Page 3 | Friend earns as much as me on benefits

NattyFinch · 2025-02-04T20:21:18+00:00

I felt really shocked and conflicted after a discussion with a friend recently that revealed that she receives over £2000 a month on benefits for 2 children while I work full time as a single parent with one child for a similar amount (once I’ve paid all my taxes, ni etc). It stemmed from her saying she was going for ivf treatment at 48 at a total cost of £8000. I’m supportive as a friend and try not to be a judgmental person but this just seems unjust when I’ve worked so hard to stay in employment and raise my son single-handedly for 12 years. She doesn’t want to move to England because if the ivf is successful she will get more money to stay in Scotland. AIBU to think this is all bonkers ?!

LastTrainsEast · 05/02/2025 22:22

Have we had this one yet? "My neighbour gets a free car and he doesn't even look disabled"

It's pretty obvious that no one would be posting about a close friend so these are always about neighbours etc and that means you know bugger all about their circumstances.

It's not even that people want more money for themselves. They want someone else to have less than they have and they're not going to let facts get in their way.

torreli · 05/02/2025 21:40

PandoraSox · 05/02/2025 08:57

My husband gets PIP. We spend it on cocaine and BDSM clubs.

Me too

Sharptonguedwoman · 05/02/2025 21:39

NoOneKnowsWhoYouAre · 05/02/2025 21:13

She could have a possibility of career advancement. It would be easy. Just getting a job would significantly advance her career

Show quote history

Fair

BrightYellowTrain · 05/02/2025 21:25

NoOneKnowsWhoYouAre · 05/02/2025 21:12

Agreed, and yet somehow from reading some of these posts, we are meant to feel sorry for people on benefits for "only" getting £2k a month when they have 2 kids because "some of its for rent" , but people who actually go to work for that £2k a month (who also have to pay rent) should shut up moaning about it.

Even though they don't get free school meals or free prescriptions etc. At the moment people can end up worse off working.

Unless there is an actual disability that stops someone working then benefits should not pay as much or more as working.

Show quote history

Someone earning £2k would still get some benefits (a not insignificant sum) on top of their £2k earnings if they had the same circumstances as those receiving £2k in benefits without working.

XenoBitch · 05/02/2025 21:19

NoOneKnowsWhoYouAre · 05/02/2025 21:13

She could have a possibility of career advancement. It would be easy. Just getting a job would significantly advance her career

Show quote history

Depends on the job. Cleaning an office... no advancement there,

NoOneKnowsWhoYouAre · 05/02/2025 21:13

Sharptonguedwoman · 05/02/2025 08:26

You will have a workplace pension and the possibility of career advancement. She will not.

Show quote history

She could have a possibility of career advancement. It would be easy. Just getting a job would significantly advance her career

NoOneKnowsWhoYouAre · 05/02/2025 21:12

miliop · 05/02/2025 07:37

How is it ok that lower-paid, hard-working people see their tax money go towards supporting people who could, but don't want to work?

And then, those hard-working people have to put up with shit, underfunded public services because so much of the tax take is going towards those people who don't want to work.

There are plenty of jobs out there. There are plenty of people who could work, but prefer not to. And the state says, 'ah, well, no worries, we'll give you roughly the same amount anyway, so take it easy'.

Agreed, and yet somehow from reading some of these posts, we are meant to feel sorry for people on benefits for "only" getting £2k a month when they have 2 kids because "some of its for rent" , but people who actually go to work for that £2k a month (who also have to pay rent) should shut up moaning about it.

Even though they don't get free school meals or free prescriptions etc. At the moment people can end up worse off working.

Unless there is an actual disability that stops someone working then benefits should not pay as much or more as working.

Plaided · 05/02/2025 20:19

pensionconfusion1 · 05/02/2025 14:16

My friend had IVF at 48 - and it cost less than that abroad.

Show quote history

It was cheaper in the UK than it was abroad? That is very unusual.

Locutus2000 · 05/02/2025 20:16

XenoBitch · 05/02/2025 20:13

I will let my dog's favourite park mate's owner's hairdresser know that she should get on this quick too.
She has 2 kids by 4 different dads, has a car on the motibilty scheme - a Lamborghini that has such high maintenance costs that that it has it's own PIP payment. She holidays so much, she is out of the UK for 60 weeks each year.
When she is here, she buys all her food and drinks from Starbucks, and stands in the street after, prodding people and laughing at them.... saying they are are gullible tax payers that are giving her free coffee.

Show quote history

I like where this thread is going.

XenoBitch · 05/02/2025 20:13

GoldFishPocketWatch · 05/02/2025 18:04

Ooh I need to get down to CAB and claim this!

Show quote history

I will let my dog's favourite park mate's owner's hairdresser know that she should get on this quick too.
She has 2 kids by 4 different dads, has a car on the motibilty scheme - a Lamborghini that has such high maintenance costs that that it has it's own PIP payment. She holidays so much, she is out of the UK for 60 weeks each year.
When she is here, she buys all her food and drinks from Starbucks, and stands in the street after, prodding people and laughing at them.... saying they are are gullible tax payers that are giving her free coffee.

flirtygirl · 05/02/2025 20:05

Well, you need to change your thread title and post as she's obviously not a friend.....

PandoraSox · 05/02/2025 20:02

GoldFishPocketWatch · 05/02/2025 18:04

Ooh I need to get down to CAB and claim this!

Show quote history

Don't forget to claim your free goat!

GoldFishPocketWatch · 05/02/2025 18:04

CarnivorousHipPain · 04/02/2025 20:36

Oh that's nothing. My friend on benefits gets paid £5000 a month, has minus two children (so plenty of spare time!), two chefs, a WW2 tank on her drive, and on top of that she burns DWP workers' furniture for firewood.

Ooh I need to get down to CAB and claim this!

oldandknackerd · 05/02/2025 15:30

The basic elements of UC( not including c/tax and rent ) works out at roughly £75 pp pw (based on one adult and 2 kids) This has to pay all food,travel,clothing,school uniform,shoes and bills not to mention replacing essential household appliances ,general wear and tear household maintenance etc.

It's hardly a fortune when you break it down and doesn't really pay for a life of luxury either .

DragonFly98 · 05/02/2025 15:12

Ziggy30 · 04/02/2025 21:05

Don’t get me started! My SIL has 3 children to 2 different fathers. Claims almost £6000 because each child has ‘some sort of additional need’ - they really don’t! I don’t make half of that, nor do DH and myself make that combined! She complains about her 3 bedroom house and is entitled to a 4 bed house, according to her. Belittled me for ‘only spending £150ish on my DC at Christmas because she had spent £2500 on one child alone! Never worked a single day in her life.

Maybe a little bitter but I can’t wait until the kids are older and she gets next to nothing!

I think it’s about time we stop and give out naff all to those who play the system. They should be house in a hotel like structure with a studio apartment with bunk beds and necessities. A canteen to cater for them. No need to give them any money whatsoever. Why should people who don’t work be able to afford multiple holiday, £1000’s on Christmas pressies, new cars, etc! They might actually be inclined to get off their lazy arse and do something. And not just reproduce for the money!

This way people who genuinely need help because they are going through a rough patch; in between jobs, unforeseen medical conditions/sickness, etc, can actually get the help they need.

Rant over!

What a horrendous attitude. And those children mist definitely do have significant needs. Dla isn’t easy to get , it’s not enough to fit example have a diagnosis of autism. Your child has to also have care needs much greater than an average child l, and show evidence of those from health professionals and schools.

mumof1x99 · 05/02/2025 14:56

@Lovebirdslovetea hey, my child doesn't have autism. He has a severe physical disability but he's neurotypical. He will be able to manage his own disability as he gets older, he will gain more independence and I will no longer have to claim benefits then

Lovebirdslovetea · 05/02/2025 14:52

mumof1x99 · 05/02/2025 14:27

I get around 36,000 a year total on benefits with 1 disabled child (including his DLA). Tbh I can see why it makes people angry, £3000 a month is a lot but that doesn't mean I shouldn't claim what's out there available for me.

Autism could be caused by heavy metals, toxins in food, and other environmental causes. But basically it isn’t your fault and now your child has a lifelong disability that causes him issues in his daily life. Think of it as compensation (edited to say sorry but for some reason I thought I read your child has it but maybe not, either way the point is still the same)

Leilanii · 05/02/2025 14:35

mumof1x99 · 05/02/2025 14:27

I get around 36,000 a year total on benefits with 1 disabled child (including his DLA). Tbh I can see why it makes people angry, £3000 a month is a lot but that doesn't mean I shouldn't claim what's out there available for me.

Would the angry people be happy to swap the care needs of their NT child for yours though?

It's only when you compare the two that you realise how much more you actually have to do for a child with a disability.

mumof1x99 · 05/02/2025 14:27

I get around 36,000 a year total on benefits with 1 disabled child (including his DLA). Tbh I can see why it makes people angry, £3000 a month is a lot but that doesn't mean I shouldn't claim what's out there available for me.

pensionconfusion1 · 05/02/2025 14:16

Plaided · 04/02/2025 20:47

Also, no ivf place will take on a 48yr old for that little money. It’s not worth their stats. Either she or you are fibbing a little.

My friend had IVF at 48 - and it cost less than that abroad.

ColourBlueColourPurple · 05/02/2025 14:06

Kindofembarrasing · 05/02/2025 13:27

2 kids= about 600
One adult =311
The 800 rent you mentioned= 800

Comes to 1711 universal credits which sounds about right from my past experience of being unemployed. I'm not sure where you got the extra 400 in your calculation from. You don't get any extra for a third kid

Show quote history

Yes but universal credit isn't the only benefit she'll be getting. Her benefits in total will be -

1 adult = £393
2 children = £621
Rent = £800
Council tax = £83
Child benefit = £184
Scottish child payment = £231.

All verifiable on entitled to if you want to double check.

heyhopotato · 05/02/2025 13:58

Locutus2000 · 05/02/2025 13:15

Most of mine goes on a legal cannabis prescription and my plane.

Show quote history

have you considered switching to something marginally more ecofriendly, like a yacht

Crikeyalmighty · 05/02/2025 13:42

@jessycake I agree- and these folks will have a very nasty shock when children are over 18 -

PandoraSox · 05/02/2025 13:42

Leilanii · 05/02/2025 13:38

Swingers BDSM or normal BDSM?

Show quote history

Special swingers club for folk on disability benefits. There are loads of us getting off on hard working tax payers money.

Leilanii · 05/02/2025 13:38

PandoraSox · 05/02/2025 08:57

My husband gets PIP. We spend it on cocaine and BDSM clubs.

Swingers BDSM or normal BDSM?