Universal credit

[Nanny9052]

Hello!

I'm hoping to get some advice or to understand better this whole thing.

I claim UC and live in a 1bed flat with my daughter who just turned 3 in nov.

I had my first meeting with work coach about getting back to work.

And honestly I am STRESSING!

My daughter is entitled to 15hours funding which she already does.

Could someone explain the rules about finding work or having to work when I have no help from anyone.

I thought I didn't need to work till she goes to primary school, which that would help a lot
but also how can I do it? I feel like it’s impossible so if anyone was ever in my shoes
I need encouragement please

Many years ago it used to be you didn't need to work until age 5, but sadly its not the case anymore. You are now expected to go out to work from 3.
So you will be expected to find a minimum of 16 hours a week and put the child in childcare if which UC will then pay 85% of the costs. Its very doable and nothing to stress over. Its just a new chapter

And I over think and stress.
Do you know it has to be 16hrs?
What if it's 10hrs?

There's a minimum amount of earnings for Age 3, but I cant recall what it is. As long as you earn this amount generally hours don't matter.

Oh great! I'll check it out!
Thank you. Xx

I've just checked, it's a minimum of 16 hours for aged 3. Once they turn 5 they expect you to increase your hours to 25.

You are expected to look for work earning 16x national minimum wage. As others have said you can claim up to 85% of childcare costs back.

Just to reassure you I am a lone parent, I have no help and only my elderly parents fir family who are not local. I have a child at school and have always worked and claimed UC top up. It's only difficult when they are poorly, but as an employee, you are allowed unpaid parental leave. And because this reduces your wages, UC will increase their top up so it evens out and makes no odds really other than an being an annoyance to your employer. However, you are protected within reason by parental leave to care for sick children. You'll be financially better off working 16 hours.

Im so scared.
It's my overthinking and stressing for nothing.
I know I can do it.
But my fear takes over

If you find a job, you may be entitled to 30 hours free childcare for 3-4 year olds.

www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare

Honestly you will be much better off.
UC will pay for the majority of the childcare fees and you get far more generous amounts when working.

16 hours is very do-able.

If you do 18 hours at minimum wage you'll be eligible for 30 hour funding as a single parent. You can also study or start a business.

It's plenty manageable. If she was 3 in November you'll be entitled to 30 hours funding from January if you work a certain number of hours.
It'll be great for both yourself and your daughter.

It's hard working as a single parent with no support- I had to full time- but you'll probably find it's not as bad as you're imagining. Re- entering the workplace after a break is hard but you will smash it

Hiya @Jinglecrunch could you please tell me more about the studying/starting a business option? Because I've enrolled on a diploma level distance course and also trying to start my own business but still being sent on back to work schemes and expected to look for 16 hours work, but obviously would rather concentrate my limited 15 hours on studying and growing a business.

@Nanny9052 at this stage you will be expected to only look for work within 30 mins of your home (I think that includes nursery drop off time, although not sure), so don't panic too much.

This is what I needed.
Thank you for reassuring me. Not having anyone to motivate me makes me feel useless

You need to register as self employed. Then you have a year of reporting income and expenses, if after a year your business is not turning a good enough profit they expect you to seek additional employment, but hopefully a year will be enough to get there for you. You report a change that you are going self employed.

As regards studying, you have to call them because there is no place to report it on the journal, so you have to call them. Then they will ask for details of your course, any hours studying are deducted from your hours you have to do work search if not working. So eg. You can study 16+ hours then don't have to work at all, or study 8 hours, work 8 hours, study 3 and work 15 hours, etc. but that time can be working on your business, which you don't have to get proper earning from until you've been self employed for a year, during which time you get full benefits, minus anything you earn over the income threshold. So if your income threshold is eg £300 because you are a parent, then you keep 100% of the first £300 and then a percentage there after is deductible from the benefit.

It's probably a pretty smart move to start a business and get additional training during that time as well, whilst knowing that you'll get that UC. Yes not generous being on benefits, but if you can earn something, improve your skills and build something that will keep you employed and where you get to chose your own hours long term then I would do it.

When they are 5 years old you have to work 25 hours I think, and it's 35 hours plus later on, so if you can improve your skills and build a business now, that's going to make it less scary when those hours go up, you can just increase your hours doing whatever it is your trained to do.

It worth looking at what there is a gap for in the job market, if there are loads of nail shops going out of business, might be a bad time to train to do nails, but if there's a shortage of childminders or electricians, might be worth considering different occupations that are highly in demand where you get to set your own hours too

How many hours is your course a week? Have you reported that you are self employed? If so, how long ago?

@Littlemisspawpatrol