Children at jobcentre

Zymelanie

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie to this and just looking for a bit of advice... So my ex partner and I have not long separated due to his lack of motivation in finding a job! Amongst other things but this was my main concern, especially as I am working full time, bearing the full burden of rent, bills and a pretty hefty childcare bill. Prior to my ex jobseeking (past 4 weeks) he was doing some part time, unreliable work. However since he started job seeking I cancelled a nursery day a week for our daughter, so that he could have her until he finds a job (and save me some change in the meantime) This meant him taking her with him to his jobseekers appointment however, and he has been informed this may affect his payments if he needs to bring her with him as he needs to be available for interviews/ workshops! Is he having me on or can they actually do this?! Surely there are jobseekers out there who don't have childcare arrangements and have their kids in tow for appointments? I have a feeling he may be having me on, as due to the recent end of our relationship, things are still a bit raw 😕. Could really do with the answer??

Thanks in advance guys. 👍🏻

Geoff1963

he needs to be available for interviews/ workshops

Do these events actually take place at the same time as the appointment ? Maybe the Jobseekers has a web-site to explain it.

iammumtoone

i believe as he is not the childs main career he may be right.

A PWC has additional rights to help with having children ie they have longer before they need to start work as they have to be able to find childcare (answers your question regarding job seekers who don't have childcare readly available and take children to the JC - these are normally the PWC)

You ex will just be a standard job seeker therefore needs to be available for work immediately.

sammyjammy

I think the fact he is not the main carer for the child means its not a problem, I don't believe that people are expected to take up an employment offer or training etc at a moments notice. Saying that I wouldn't be surprised if the Jobcentre have said this to him. Get him to check his Jobseekers agreement/UC commitment.

BorisThomson

sammyjammy wrote: »

I think the fact he is not the main carer for the child means its not a problem, I don't believe that people are expected to take up an employment offer or training etc at a moments notice. Saying that I wouldn't be surprised if the Jobcentre have said this to him. Get him to check his Jobseekers agreement/UC commitment.

Jobseekers without caring responsibilities are expected to be available for interviews and work with 24 hours notice.

OP it's fine to take children to the normal sign on, as long as they don't cause a disturbance or distract the claimant. It would not be acceptable to take them to a workshop or job interview.

Zymelanie

Thank you for all the advice guys, yes I have looked on the government website and it doesn't give any clear guidance. Looks like I may have to seek additional childcare at an additional cost 🙈, it's a real problem as he looks after our daughter every Monday and now Tuesday! I wonder if it would make any difference if he shared 'parental responsibility'. Won't be an issue when he commences employment as I expect he will be contributing to childcare by then! What a nightmare 😖...

stuartJo1989

Reading your post I can't help but feel that your ex was probably a nice chap, and that you may have been a bit harsh in dumping him (he's trying to find work + couples are supposed to support each other).

But then again I don't know the full ins and outs of the relationship so cannot judge. Just hope that you made a rational decision and not an immature one.. Only you can answer that.

Best thing to remember is that, whilst he was out of work, he was contributing very little financially. So what is the difference between then and now? Nothing, so take your foot off the gas a bit and give the lad a chance to go to workshops/meetings/job interviews.

I can assure you that having him on your side and in full time employment will earn you more childcare money in the long run than 1 less day in a nursery will...

You should be sitting down with this guy and saying, "I will pay for the child for the time being (you have no choice!) and I will support you in finding full time employment. Once you have found somewhere we can discuss the costs of childcare and get something arranged".

If that fails go to the CSA...

TBagpuss

stuartJo1989 wrote: »

Best thing to remember is that, whilst he was out of work, he was contributing very little financially. So what is the difference between then and now? Nothing, so take your foot off the gas a bit and give the lad a chance to go to workshops/meetings/job interviews.
.

Presumably before they separated he was available to look after their child, so she wasn't having to fund the child care.

OP, do either you or your ex have any family who can help out at short notice if he is asked to go to a workshop or interview?
If your ex saying he can't have her a t all because he might have to go to a workshop of interview you can't force him, but it would be a shame for your child to miss out spending time with him, (and for you to have to keep paying for the nursery) if you can solve it by working out in advance what the emergency child care arrangements will be for days / parts of days where he has to attend an interview or workshop

Mojisola

Zymelanie wrote: »

However since he started job seeking I cancelled a nursery day a week for our daughter, so that he could have her until he finds a job

This meant him taking her with him to his jobseekers appointment however, and he has been informed this may affect his payments if he needs to bring her with him as he needs to be available for interviews/ workshops!

Couldn't he look after her on a different day of the week so that he doesn't have to take her to his weekly appointments?

If not, isn't there someone who will look after her while he signs on?

elsien

Zymelanie wrote: »

Thank you for all the advice guys, yes I have looked on the government website and it doesn't give any clear guidance. Looks like I may have to seek additional childcare at an additional cost 🙈, it's a real problem as he looks after our daughter every Monday and now Tuesday! I wonder if it would make any difference if he shared 'parental responsibility'. Won't be an issue when he commences employment as I expect he will be contributing to childcare by then! What a nightmare 😖...

If you were married, or if he's named on the birth certificate then he already automatically has shared parental responsibility. It's not the same as being the primary carer though, and won't make any difference to the jobcentre.

Zymelanie

Thank you for your advice on my relationship, sorry you didn't have the answer to my actual question. And if u did know the ins and outs you would know this decision was neither rash/ immature. Fact is I've been paying this 'nice chap's' way for the past 9 years with very little contribution from him. So gullible/ naive I may be, in thinking he would do the right thing ya his family. But rash/ immature, nope. 👍🏻🙂

Again thank you for taking the time...