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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel the Disenfranchised have been Scapegoated.

186 replies

Gilead · 26/11/2025 17:28

Just fed up with a society that has become so incredibly selfish. The vilification of disabled people and the drubbing of benefit claimants whilst managing to forget that most of the people on universal credit are working families. Forgetting that most pensioners have worked and saved all their lives, some still paying tax. And let’s not forget those lazy bastards who are putting on an act in order to get a ‘free’ car.
I predicted this was the way we were headed on mumsnet in 2010. Got called all sorts of names, but, at that point in time people were a lot more understanding of the issues encountered by the disenfranchised.
If you want to come on here and tell me you don’t want to pay extra for someone else to have kids you can’t afford, research it first, look at the (myriad) reasons for this, the figures, the number of women who had extra children during the period. Then think how it would be if you suddenly became disabled, or more severely disabled.
Im off with my carer in a bit. In my Citroen C3 that actually cost me a wee bit more because I had to pay for the wheelchair hoist as well as the (approx) 350 quid every four weeks to cover the lease, and the insurance.

OP posts:
Lostthetastefordahlias · 26/11/2025 21:27

Gilead · 26/11/2025 19:12

@crossedlines how do you decide who has a mental illness and who doesn’t? How do you know whether or not someone is capable of work or not?

This is the issue in a nutshell isn’t it? These conditions are too easy to fake

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 21:26

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 21:25

They will only get benefits for 2 dc right now so your sums are wrong and remember to put the before tax earnings in

No because all 3 children are pre benefit cap age

And it's the net salary we each get that is relevant as that is what we actually get to live off

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 21:25

Quote from another thread for those who don't want to believe how much people can get

*This is lifted from the Guardian today looking at whether hypothetically people stand to lose or gain in today’s budget: ‘The Smith family have three children and live in a rented flat in the Midlands. Jack works 35 hours a week in a distribution centre and is paid the NLW. His partner Mia isn’t working. After tax and NI his take-home pay is £1,627 a month. This is topped up with a monthly universal credit and child benefit payment totalling £1,457.
Under the two-child cap parents could only claim universal credit or tax credits for their first two children. The decision to abolish this rule , and the uprating of benefits, mean the family should be able to claim £304 a month for their third child. They will also benefit from the 2026 uplift in the NLW.’ I read this to mean that this hypothetical family are now going to get more in UC than if the mum were working full time at the minimum wage. How on earth is that incentivising work? Their combined income with his salary and their new monthly UC amount will be £3381 (including the uplift for their 3rd child) It would take one salary of £52k to get that after tax. *

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 21:25

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 21:21

I put their wages into entitled to and it said they would get £1500 per month. They have 3 DC .

We do live in an area with expensive housing though (albeit hers is a lot cheaper than mine)

They will only get benefits for 2 dc right now so your sums are wrong and remember to put the before tax earnings in

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 21:21

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 21:18

Then they are committing benefit fraud as its not possible to earn £2000 per month and get £1500 per month in UC if you don't believe me put those wages into the benefit calculator plus 2 dc and the award will be 0 not £1500 per month
Edited to add that the £2000 per month wages would be after tax so their actual before tax income would be more

Edited

I put their wages into entitled to and it said they would get £1500 per month. They have 3 DC .

We do live in an area with expensive housing though (albeit hers is a lot cheaper than mine)

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 21:18

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 21:12

I've seen their bank statements. They earn £2k a month and get £1.5k in UC. It's not a lie. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

Then they are committing benefit fraud as its not possible to earn £2000 per month and get £1500 per month in UC if you don't believe me put those wages into the benefit calculator plus 2 dc and the award will be 0 not £1500 per month
Edited to add that the £2000 per month wages would be after tax so their actual before tax income would be more

KitTea3 · 26/11/2025 21:17

Ahhh

Fucking Reach Media

They own all of the "local" papers and I keep seeing out the same bullshit rage CLICKBAIT anti benefits rhetoric.

You'll notice they all post the exact same shit that usually isn't in anyway actual "news" and just is regurgitation of bullshit meant to divide everyone and drum up social media engagement from people frothing at the mouth at people getting so called "pip perks" 🤦🏼‍♀️

hazelnutvanillalatte · 26/11/2025 21:16

thatsalad · 26/11/2025 19:48

You're right about the other two, but I promise you someone who works 16h isn't living the high life on universal credit, UC tops up your earnings up to minimum wage and that's about it.

That doesn't count all the schemes and things you don't have to pay for though. Council tax, prescriptions, winter hardship fund, dental, housing element, after school and holiday clubs, holiday food vouchers. That's thousands in savings. There's even a savings account called right to save that doubles your payment.

hamstersarse · 26/11/2025 21:16

frogalo · 26/11/2025 21:14

I agree with you OP, it was ever thus. Its all a big distraction though, blame the migrants, blame the poor, blame the sick and disabled, blame the old or the young. They want people pointing the finger anywhere but at the real culprits and a surprising amount of people fall for it hook, line and sinker.

So why is the welfare bill so high in your view if it’s not immigrants or people swinging the lead?

frogalo · 26/11/2025 21:14

I agree with you OP, it was ever thus. Its all a big distraction though, blame the migrants, blame the poor, blame the sick and disabled, blame the old or the young. They want people pointing the finger anywhere but at the real culprits and a surprising amount of people fall for it hook, line and sinker.

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 21:14

edwinbear · 26/11/2025 21:12

But this is the issue isn’t it. They are working 16 hours a week safe in the knowledge the tax payer will pay ‘something towards their rent’. If they worked a few more hours they could pay their own rent.

Quite.
She's been offered a promotion and turned it down. She's been offered full time hours and turned them down

edwinbear · 26/11/2025 21:12

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 21:02

No they won't their wages are deducted from their allowance so someone working 16 hours per week is earning £195 per week or £879 per calendar month so they wont get any uc without dc other than something towards their rent.
If they have dc then their wages are deducted from their award at a rate of 55p per £1 they earn

But this is the issue isn’t it. They are working 16 hours a week safe in the knowledge the tax payer will pay ‘something towards their rent’. If they worked a few more hours they could pay their own rent.

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 21:12

thatsalad · 26/11/2025 21:05

Thanks! I don't get where these lies come from when anyone can use a benefits calculator online and prove this isn't true

I've seen their bank statements. They earn £2k a month and get £1.5k in UC. It's not a lie. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

hamstersarse · 26/11/2025 21:10

I’m sorry OP but I really hate posts like yours.

You expect everyone to have empathy with you, yet you show zero empathy for people who have put their heart and soul into a business, working hours that are most definitely illegal, only for the government to ruin their livelihoods with the stroke of a pen and a bullshit sound bite for the press.

Everyone should be united in reducing the welfare bill, it is astronomical. Even if it were cut to pre pandemic levels it would save £47 billion. There are many many many people taking the piss, it’s just fact, and posts like this don’t help this to stop,

thatsalad · 26/11/2025 21:05

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 21:02

No they won't their wages are deducted from their allowance so someone working 16 hours per week is earning £195 per week or £879 per calendar month so they wont get any uc without dc other than something towards their rent.
If they have dc then their wages are deducted from their award at a rate of 55p per £1 they earn

Thanks! I don't get where these lies come from when anyone can use a benefits calculator online and prove this isn't true

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 21:02

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 20:50

Add a few children into the equation and someone can be getting £1500 on top of their part time job. So £3000-£3500/pcm. Bringing their income neatly in like with the net income of a £50-60k a year job. Yet if someone on MN posts that they earn £50--60k a year and are struggling they are shouted at and told this is a high income -.and indeed ,they would be paying higher rate tax on anything over £50k yet the UC recipient gets this income untaxed.

Edited

No they won't their wages are deducted from their allowance so someone working 16 hours per week is earning £195 per week or £879 per calendar month so they wont get any uc without dc other than something towards their rent.
If they have dc then their wages are deducted from their award at a rate of 55p per £1 they earn

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 26/11/2025 21:01

People are pissed off at the huge amount of grifters who are sucking at the tit of the welfare state. You are not one of them but for every one of you that isn’t, there’s around five that are.

JHound · 26/11/2025 21:01

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 20:54

I know.
I am looking at moving to the private sector (because of constant below inflation pay rises in the public sector) and my plan was to put a hefty amount into my pension so I can build up a cushion to retire early if my disability gets worse. It seems bonkers to deter people from saving to look after themselves

Pick your private sector well - last year I got zero payrise!

JHound · 26/11/2025 21:00

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 20:54

I know.
I am looking at moving to the private sector (because of constant below inflation pay rises in the public sector) and my plan was to put a hefty amount into my pension so I can build up a cushion to retire early if my disability gets worse. It seems bonkers to deter people from saving to look after themselves

Same. I increased my pension contributions partly for tax but mainly to make sure I can have a sufficient retirement as current calculations are that I will have a shortfall (and that is ignoring the fact I am not on the property ladder….)

But apparently me trying to be responsible is a bad thing and I should instead have it to the government so they can hand me back a pittance in old age.

thatsalad · 26/11/2025 20:58

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 19:52

No , it really doesn't. I make £57k a year and my friend doing 16 hours on UC has the same income coming in as I do after tax . And she has cheaper (social) housing whereas I private rent

I'd love to see proof of that 😂

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 20:54

JHound · 26/11/2025 20:49

There is nothing wrong with putting money into pensions to avoid a higher tax rate or wanting avoid the 62% tax trap between 100-120k. Those on that are harder living uber wealthy lives.

There is currently a cap on what people can sacrifice into pensions tax tree. Reducing that to TWO THOUSAND pounds is moronic. They are forcing more people to be dependent on the state instead of taking charge of their own lives.

People should he putting thousands into their pension. We currently have a huge pensions shortfall with fewer people having enough for retirement. Why on earth are you applauding that being worse? This also impacts those putting into their pension at a “normal” rate and disincentivises employer contributions. Making more dependent on the state pension.

(and people pay tax when they end up drawing their pension).

Edited

I know.
I am looking at moving to the private sector (because of constant below inflation pay rises in the public sector) and my plan was to put a hefty amount into my pension so I can build up a cushion to retire early if my disability gets worse. It seems bonkers to deter people from saving to look after themselves

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 20:50

Hoardasurass · 26/11/2025 20:41

Basic uc is £400.14 power month and you lose 55p for every £ you earn until you earn the full allowance.
And before you mention housing benefit that doesn't even cover your rent in most areas if you privately rent so that extra comes out of your standard uc payment, does that really sound like living the high life or raking it in?

Add a few children into the equation and someone can be getting £1500 on top of their part time job. So £3000-£3500/pcm. Bringing their income neatly in like with the net income of a £50-60k a year job. Yet if someone on MN posts that they earn £50--60k a year and are struggling they are shouted at and told this is a high income -.and indeed ,they would be paying higher rate tax on anything over £50k yet the UC recipient gets this income untaxed.

JHound · 26/11/2025 20:49

HoskinsChoice · 26/11/2025 19:36

There's a difference between putting money into pensions at the normal rate and deliberately ploughing thousands into a pension purely to avoid paying higher rate tax. (Although it looks like that loophole is being closed thankfully!).

There is nothing wrong with putting money into pensions to avoid a higher tax rate or wanting avoid the 62% tax trap between 100-120k. Those on that are harder living uber wealthy lives.

There is currently a cap on what people can sacrifice into pensions tax tree. Reducing that to TWO THOUSAND pounds is moronic. They are forcing more people to be dependent on the state instead of taking charge of their own lives.

People should he putting thousands into their pension. We currently have a huge pensions shortfall with fewer people having enough for retirement. Why on earth are you applauding that being worse? This also impacts those putting into their pension at a “normal” rate and disincentivises employer contributions. Making more dependent on the state pension.

(and people pay tax when they end up drawing their pension).

Kleeneze · 26/11/2025 20:48

I think everyone who watched that question time thought that woman ought to have been working. It was pretty outrageous. But that’s how brazen people have become. It’s like an article the BBC posted a while back about PIP. One of the recipients admitted that she got cash that was supposed to go towards therapy and she just spent it on bills. She didn’t even have the intelligence to PRETEND she was putting the money to the right use. It’s like she didn’t even think she was supposed to spend it on getting better. Just so brazen. And galling.