No time for UC appointment

I was self employed and now started full time employment.

Have told UC but they want me to come in for an appointment during working hours to prove I've stopped self employment.

I have repeatedly told them I have just started this new job, long hours and it's not possible to get time off.

Can't I do it over the phone or something?
«1

Comments

  • How can you reason with UC?

    I literally can't take time off, I've just started this job.

    If I take a day off now it won't look good for my assessment period.

    I want to keep this job.
  • tomtom256
    tomtom256 Posts: 2,208
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Forumite
    You will need to provide sufficient evidence that you have ceased your self employment.

    You will need proof that you have told HMRC you have ceased being self-employed. Proof that any business accounts you may have had have been closed. Any business accounts with suppliers etc have been closed.

    A bit like when you declared you where self-employed you had to provide evdience showing this.
  • Some job centres are open later at night and Saturdays, see if theres one near you.
  • I was self employed and now started full time employment.

    Have told UC but they want me to come in for an appointment during working hours to prove I've stopped self employment.

    I have repeatedly told them I have just started this new job, long hours and it's not possible to get time off.

    Can't I do it over the phone or something?

    You don't have to close your self employment if you don't want to. Your employed earnings will reduce your MIF - probably to zero if your employed job is long hours (I assume by that you mean full time).

    Just spend the few minutes each month reporting self employed earnings of zero if you don't do any.

    Then leave the appointment for a time when you can get time off.

    In fact you don't have to prove that you have ceased self employment to remove MIF, just that self employment is no longer your main employment.
  • You write in your journal AND payments section (to cover a thick and delayed at reporting HMRC)

    You then have to hope you are aren't on a silly ride like the "health journey" pending accessment (once probably known as "vulnerable job seeker") in order for your local job centre to simply be able to close down.
  • Unfortunately this isn't an appointment that can be done over the phone as the jobcentre will need to review evidence of this. Is there a jobcentre close to your work (even if this isn't your usual jobcentre) you could get to in a lunch break or right after or before work? Sometimes they'll bend the rules and let you have an appointment at a different jobcentre for these reasons.


    I'd also take a close look at the jobcentre opening times and see if there's anywhere you can fit in an appointment before or after work. Some jobcentres are also open on Saturdays.


    You need to report all changes to your work promptly which you've done correctly. Some changes also need to be verified which this one does. If this is too much of a hassle for you, since you're now in full time employment with such long hours you might also want to look at whether it's worth just closing your UC claim now as it's a requirement of UC to be able to attend mandatory appointments.
    Amount left to pay on house = 64,400.

    Savings buffer = 1,028.75 of 2415.

    Next large expense = 159 of 483.
  • What if somebody just can’t get time off because they are working full time?

    There must be options for those in full time work?
  • Can somebody just call into the job centre just before 5pm one day unannounced if they can make it early from work one day?
  • Ask the job centre if there is another JC that opens late or Saturdays, some do.
  • NedS
    NedS Posts: 3,579
    First Anniversary First Post Name Dropper
    Forumite
    DannyGold wrote: »
    What if somebody just can’t get time off because they are working full time?

    There must be options for those in full time work?


    UC requires you to attend appointments. You are expected to take time off work to attend. As others have said, some jobcentres may offer appointments outside of 9-5 but many others do not.


    DannyGold wrote: »
    Can somebody just call into the job centre just before 5pm one day unannounced if they can make it early from work one day?


    You can try. Some will accommodate you, others may not. It will depend on the reason for your visit. In the case of the OP, an appointment regarding self employment is an hour long with a specialist self employment work coach, so turning up at 4.50pm when the jobcentre shuts at 5pm without an appointment isn't going to get you anywhere other than an offer to book you an appointment.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 342.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 249.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 234.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 172.8K Life & Family
  • 247.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.8K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards