Families on UC

Most of the problem nowadays is that it's become a lifestyle, not a stopgap.

The benefit bashing on here gets less subtle every day.

Most claimants do work, they’re not paid a wage decent enough to support themselves, despite working full time, so the state covers the difference, to compensate the employer. Google working tax credits and it explains it. It was a push for business to grow, but they didn’t, they just took advantage of the work force.

Doesn’t anyone feel guilty taking money from the state? I would unless I was in dire genuine need or had a disabled child or something. Able bodied adult bumbling along on benefits - I couldn’t look myself in the mirror taking money from taxpayers to support myself.

Some benefit claimants get too much, that covers their costs and more some! Whilst other claimants are not even given enough to heat the house and feed the children. Some children only have one decent meal a day at school as the family, or more to the point, single mother who works, doesn’t get enough support. That’s why during the 6 weeks holidays lots of children go hungry, because the low amount of benefits provided doesn’t cover the cost of the extra meal a day. Yet some claimants don’t have to worry about heating or eating, because they are given excess. The system is broken and needs an overhaul.

Every child should matter, not just certain ones.

I suppose the thing is those kids grow up and then you have no skills and have been
out the workplace for years. Also UC has changed and they will push for you both to work.

I claim UC, single parent, work full time, mortgage / house owner. I’ll probably be better off long term than those single parents who rent / work v part time / not at all. Although obviously get a lot less just now.

I would also say that the rent thing is a bit of a red herring. They don’t get that money it goes to a landlord who is profiting from a massive failure to invest in social housing. There was a thread the other day, £300k plus for someone raising kids in an ex council flat over 18 years. I bet they sold it for 10k back in
the day.

Once your child/children are over the age of 1 you are expected to attend interviews at the job centre and be prepared to return to work.
UC isn’t a great amount of money. Regardless of whether a parent stays at home to save on childcare there is still a cap on how much they can receive. There is an incentive to work with UC paying 85% of your childcare if you’re under the earnings limit, they want people in work.
Im a single parent who works and receives UC, when I was with my ex I didn’t qualify due to his earnings (Which weren’t great) so I have seen both sides.

Everyone has the same choices. You are free to quit working to SAHM too.

I don't see how the uncertainty of renting is beneficial to anyone.