spend work search hours and record it. If job coach doesn’t think it’s enough can face losing money.

Hopefully they can get more hours or training now as when rules change there will be far more of a scramble to get the mim hours up. If you really can’t find work short term to make up hours then you get support but if 2 years down line you have done nothing improve your skills To get better job there are going make it much harder (and more miserable!)

Oh I can’t seem you find anything online to back this. Can you send me a link to where this is stated.

well hopefully as of august they both should be working more