Harassed by universal credit!

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Hi
I was just wondering if anyone else felt harassed by universal credit and how to deal with the situation.
so I have worked full time since 16 now 34. In 2020 my partner left and I had a baby (now 3) I have worked part time 8-10 hours a week since he was 9 months old.
recently he turned 3 and I have been non stop harassed by the job centre about getting 16 hours of work. I currently work 12 hours on a self employed basis but for a company. I have very limited child care only 1 day a week, going to 2 mornings and 1 full day in September when little one starts nursery. I don’t drive so need to stay local and also have no family to support with childcare. My sons dad is not involved in his life so I am literally on my own!
my question is how do you get the job centre off your back, they call me in 2-3 times a week and have done since my son was 9 months old. I feel like I’m doing everything I can right now to work but it’s never good enough and they are constantly on at me. Has anyone dealt with this before?
its making me so anxious! I literally don’t know how I can work more than I do without leaving my child home alone! (Obviously this isn’t an option)
Thanks in advance

My DS has sen but his educational psychologist has commented that his lack of interaction with other adults during covid lockdown when he was three may be one of the he struggled in reception to create healthy boundaries and relationships.

That sounds a fantastic idea. And if you only do school pick up and drop offs you have time free

Thanks @IncomingTraffic - I'll put those in my list.

I know this one gets trotted out a lot here (along with taking in ironing) but there is clearly a shortage of childminders in your area, could this be an option?

www.gov.uk/become-childminder-nanny

Have you asked your employer for additional hours if you can work from home?

I was in exact same position as you except I went back off maternity and worked full time they are only asking you to do 16 hours and seems you were supported by the tax payer when you were off work for three years.

Yes I have asked her and she’s not got anything from home just office based.
mots not the hours that’s the problem it’s the lack of childcare in my area as I’ve explained in previous posts

So have you looked at some home working options?

Yes. I currently work from home one day a week too but my boss doesn’t have any more hours for me at the moment

That’s what I thought. They have been on my case since my little boy was 9months old
So you've put him on every waiting list where you live and where your office is based and 2 years plus, not one of them had a vacancy for you?

Sorry but that is very hard to believe. You say that you took that job because it worked around your child's needs, so it looks like you've gone the other way.

I understand why the job centre would doubt that in over 2 years, you haven't managed to find any childcare especially if they gave other customers who somehow managed it during that time.

No I’ve put him on the list as of Easter and there are only 2 childminders and a preschool in my area. As explained in previous comments. So instead of calling me a liar why not read my previous comments. you come across very rude to be honest.

I don't think you understood my question.

I get that you have asked your employer for more hours working at home and there are none.

But have you looked at other working at home jobs with other employers.

I understood, I said yes I’ve looked. There isn’t anything that’s suitable for me at the moment due to the childcare issue, unless I move to a town rather than a village and I don’t have that option at the minute unfortunately

There's lots of online working remote at home vacancies on indeed....

Yes, Universal Credit does provide financial support for childcare, however you are expected to find the child care yourself.
Universal Credit does not provide childcare.
Is that understood or is that too difficult for you to understand?
I’m also a single parent with the same issues, so I don’t think it’s fair that you attack OP

Yes, there are lots of vacancies for remote work However, you also need to be qualified in certain areas and have certain skills to be able to work them.
Some even require you to have your own laptop, and if you are not able to purchase a laptop, then it’ll make things difficult.

Basically they will get off your back if you are doing 16 hours plus and ideally more. Have you actually looked for remote jobs out there - that helps with the needing to be local for nursery pick ups etc

Only extra 4 hours.

It’s hard op . Honestly MN is not the place to post this .

i was a Lp from when my Ds was 9 months old . He had a support worker from 18 months old as he couldn’t cope with me been in a different room .
i did train as a childminder and started working when he was 5 .

He does have Asd and ADHD . He wasn’t diagnosed for many years but he wouldn’t have coped with childcare .

he is in college now but I am so glad there wasn’t the expectation to work when he was 3.

there are many people who work with young children but many parents who don’t for various reasons .

i was told my job search should be up to 90 minutes away . I was shocked . I had no one to collect my Ds in an emergency.

you are doing your best it won’t be the best for many on Mn .

unfortunately jump through the hoops to get what you need . Don’t claim comments if you don’t like the rules are ridiculous . You are claiming because you need the money to function.

I actually find it soo sad how many people are saying to you ‘work more and they’ll pay for nursery hours’.. HER CHILD IS THREE YEARS OLD. They have alllll there lives from 4-18 in school 5 days a week. When are we supposed to bond with our children? When they’re new born out the womb? No, children don’t start remembering things until the age of 3 so why does fishy rishy think it’s okay to not only force mums into work but also force children to go into education faaaar to young.

im in the same boat as you, worked all my life, covid hit, lost my job & fell pregnant.. haven’t worked since, my child turned 3 last month and 1 week after his birthday the job centre now have me in every 2 weeks. My son can get very sick due to being premature and I have to drop what I’m doing as soon as nursery ring due to his lungs not being the strongest, worse in the winter and I will not be putting him in nursery anymore than 15 hours a week whilst he’s still only young. I’ll show my face but they can think again if they think im actually going to apply for a job or even find a job that can cater for my needs.

@Starlightstarbright2 you see I don't disagree - but the problem is if you are claiming state money month after month - then that's the breaks- if you are earning enough as a family not to claim at all-- then stay at home as much as you like without being hassled. Sadly that is the reality these days.

Do you think that the state should pay for you to stay home with your child?

So (discounting the obvious corporations and the rich should pay proper taxes of course) where is this money coming from? We don't have a perfect system.

16 hours is not a huge amount to work in a week, it's also good for you the parent to be with other adults, and helps your child to develop outside relationships.

Your case is slightly more special with a vulnerable child (have you investigated if you can get carers allowance?) , however but for the average parent, 16 hours should be doable

@TheSeaDoesntKnowMyName it's funny when people make bold statements that they very clearly haven't looked into in the slightest.

It's funnier when people vague-book reply to your posts