Universal credit & Cutting hours

Nxcolex

So I am currently getting UC (Varies every month since starting in Feb). I work at the moment 20 hours a week and partner works 40 a week. I pay £625 nursery fees a month and £185(3 days pw) a month afterschool fees. I usually finish work at 3pm so pick DS from afterschool at 3.30 which to me is a waste of money as he's usually just in for 5 mins.!
I have been at my current job for 3 months and usually have to start at 730am or work until 9pm which has been fine as DH has been off with knee surgery but is due back in a week. So I wont have anyone to pick Ds up from school or even take him as the only other person we have is my mum who starts at 8am. When i took the job i was told it was 10-2 by the agency but after the first week was told otherwise and tried to speak to them but said they can't accommodate it.

Now, I have been offered a new job that is term time and only 12.5 hours a week BUT it means i can take my DS out of afterschool saving £185 a month. Obviously I will be earning less but £185 is a bigger saving and also DS gets bullied at afterschool and absolutely hates it.

So I contacted UC today to ask if this is still ok working hours etc and have been given an appointment with my work coach. Now I'm shtting myself incase I'm sanctioned or something for taking less hours. Ive been trying to look it up online but can only find that is says tou should work 24 hours between you.

Can anyone help with this?

calcotti

Your work search conditionality under UC is first determined by the amount of earnings received compared to an expected number of hours of work at minimum wage. Expected hours of work are expected to be adjusted to suit family circumstances.

You will just have to wait and see what DWP says.

WhenIam64

The age of the child also makes a difference but only after 12 months on UC

See section 7 here

At the end of the 12 month period what will be expected of you will depend on the age of your youngest child.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-family-quick-guide/universal-credit-further-information-for-families

calcotti

WhenIam64 wrote: »

The age of the child also makes a difference but only after 12 months on UC

See section 7 here

Quote:

At the end of the 12 month period what will be expected of you will depend on the age of your youngest child.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-family-quick-guide/universal-credit-further-information-for-families

That’s very misleading quoted in isolation. It relates specifically to this earlier paragraph

If you are a family and friends carer, as a result of a child joining your household within the past 12 months and the child is aged between 1 and 16, you will not be required to look for work or attend work-focused interviews for a period of 12 months from when the child joined the household.

Nothing to suggest this is relevant to OP. For claimants with children their age is relevant from they start in determining work search expectations.

What you quoted is a specific 12 month relaxation which reduces work search requirements for peo0le who become a carer for a child between 1 and 16. The relaxation does not reference children below 1 because their are no work search requirements for a carer of a child under 1 anyway.

Scottishbargainhunter

Stop worrying you will be fine. You won’t be sanctioned as you are not quitting a job for no reason. You also have a new job lined up. Your partners earnings actually would mean you have no requirements to work or look for work so you couldn’t be sanctioned. I’m surprised they even booked you an appointment as it’s a waste of your time.

Nxcolex

I actually thought this myself but it waa the fact they said i need to make an appt with the work coach as if its a big deal