Single mum, fulltime student, looking for pt work with pushy job centre rep

[Ithinkiminlimbo]

Hi,

I may cross post, as im not sure if i am in the correct section to get the advice i need but i hope someone may have some words of wisdom that may help me.

I (37) am recently seperated and I have just finished a foundation year at uni and about to start my degree years in october.
I have signed up to UC with the help of the cab and now i have the joys of dealing with the folk at the job centre.
I had a call, and i got told i should be working 25 hours a week!? I have 3 children and was also told i should be willing to travel 90 minutes to work. I get it, lots of students have jobs to supplement their income, and i am more than happy to get a job on an evening or something but 25 hours!?
I have 3 dc and even tho one is about to start year 11 i dont want to make them a babysitter.

I also have a few MH issues and without going into too much detail, i was advised by cab to try for PiP, and as someone that was on dla before i was married, i know how much of a heartache it can be so i tried to not go down that route.
Fast forward a few weeks and i have had panic attacks, migraines and now a stomach ulcer from worrying about trying to get work that fits the criteria. I had a job at a care home and even though it went ok, i got home and had a panic attack, i am in no way equipped to deal with people so vunerable when i am myself.
I have applied for a council or social house and when i log on, it comes up as if i havent completed the form even though i have and have an admission reciept code but im hoping its because it hasnt been processed yet.
I am super stressed and i do not process stress very well at all and its exhausting.

I really am in such a brain fog right now, and would like to hear from people in a similar situation. Has anyone else had such a pushy experience with the job centre?

Thanks for reading

I am sorry you are feeling stressed and ill, but I think you you should bear in mind claiming out of work benefits come with responsibilities to be available and look for work so your work coach is not unreasonable to expect you to do that. Presumably if you have recently been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer you will have seen a consultant and / or GP. Do they consider you fit to do some work? If not, ask for medical evidence and get transferred to the correct benefit.

The job centre is run through set processes (like a flow diagram) there is no room for individuality so if your youngest is over 5 you'll be expected to work if claiming UC. If UC is not appropriate for your needs you need to go through the process of applying for a more appropriate benefit.

In terms of university study, that is a luxury which unfortunately you aren't in a position for right now as a single parent unless you get additional financial support and childcare support through your uni.

You need to defer your degree for a year, sort out working and housing and then either transfer your degree to the OU or another distance learning uni and complete it from home or go back to your university in person next year when things are more settled.

Are you going straight from foundation year to first year at the same uni? If so I'm fairly sure you're not entitled to the job seekers element of UC, just the child and housing elements. Your loan, which is higher because you have children, should cover you, with the summer shortfall covered by a different element of UC. You certainly aren't expected to look for permanent work.

It's not true uni is a luxury single parents can't afford, and it pisses me off when people say that. The benefit and loan system is designed to manage such circumstances and they should work together. Unfortunately as you're finding out it is a complex area and many advisors aren't aware of what you can and can't do and are advising you incorrectly.

Can CAB or university help?

@titchy I didn't say it was a luxury she couldn't afford I said it was a luxury she wasn't in a position for right now. To start university in September a few short weeks a way with so many unknowns when you haven't got a secure place to live, potentially no Internet for a while when you do get somewhere as that can take time, childcare potentially an issue, recent relationship breakdown and previous MH issues. Adding the stress of a degree on top of that is not a great choice in my opinion.

Take a year to get yourself sorted and then go to uni. I'm also a single parent and opted for the OU route as I didn't have childcare and DD was too old for childcare covered by university funds.

Have you spoken to the university about these issues? There maybe hardship finds you can access - there’s a higher education board on here that will help.

Housing is a worry so put that to one side and ring a real person about you issues, or housing matters can help on your behalf.

I didn't say it was a luxury she couldn't afford I said it was a luxury she wasn't in a position for right now. To start university in September a few short weeks a way

She's not starting uni though, she started last year and is continuing this year. Making changes in your life is much better done when one area of your life is stable and you can draw support from it - uni is providing that stability and there should be practical, financial, and counselling support available from student services.

@titchy fair enough, and I hope she does well, it's difficult when your world falls apart. I read it as though she had done an access type course first and was about to start a new three year degree course in September. Albeit at the same uni.

OP sometimes university's offer family rooms, normally for PhD and other postgrads but it would be worth talking to student services to see what help they can offer.

I'd argue if you're well enough to go to uni then you're well enough to work. Whilst a uni education shouldn't be a luxury unfortunately it's something a lot of working age adults cannot afford due to child/housing costs and it looks like you fall into category. It's a sad fact that a lot of us cannot afford to do exactly what we'd like due to our life circumstances.

Are you intending to work post-uni? Does this job require a degree? Be honest with yourself- if you have disability or long term condition will this deteriorate in the coming years (noting you're 37). Will you actually be well enough to work?

The OU is ideal in your situation and I'd suggest you explore further.

You don't have to work 25 hours at all.

The administrative earnings threshold is now £494 per calendar month for a single person so as long as you earn over that then you will be in light touch and not expected to search for work. It is not based on an hourly amount.

If you need further clarification check the AET information on UC gov website

And you are within your rights to quote their own information back to them that under uc legislation you are required to follow the AET not an hourly rate. If you earn over 494 a month you can tell them to leave you alone and put you in the light touch category. Unfortunately a lot of job centre reps don't know their own rules and info. You can call uc or add a note in your journal to clarify and give them this info if you do earn over 494 a month. It has recently gone up from 355 for a single claimant.

The people at the job centre are human beings too, and many will have challenges they are facing in their personal lives. Their job is to implement government policy, they aren’t just making things up. And they face considerable abuse from clients on a daily basis. It’s not a cushy job.

it sounds as if you are still in considerable mental turmoil and need some stability in your life. Also for your children. Perhaps deferring your place for a year and concentrating on finding a job and building up some savings would be the best idea.

This doesn't sound right. On Turn2Us it says "If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student and you receive student income such as a grant or loan, you will not have to do anything under your claimant commitment"

So assuming you're receiving a student loan, they shouldn't be making you look for work. I'm a lecturer and certainly not an expert on UC, but I do know students with children who've claimed UC and not had to work.

I wonder if UC are currently saying you have to work because technically you have not started your course yet. So once you are fully registered and enrolled in September you will then not have to work but until then because it is a separate course to your original foundation year it means that right at this moment you are not working or a student.

I had a similar experience, I finished my last year of uni and was 7 months pregnant in the June when I had my Dd, I had to sign on and look for work even though it was clear no one would employ me as I would need maternity in the September, once DD arrived I could then claim a different benefit until I went back to work.

I would speak to the finance support office at university to make sure you get everything you are entitled to. They will have a better understanding of what you are entitled to as a student. We lost out on a significant amount of money due to bad advice from tax credits and the job centre.

She has started her course!!!!

@titchy again she has not started her course. The Op writes that she has completed her Foundation year and is about to start her degree years. Where I am they are classed as two separate courses although they top up the other one.

Like an access course that then leads on to a degree course, from an admin point of view they are separate. Which likely means from a funding and UC point of view they are also separate.

They are NOT classified as two separate things. Foundation years are an integral part of a degree course and she will be receiving maintenance and fee loans on this basis.

I am full time student at university and have been told by the job centre that because I am a single parent on a full time course, I am not expected to find work until I finish university. I had already started my course when I became a single parent. This has also been confirmed by the folks at universal credit when I have spoken to them. I’m not sure where you are expected to find the time to do your course, study, look after your child/children by yourself, and work? I would agree that after your course finishes, you should be expected to work (which is the whole point of getting a degree) but not right now. You may find what you actually receive from UC is quite low due to the maintenance loans etc but I really don’t think you are expected to look for work at this stage.

I mean this as nicely as possible, but why are you trying to do a degree now? Would it not be better to work, support your children and consider this path once they are through school? From your OP you seem to be adding in a lot of stress and uncertainty to all of your lives.

When is your student finance due in? Have you taken the maximum loans possible? That might be what they are waiting on

However you might just have a job coach who does not know the rules I suggest you join a group on Facebook "universal credit essentials" they can hopefully direct you to the relevant part of the rules to put in your journal to switch off commitments

But you will possibly have to work in the holidays

Hello everyone and thanks so much for all your replies, help and advice. Apologies for my absence, I have been run off of my feet.

My foundation year is part of my course, its 4 years and is not available separately from a degree at the uni. There is also nothing like it available with the OU either unfortunately.

I will try to touch on everyone's points and apologies in advance, im quite new to mn.

I have made contact with a self referral mh team, they were super helpful and are going to get me in touch with some support groups and work with my uni mh team.

Thing at uni is, I can sit whenever I like, and if I need a minute, I can take a minute. And I can work, but need a patient employer and I get that having someone who is chronically sore isn't the 'perfect' employee. And I get irritable. I have severe ibs and bloating which can fluctuate in severity. Uni are aware and are super understanding and I have what they call a pass plan in place to alert my tutors of my all needs physical and mentally. I honestly can't thank my uni team enough they have been fantastic with their support.
I definitely plan to work after university, preferably self employed, I'm doing a degree in the school of arts and there's totally space for disabled folk, not saying that anyone said there wasnt, but I do indeed want a career after I graduate.

Thank you to those that understand the system and my main drama was not working, but the time to study, be at uni and also parent. But there are those in a situation like mine so something must have gone amiss with my uc, I shall bring it up tomorrow.
I contacted student finance with my situation and I am still waiting for my amended maintenance loan, so perhaps this is what they are waiting for.

I recognise that my case worker is only doing their job and I wouldn't use that against them at all. I get it, and I empathise they must deal with some difficult folk and situations but I'm super placid and don't feel I deserve her attitude and I never give any back, I just have a grumble and a moment in the car afterwards.

My education means a lot to me. I havent had the opportunity before due to supporting my ex for over a decade. I completely smashed my foundation year, and the stress will be worth it, I know it will. People have had it harder than me and got through it.

Taking a year off isn't an option, things are tough but I'm tougher n I appreciate all the support n help from here.

I shall keep my situation updated.
I have a jc app tomorrow so wish me luck.

Great update. Please do make sure your advisor tomorrow is aware that you are not expected to look for work though as you are a FT student.

Good luck OP! You are a great role model for your kids and so important to do things for yourself ☺️

Another little update,

I told the work coach the new information i learnt from here, and she still thinks i need to look for work, or have work during term breaks and in the summer, so my search, for now, continues, although she has sent a message to someone and is awaiting to hear back, apparently. I have an appointment with her again on thursday. I said to her that its ridiculous to expect me to try to find work for a two week break for example, who is going to want to hire me and, my breaks obviously coincide with the kids most the time, so childcare. anyway!

I have applied for work at the local student amenities, the bar and restaurants, and i also have an appointment to speak to a student advisor to talk finances and see how and if they can help me and if they have any advice i can utilise. Maybe i wont need to work, i cant see how i will have the time, i travel 45 mins to get to uni, i really cant afford more time away from home.

DC are all in school now, and thats a little more routine and normality returned, which is a small relief. Hope everyone is doing well and thank you @Usernamqwerty , i shall be rereminding her @titchy of that. When i told her about not having to work, she kind of clicked through a screen and was like, i cant see anything... hmmm i think she was trying to fob me off tbf, and im doubtful she even sent an email asking whether i had to look for work or not.