Thousands of parents to 'benefit' from more work coach support

FROM 24 July 2023, parents of children aged:- 1 and 2, on Universal Credit, will start to benefit from meeting more frequently with work coaches to help them prepare for work. The appointments include exploring steps to improve their skills, identifying support needs, learning about childcare provision, and boosting their confidence. The meetings increase the opportunity to engage and encourage claimants to think about a job in the future, consider the steps they can take and secure jobs when their child is older.

Parents with a 1 year old will start to have a work focused meeting with their work coach every 3 months instead of the current every 6 months. Parents with a 2 year old meanwhile will start meeting with their work coach every month instead of the current every 3 months. Claimants will be told of the change at their next scheduled appointment with their work coach.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP, said:- "Thousands of parents of young children will start to meet their dedicated work coaches on a more regular basis. This extra support will help those on low incomes to think about and prepare for work while their child is young. We've already taken steps to support families by increasing the amount of help through Universal Credit and providing upfront childcare costs. Today's change is the latest example of how this Government is putting families 1st."

Helping parents return to work is part of the Government's continued efforts to drive down economic inactivity and get Britain working as we grow our economy. This announcement builds on support announced in June to boost childcare payments through Universal Credit by 47% and ensures working parents can get upfront childcare costs paid for.

Parents can now receive up to 85% of childcare costs back before their next month's bills are due; meaning they should have money to pay 1 month in advance going forward. This is part of the largest expansion in free childcare in history by the Government, worth �6,500 a year for an average working family using 30 hours a week.

1 person to already benefit from the boosted childcare offer is Mum of 3, Victoria, from the South West. Thanks to the increased childcare support via Universal Credit, she was recently able to accept her dream job as a teaching assistant in a special needs School.

Victoria; who previously worked part time; was worried that she wouldn't be able to claim more hours of free childcare, but after contacting her local Job Centre, she learnt of Universal Credit's updated assistance. She said:- "I love my new job and being able to claim 85% of the childcare costs back will make such a difference to my family."

In the Autumn, the Department for Work and Pensions will also increase the maximum work related activity and work availability expected of parents of children aged:- 3 to 12, to up to 30 hours. This will be tailored to a parent's individual circumstances, including:- the availability of local childcare.

This change and the change planned for the Autumn are expected to support over 700,000 parents who have the main responsibility of looking after their children.

But as many freelance and small business owners are pointing out, who have been forced onto on Universal Credit, that the policy to push people into meeting so called:- "work coaches" is already having major problems. We have had reports that small business owners are being treated badly by the "work coaches" who can not understand that many are in a catch 22 situation, thanks to a range of issues, from wage rises, to Brexit, along with Covid Loan Repayments, on top of energy price rises, just to point out a few issues. Many are not in a situation that means, if they close, they are made bankrupt, but if they use Universal Credit, they can keep the business running and employing others. We are very interested to hear your thoughts on this topic... Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:- Mastodon, Facebook, or Twitter.

10 ways tradespeople can reduce their day to day business costs

AN expert has shared 10 ways that tradespeople can reduce their day to day business costs, from fuel expenses to marketing.

The last few years have placed a lot of financial strain on tradespeople, with the cost of living crisis adding to the impact of rising material prices and Covid19.

As a result, many have tried to reduce their outgoings, and recent research by ElectricalDirect, a specialist retailer of electrical products, found that an increasing number of workers are repairing their own tools (16%), keeping kit for longer (27%) and minimising power tool usage (30%).

Having discovered that tradespeople spend an average of �1,110 on tools each year, ElectricalDirect spoke to Thomas Goodman, construction expert at MyJobQuote, to share advice on how to reduce this expense and cut a variety of other day to day costs.

1) Opt for quality over quantity... "Invest in good quality tools, particularly those you use regularly. While the initial outlay may be higher, quality products are less likely to fail or break. Ensure you take out tool insurance too."

2) Buy in bulk... "Materials are expensive but buying in bulk can help you save money. Getting quantity discounts on regularly used materials will keep costs down."

3) Know your expenses... "Research which expenses you're allowed to claim back on, so when it comes to filling in your tax return, you can get as many deductions as possible. Keep track of your deductible expenses weekly."

4) Consider employee fuel cards... "Use fuel cards for you and your employees. You can track how much you're paying in fuel and all invoices go directly to your business for use when you fill in your tax return."

5) Scout for van insurance... "Shop around for van insurance instead of using the same company every year and accepting an automatic renewal. Get a better deal through research or by negotiating your premium."

6) Use your vehicle as an advertisement... "Use your van for advertising as an alternative to other potentially expensive marketing options. It's basically a mobile billboard. Spend some money putting your business name, logo and contact information on your van to attract new customers."

7) Keep updated with the latest discounts... "Monitor your favourite suppliers to check for offers and discounts on materials that you use regularly. Sign up to receive offers automatically and take advantage of them when they're available."

8) Find the best phone and internet packages... "Make sure you also shop around for the best phone and internet deals, as these can make a real difference to your business expenses. Like your insurance, it pays to change providers occasionally to try and secure a better deal."

9) Automate your administration... "Business management software can greatly increase your efficiency and improve your productivity, by automating parts of your administration, such as invoicing, to save time and money."

10) Switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle... "Consider switching to an electric or hybrid vehicle, not only to reduce your carbon footprint, but also to save money on fuel costs."