Universal Credit - Working 26 hours but offered support with Work Coach

hueygeorge

Hi All
Until I get my head around the new terms surrounding UC - AET/CET etc,  I wanted to ask for advice on here.   I've recently had my migration notice from Tax Credits so I've made my UC claim.  I currently work 26 hours per week as a Teaching Assistant and I'm a single parent of a 12 year old.
I've had a message from UC asking if I would like any support with looking for work - I wanted to ask if this is something I can decline or do I need to accept?
With the brief Googling I've done I think I'm in the 'Light Touch' group,  but like I say,  I need to get my head around the new terms!
Thanks in advance

tifo

From September (now) UC is going to ask people who meet AET but not CET to increase their hours, think it's still light touch though. I don't know what your situation is with a child at 12.

hueygeorge

All these new abbreviations...🤣 I'm going to put an hour aside to get fully knowledgeable on my AET/CET etc. 

NedS

hueygeorge said:

Hi All
Until I get my head around the new terms surrounding UC - AET/CET etc,  I wanted to ask for advice on here.   I've recently had my migration notice from Tax Credits so I've made my UC claim.  I currently work 26 hours per week as a Teaching Assistant and I'm a single parent of a 12 year old.
I've had a message from UC asking if I would like any support with looking for work - I wanted to ask if this is something I can decline or do I need to accept?
With the brief Googling I've done I think I'm in the 'Light Touch' group,  but like I say,  I need to get my head around the new terms!
Thanks in advance

As mentioned above, the rules / hours are/were potentially due to change in Sept, and I'm not sure if they have changed yet or not, so I will not give advice and muddy those waters, but...

As a general principle on UC, it should be VERY clear when something is mandatory. It must state that it is mandatory and the consequences for failing to do it.

So, if a work coach have sent you a journal message asking if you would like extra support, and they have not booked a mandatory appointment to discuss this - you can decline.

If they have booked you an appointment, you can find details of the appointment in your ToDo list where you can click on the appointment and read the details. If it is a mandatory appointment it will state that it is mandatory and the consequences of failing to attend (e.g, failure to attend without good reason may affect your benefit payments). It should always state the purpose of the appointment or meeting, whether it is mandatory and any consequences of failing to attend.

TheShape

As the parent of a 12 year old you maximum expected hours of work are 25 hours.

If you are earning in excess of the equivalent of 25 hours at minimum wage per week you should be in the Working Enough-No Work Related Requirements work group.

It's possible that you don't earn enough to be over the threshold though if you are only paid for term time and your salary is averaged over the year.

Your CET should currently be the equivalent of 25 x National Minimum hourly wage which is £1128.83 per assessment period if my maths is correct.

AET should be £677 per assessment period.

When your child turns 13 the CET will increase to the equivalent of 35 x National Minimum hourly wage.

As NedS states, it should always be very clearly stated whether you are required to do something and whether you could receive a sanction for not doing so.