Accept commitments in person interview booked when I’m working?

R200

Just had an appointment that I have to go and accept commitments in a JC a long way away from me. It’s booked at a time when I’m working so I have told them this but no reply yet.

is it a new thing or something usually I just do it online?

huckster

Might be to do with how employment was reported.

What did you actually report ?

Zero hours contract ?

Annual amount? If so, how much.

Normally if employment is reported for full time hours at or above the CET of 35 hours per week at national minimal wage, the claimant commitments are automatically added.

If you have booked commitments appointment this suggests UC not confident your earnings will be at CET within assessment period.

R200

Yes sometimes earnings a little under CET.

normally just over but if my boss closes the business for any reason then we all are forced to take days off.

some months my earnings are lower than CET through no fault of my own

NedS

If your earnings are below the CET, then you will fall into the Intensive Work Search regime and will be expected to attend jobcentre appointments to agree commitments based around looking for more work. Unfortunately it's a hard inflexible threshold - your earnings are either under it or over it each month.

If you are working at the time of your appointment, you should let your work coach know in advance and offer times when you are available and not working, or inform the jobcentre of your shifts and the times you are working so they can arrange appointments around your working pattern.

R200

NedS said:

If your earnings are below the CET, then you will fall into the Intensive Work Search regime and will be expected to attend jobcentre appointments to agree commitments based around looking for more work. Unfortunately it's a hard inflexible threshold - your earnings are either under it or over it each month.

If you are working at the time of your appointment, you should let your work coach know in advance and offer times when you are available and not working, or inform the jobcentre of your shifts and the times you are working so they can arrange appointments around your working pattern.

Is this a change?

it used to be if you fall just under occasionally then you would go on soft touch for that assessment period?

you seem to be saying that they have done away with soft touch and now it’s straight to intensive work search requirements?

Jyana

R200 said:

NedS said:

If your earnings are below the CET, then you will fall into the Intensive Work Search regime and will be expected to attend jobcentre appointments to agree commitments based around looking for more work. Unfortunately it's a hard inflexible threshold - your earnings are either under it or over it each month.

If you are working at the time of your appointment, you should let your work coach know in advance and offer times when you are available and not working, or inform the jobcentre of your shifts and the times you are working so they can arrange appointments around your working pattern.

Is this a change?

it used to be if you fall just under occasionally then you would go on soft touch for that assessment period?

you seem to be saying that they have done away with soft touch and now it’s straight to intensive work search requirements?

I'm not aware of any massive changes since your last thread on the subject a few months ago. Yamor in particular (though lots of excellent advise from others too!) laid out the regulation to you in their comment on 25th Jan in one of the below linked posts 

Just so people are aware and old ground is rehashed yet again, OP has been part of several long discussions regarding this topic already in the past, two examples below but I'm sure there's more in their comment history too. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6458185/new-uc-rules-this-september/p1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6501200/light-touch-getting-heavy-touch

NedS

R200 said:

NedS said:

If your earnings are below the CET, then you will fall into the Intensive Work Search regime and will be expected to attend jobcentre appointments to agree commitments based around looking for more work. Unfortunately it's a hard inflexible threshold - your earnings are either under it or over it each month.

If you are working at the time of your appointment, you should let your work coach know in advance and offer times when you are available and not working, or inform the jobcentre of your shifts and the times you are working so they can arrange appointments around your working pattern.

Is this a change?

it used to be if you fall just under occasionally then you would go on soft touch for that assessment period?

you seem to be saying that they have done away with soft touch and now it’s straight to intensive work search requirements?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with "soft touch". There is a Light Touch regime for those earning above the AET but under the CET. In hind sight, I got confused above, thinking earnings had dropped below the AET (not CET) - sorry for the confusion

R200

It’s all so convoluted on purpose.

earning between £800 and £1000 per month. I think this is hovering just above but sometimes just below the AET, CET or another one which is NMW x 35hrs for couples 

The 2024 NLW rate is £11.44. This x 35hrs = £400.40.

so we do earn above that most months.

i wish it was simple and easy to understand 

R200

Claimants earning above the AET but below the CET are placed in the “Light Touch” group where they may receive some form of support from a Work Coach.

”you seem to be saying that they have done away with soft touch and now it’s straight to intensive work search requirements?”

poppy12345

R200 said:

Claimants earning above the AET but below the CET are placed in the “Light Touch” group where they may receive some form of support from a Work Coach.

”you seem to be saying that they have done away with soft touch and now it’s straight to intensive work search requirements?”

Why are you posting the same question again, Ned’s already answered you. 

There’s never been a “soft touch” it’s light touch. 

R200

So now they have moved my partners appointment but mine is still the old one

can I request we both come at the same time? Surely it’s better for them as well more efficient