Accepted a job, but Universal Credit still want me to look for work.

mcgreevy1993

Been out of work about 6 weeks, and on Universal Credit for 4 weeks.
Whilst I've been on it I've been to an interview atleast once a week, and finally secured a job this week at a school.
Unfortunately, the school requires me to undertake a DBS and have my references cleared - and by that point, its the Easter Break. So I don't start til April. so I went to my Universal credit appointment today to explain I was waiting for formal confirmation from my checks, and couldn't start until April. And what should be my next steps.

Instead of any kind of positive feedback, I was approached by a very rude job coach, who told me I should still apply for other jobs for the next 3 weeks. I understand I should be looking at other work incase the job falls through with references/checks, and have signed up to a few agencies as back up offers.
But she said even when I get a formal offer, I should still be looking for other work. :mad::mad::mad:

Surely this is just messing around other HR departments who I will knowingly be applying for with no intention of working with them as I've committed to my new employer?
And wouldn't my new employer - be annoyed if I was still actively seeking work after signing a contract!?

My choices are, to sign off the Universal Credit and go short on my bills until my first pay cheque, or actively seek work I have no intention of doing as I have a job.
If i do neither, I get sanctioned anyway.

This just seems ridiculous, surely the entire point of job seekers is to support you until you get into work? Not force you to find work when you already have a job lined up. They just don't seem to understand that some job offers don't start 24 hours after you've been interviewed.

Has anyone got any idea on how I should approach this? I really don't want to mess around some poor HR staff, but I also don't want to get sanctioned and be skint until I get paid in May!!

DCFC79

mcgreevy1993 wrote: »

Been out of work about 6 weeks, and on Universal Credit for 4 weeks.
Whilst I've been on it I've been to an interview atleast once a week, and finally secured a job this week at a school.
Unfortunately, the school requires me to undertake a DBS and have my references cleared - and by that point, its the Easter Break. So I don't start til April. so I went to my Universal credit appointment today to explain I was waiting for formal confirmation from my checks, and couldn't start until April. And what should be my next steps.

Instead of any kind of positive feedback, I was approached by a very rude job coach, who told me I should still apply for other jobs for the next 3 weeks. I understand I should be looking at other work incase the job falls through with references/checks, and have signed up to a few agencies as back up offers.
But she said even when I get a formal offer, I should still be looking for other work. :mad::mad::mad:

Surely this is just messing around other HR departments who I will knowingly be applying for with no intention of working with them as I've committed to my new employer?
And wouldn't my new employer - be annoyed if I was still actively seeking work after signing a contract!?

My choices are, to sign off the Universal Credit and go short on my bills until my first pay cheque, or actively seek work I have no intention of doing as I have a job.
If i do neither, I get sanctioned anyway.

This just seems ridiculous, surely the entire point of job seekers is to support you until you get into work? Not force you to find work when you already have a job lined up. They just don't seem to understand that some job offers don't start 24 hours after you've been interviewed.

Has anyone got any idea on how I should approach this? I really don't want to mess around some poor HR staff, but I also don't want to get sanctioned and be skint until I get paid in May!!

Just continue looking, it will just keep the member of staff happy.

[Deleted User]

I agree with DCFC, there's 'looking' and there's 'LOOKING'

elsien

Your new employer isn't going to know that you're applying for other jobs unless you tell them. And if you are sure of this job, there are ways of applying for others which won't get you an interview.
However if something better comes along then you've got nothing to lose by applying for it.

Torry_Quine

Its totally normal if you want to continue getting your money up until you start the job. You have to job search or you will be sanctioned.

mcgreevy1993

Okay but say next week i get my formal offer after my DBS checks i decided I didn't want the money.
How do I get myself off the system and If so will i be paid up until the moment I leave the system if so?
Or is it all just paid monthly if you're on it for the whole month??

patman99

Thing is, a lot of the JC advisors know that sometimes a formal offer relying on a DBS check or similar may not turn into a full and final job.

Back in 2011, I had an offer of a job with a start date 4 weeks down the line.
My JC advisor told me I needed to keep looking as I might miss an even better job with much higher pay or better conditions.

He also advised me not to sign-off benefits until I had started my first day and signed the contract of employment as it was not unheard of for someone to sign-off, turn up to start only to find the employer has gone bust over the weekend.

Torry_Quine

mcgreevy1993 wrote: »

Okay but say next week i get my formal offer after my DBS checks i decided I didn't want the money.
How do I get myself off the system and If so will i be paid up until the moment I leave the system if so?
Or is it all just paid monthly if you're on it for the whole month??

You can sign off when you want and will get your money until the date you sign off.

konark

It's just a game, it doesn't make any sense but just go along with anything they suggest; tell them you've been looking for other jobs. Under the UC regime they can tell you to keep looking for a job even when you have started a job if it doesn't pay well enough or have enough hours.

dippy3103

Assuming UC paid as you are unemployed is because you are available and actively seeking work. So even though you have a job to start you still have to be actively seeking to satisfy that criteria.
I guess you could temp in those few weeks, so in theory those few weeks jo search could be of use.

Good luck in your new job

iammumtoone

I can understand why the rule is there, if it wasn't as always people would take advantage.

You would have those that have found a job that starts in 8 weeks time, they stop looking for work and still get paid all that time, then oh dear the job falls through at the last minute.

I can see why you think the rule is stupid as you come across as honest and want to do the right thing by not wasting anyone's time, unfortunately not everyone is like you.