On Universal Credit. Quitting work to care for partner

calcotti

WillowCat wrote: »

As the OP doesn't have any work requirements, she cannot be sanctioned for giving up work/not working.

Excellent point, I can see the logic of that - I am very glad to be contradicted on this one!

annandale

That is very true for most people in the all work requirements group. However we've already ascertained that the OP is a carer and hence in the no work requirements group. As the OP doesn't have any work requirements, she cannot be sanctioned for giving up work/not working.

Is the Op getting carers allowance? This suggests she would have to be to be placed in the no work requirements group? Or be entitled to it and not getting it because her work earnings were too high

If you care for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week, you’ll be in the ‘no work-related activity group’ if one of these applies:

If you don’t meet these conditions, you could be placed in the ‘all work-related activity group’. Your work coach should still consider your care responsibilities when setting your work activity. For example, if you spend 20 hours a week caring for someone, you shouldn’t have to go to job interviews in those hours.
you’re entitled to or getting Carer’s Allowance
you can’t get Carer’s Allowance, but only because your earnings are too high, and the DWP thinks it would be unreasonable for you to look for work and be available for work

poppy12345

annandale wrote: »

Is the Op getting carers allowance? This suggests she would have to be to be placed in the no work requirements group?

You don't need to be claiming Carers allowance to get the carers element of UC. The person you're caring for just needs to be claiming a qualifying benefit and the carer needs to care for them for at least 35 hours per week.

annandale

If the OP is in the no work requirements group her claimant commitment should show this anyway. I would certainly look over that or ask the work coach what category she is in.

Db1977

I spoke to my work about my situation, and they have agreed to give me just my contracted hours (16), split over 4 days (4 hours days).

Its not resolution we hoped for, but with the risk of a possible sanction if I did leave and universal credit was unwilling to accept that I'm a full time carer, we just felt this the safer option in terms of money. I suppose there is also the social side of working and having a different environment.

A benefit to this could be that, if I did leave my job, I will be able to show that I tried to keep my job whilst having full time caring commitments. Hopefully this will be seen as reasonable attempt to keep job.

I had updated my UC account of my caring responsibilities and my 16 hours work. My only commitments now say to log in and complete any todo/journal entries. My to do list is blank. Not even any upcoming work coach appointments in there.

I will speak to my work coach to find out what group i am in. I'm assuming if I'm in the no work group, then should i leave my job at any point, there will not be any issues with it, as I am in a group that isn't expected to look for work.

I would like to thank you all for your responses, and will continue to check, should anyone have any further input on this.

WillowCat

Db1977 wrote: »

Its not resolution we hoped for, but with the risk of a possible sanction if I did leave and universal credit was unwilling to accept that I'm a full time carer, we just felt this the safer option in terms of money.

I had updated my UC account of my caring responsibilities and my 16 hours work. My only commitments now say to log in and complete any todo/journal entries. My to do list is blank. Not even any upcoming work coach appointments in there.

You've already confirmed that your partner gets the enhanced daily living allowance of PIP therefore he is entitled to a carer. Unless someone else is doing it, you are totally entitled to be his carer for UC purposes (check you are getting the carer element in your award).

There is no risk, as a carer you cannot be sanctioned for giving up work to care for your partner. As your commitments now only say to log in and check your journal this confirms you are in the no work requirements group.

xylophone

Iit seems to me that it would be far better for the OP's mental health and well being to continue with the part time job....

It would not seem to be the case that the partner is any danger to himself or others if he is left alone for a few hours a day - a bowl of cereal and a pasty is sufficient to keep him going and the OP can make up for any nutritional deficiencies with well balanced evening meals?

huckster

xylophone wrote: »

Iit seems to me that it would be far better for the OP's mental health and well being to continue with the part time job....

It would not seem to be the case that the partner is any danger to himself or others if he is left alone for a few hours a day - a bowl of cereal and a pasty is sufficient to keep him going and the OP can make up for any nutritional deficiencies with well balanced evening meals?

Excellent post !

It is far better for all concerned to continue to work some hours, so you have time away from home to focus on something else. Also you would retain a working history for your CV, so you would be better placed to obtain better paid work in the future.

poppy12345

WillowCat wrote: »

You've already confirmed that your partner gets the enhanced daily living allowance of PIP therefore he is entitled to a carer. Unless someone else is doing it, you are totally entitled to be his carer for UC purposes (check you are getting the carer element in your award).

There is no risk, as a carer you cannot be sanctioned for giving up work to care for your partner. As your commitments now only say to log in and check your journal this confirms you are in the no work requirements group.

Thanks, that's what i stated in my post #3 but post #5 suggests that may not be the case. Although i too agree that working some hours is a great idea.