Universal Credit AET January 2023

Rubyroobs

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

What is worrying you? Is it unreasonable to expect both of a couple to work unless there is a reason they can't ?

KCJA1989

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

What is worrying you? Is it unreasonable to expect both of a couple to work unless there is a reason they can't ?

Here was me thinking this wasn't a place for judgement.

I am contracted to 20 hours per week, I take as much overtime as I can, things are tight in my place of work at the moment. My partner will try to work around childcare, it's not always that easy.

If you have nothing to add, don't. I asked a civil question.

calcotti

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

I haven’t seen anything more on that but I would be surprised if the change isn’t made.

The thresholds will of course rise again in April with the increase to NLW.

KCJA1989

calcotti said:

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

I haven’t seen anything more on that but I would be surprised if the change isn’t made.

The thresholds will of course rise again in April with the increase to NLW.

Thanks calcotti, you've been a massive to me over the years.

I'm curious as to why you would be surprised - is your expectation that the threshold will not change at all? 

Rubyroobs

KCJA1989 said:

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

What is worrying you? Is it unreasonable to expect both of a couple to work unless there is a reason they can't ?

Here was me thinking this wasn't a place for judgement.

I am contracted to 20 hours per week, I take as much overtime as I can, things are tight in my place of work at the moment. My partner will try to work around childcare, it's not always that easy.

If you have nothing to add, don't. I asked a civil question.

I was just asking what was worrying about it. The AET has been very low for as long as Uc has been around. They will pay up to 85% of childcare costs. I guess if actually accessing childcare is the problem then that won't help.

calcotti

KCJA1989 said: I'm curious as to why you would be surprised - is your expectation that the threshold will not change at all? 

My phrasing may have confused - I expect the threshold to rise as indicated in the Growth Plan. 

KCJA1989

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

What is worrying you? Is it unreasonable to expect both of a couple to work unless there is a reason they can't ?

Here was me thinking this wasn't a place for judgement.

I am contracted to 20 hours per week, I take as much overtime as I can, things are tight in my place of work at the moment. My partner will try to work around childcare, it's not always that easy.

If you have nothing to add, don't. I asked a civil question.

I was just asking what was worrying about it. The AET has been very low for as long as Uc has been around. They will pay up to 85% of childcare costs. I guess if actually accessing childcare is the problem then that won't help.

Apologies for being short earlier, just stressed about it all!

I can understand why some people take issue with individuals using the system to their advantage, I've never tried to. The reason we, as a family, transferred from legacy benefits to Universal Credit was because I wanted to work more. Unfortunately, due to many circumstances, the sector I am working in is not as busy and therefore hours aren't as plentiful as they once were. This time last year, I was working double what I am now.

Assuming the changes do go through, what happens then? I'm guessing my 20 hour contract wouldn't then cut it and I'd be pushed into taking another job? I'd be over the moon with a full time contract in my job, I love it, it just isn't available.

JonVarnas

KCJA1989 said:

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

What is worrying you? Is it unreasonable to expect both of a couple to work unless there is a reason they can't ?

Here was me thinking this wasn't a place for judgement.

I am contracted to 20 hours per week, I take as much overtime as I can, things are tight in my place of work at the moment. My partner will try to work around childcare, it's not always that easy.

If you have nothing to add, don't. I asked a civil question.

I was just asking what was worrying about it. The AET has been very low for as long as Uc has been around. They will pay up to 85% of childcare costs. I guess if actually accessing childcare is the problem then that won't help.

Assuming the changes do go through, what happens then? I'm guessing my 20 hour contract wouldn't then cut it and I'd be pushed into taking another job? I'd be over the moon with a full time contract in my job, I love it, it just isn't available.

Don't worry about it. The government love making these announcements that sound like they're going to beat claimants with a stick but in reality nothing much really changes. The jobcentre won't haul you over the coals, the worst case scenario would be that you might have to see a work coach for 15mins every couple of weeks just for a review. Contrary to belief, work coaches are pretty decent on the whole and mainly just want to be able to tick their boxes so as long as you allow them to do that they'll pretty much leave you to your own devices.

KCJA1989

JonVarnas said:

KCJA1989 said:

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Rubyroobs said:

KCJA1989 said:

Hi all,

Sorry to bump an old thread, just thought it would be better than creating new for a similar query.

Has there been any update on whether the "Growth Plan" changes will go ahead in January? We are currently still in the light touch category, but we would go below the proposed AET if pushed through in January. Worrying times.

Thanks a lot!

What is worrying you? Is it unreasonable to expect both of a couple to work unless there is a reason they can't ?

Here was me thinking this wasn't a place for judgement.

I am contracted to 20 hours per week, I take as much overtime as I can, things are tight in my place of work at the moment. My partner will try to work around childcare, it's not always that easy.

If you have nothing to add, don't. I asked a civil question.

I was just asking what was worrying about it. The AET has been very low for as long as Uc has been around. They will pay up to 85% of childcare costs. I guess if actually accessing childcare is the problem then that won't help.

Assuming the changes do go through, what happens then? I'm guessing my 20 hour contract wouldn't then cut it and I'd be pushed into taking another job? I'd be over the moon with a full time contract in my job, I love it, it just isn't available.

Don't worry about it. The government love making these announcements that sound like they're going to beat claimants with a stick but in reality nothing much really changes. The jobcentre won't haul you over the coals, the worst case scenario would be that you might have to see a work coach for 15mins every couple of weeks just for a review. Contrary to belief, work coaches are pretty decent on the whole and mainly just want to be able to tick their boxes so as long as you allow them to do that they'll pretty much leave you to your own devices.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm sure most of the coaches are realistic and the respect works both ways, just the fear of the unknown, I think. In our situation, next year our youngest will start nursery, my wife wants to then go out and work as well, so chances are we'd be fine.

Just always had a fear of being forced out of a job that I know and love into something else just because the guaranteed hours are higher, or the idea that if we don't do what we're told we can be sanctioned which would affect all finances - especially these days with every penny counting. Not saying I would ever purposely do something like that, guess it's all stress and fear!

My ideal scenario is to walk into work tomorrow and they decide to give me a guaranteed 35 hour a week contract, I'd sign on and be happy. 

huckster

@KCJA1989

The way the current Government looks at this may be that people should behave as if the benefit system did not exist. What would you do, if there was no Universal Credit payment each month ?  Presumably, you would keep talking to your current employers about a change to your contract or you may be forced to look for more work elsewhere.  And due to declining financial circumstances, if the employer was not able to offer more paid hours, you would start a second job or start a full time job elsewhere.

If you are earning below a threshold amount, you will start to be booked in for regular job centre appointments and yes if you failed to attend these without good reason, you could end up with the standard allowance being sanctioned.

I can see there being more pressure applied to ween people off benefits, as the Government try to reduce expenditure on a system that is supporting people not working the hours that they might be able to do each week.