UC sanctions with baby under 1, pregnant and signed off sick with PND and need to quit job

mrc1234

Tbh everyone I’ve spoke to be it on the phone or in the job centre have no clue on what they are talking about and don’t understand what they’re advising so they just pass the buck etc

11krage

There's been a large turnover of UC staff and training is definitely rushed unfortunately.

If you're worried just make a pile of oc heath reports, sick notes, anything to evidence why you'd need to stop working. But as others have said even if it did somehow go to a decision maker as you have no work related requirements it wouldn't go anywhere.

To be perfectly honest as you have a child under one you wouldn't even have a work coach assigned. Work coaches are usually the ones who spot and start the process when someone's voluntarily stopped working. So since you don't have one, I doubt anyone would even notice. Just make sure you report the change to your work on your account when it happens.

sparker123

perhaps you can theroretically be sanctioned for not going to an interview ? otherwise how could they make people start looking for work when their child reaches school age etc.

calcotti

sparker123 wrote: »

perhaps you can theroretically be sanctioned for not going to an interview ? otherwise how could they make people start looking for work when their child reaches school age etc.

There is no requirement to attend work preparation interviews if you are caring for a child under one.
If DWP wanted to see claimant about details of their claim and they failed to attend then benefit could be suspended still such time as claimant did attend.

11krage

With a child under one there's a possibility they might run into trouble if say they reported a change of bank details and didn't attend, but this wouldn't result in a sanction. They'd just have the natural consequence of no money being able to go out until there's a verified bank account. Or for another example if they didn't book the initial mandatory appointments to get their claim up and running, or didn't accept their commitments on their account the claim will be closed after the deadline. Or if they know there's a change of circs that hasn't been reported that will affect the amount of benefit (say the employer hadn't reported earnings and the claimant hadn't checked their statements and reported the missing earnings, or their rent amount had changed and not been reported or a child sixteen or over left full time education below degree level and this wasn't reported) the claim would be suspended until the change had been reported. Late reported change of circs that result in underpayments can result in civil penalties being added on or possibly prosecution no matter the work group.

So if you missed an appointment since there's no work related requirements it would be due to either a mandatory initial appointment or due to some change in circs. Closing the claim if evidence not provided within a month or suspending the claim as above would be the consequence rather than sanctions due to the missed appointment.

Of course it's always best not to waste the work coach's time and fill up a slot where someone else could've had an appointment. If you know you're not able to make it, then phone to rearrange and check account often to make sure you don't miss anything.

It's when the child turns one that the first tentative work related requirements start (but these are infrequent and to do with work prep rather than actually seeking work). This work prep increases with a two year old, and once the child turns three the parent will definitely be required to be looking for work. They can choose to seek help from their work coach to be seeking work before this age if they want to, but it's not a set requirement.

This is tied in with the free childcare for three and four year olds.