I want to get off benefits

You shouldn’t feel bad - if you work in a school all of your income is coming from from the government anyway. They’ve obviously set up their budgets in a nonsensical way such that they pay you partly through salary and partly through UC. If there was any logic they would pay you a sufficient salary to live off, and you wouldn’t need to claim UC - which would be a better scenario for everyone (you’d feel better, there would be less waste of money by people having to audit your circumstances, less admin of a claim).

You shouldn’t feel bad that the government is underpaying its employees so much that they can’t afford to live off the salary, and instead need to get a top up off another government department. It really is absurd.

As evidence to show the children live with you, from the GPS a summary care printout - free would show dcs addresses and "mum brought to clinic for earache on date". Free but up to 21 working days to produce.

For those asking about the link between benefits and maintenance..it was stopped decades ago because maintenance is so unreliable and apparently unenforceable that single parents were left in dire straights when tje NRPs didn't pay it. There are probably a few people in receipt of decent maintenance who maybe dont need benefits as a result but they'll be vanishing few compared to the ones who'd be royally stuffed if the link was reinstated.
In this scenario what's worse is that the ex is paying the 'right' amount according to his reported income. He's just doing what a lot of SE NRPs do and fiddling it.

Yeah I felt the same, the benefits system is designed to make you feel guilty imo.

My dd is older now so I don’t claim anymore but I did for her sake while she was younger.

You are exactly the kind of person benefits are for. Your ex is at fault.

This. It should be based on how much the child costs really and split between parents in an equitable way. My ex earns more than me by but only pays £400 a month for ds. That doesn't even cover half of the childcare bill so I can go to work never mind providing food heating clothes hobbies electric etc. I know £400 isn't to be sniffed at but it frustrates me that tax payers have to then make up the shortfall to keep us out of poverty because I'm left responsible whereas in other circumstances he'd be paying more if we were married and sharing bills equitably. Obviously I appreciate the stability of uc is the main thing and I know that will come in even if my child maintenance doesn't. There should be sanctions for parents who don't pay.

Your scumbag deadbeat ex is the criminal. Not you.

Don’t you dare feel guilty about needing benefits.

does that even cover half of your childcare expenses each month?

the problem is a system that lets men pay a pittance towards their children and leaves women to figure out how to survive.

It might be to do with the age of your child? Have you used the entitled to calculator or contacted a citizens advice service to check you're claiming everything you're entitled to? Might be worth checking!

Slightly off topic but an excellent read about who really benefits from the benefits system. Spoiler - not the people receiving benefits.

Government subsidising private landlords £70bn over next five years | New Economics Foundation https://share.google/HyaPYxZ0FTxY3l6np

You earn more than me. I have a child and get no child maintenance. Don't understand how you are entitled to UC when I wasnt

PPs saying the OP could/should get a better paid job are missing the point.

The point is that the OP is working full time yet is dependent on benefits in order to survive. If she wasn't doing that job, then someone would be, and that person would most likely be in the same position.

The economy in this country is completely broken, and I agree with the PP who raised the issue about where housing benefit ends up i.e. in the pockets of landlords.

You are almost me. I'm single parent to 4. I did a safeguarding role in a school after taking a break from social work. It was shitty money and I couldn't make the numbers work at all with UC top up and child maintenance. I have a mortgage as well.
So I went back to social work was selective about what team I went into. A big part of how you can cope with social work is management. If I were you I'd try a new team. It's working well for me and lifted my salary by fifty per cent
School work was also quite boring for me. I'm glad I left and went back to using my training

I agree with this, many safeguarding roles pay a lot more. I’ve seen one today advertised in the North East for over 50K. MATs and other organisations advertise these roles and are a route to earning more in the same field.

If you have a social work degree, you could look into CAMHS. They are often looking for qualified social workers and it pays a little bit more. Plus there is opportunity for progression eventually

If you have a social work degree, you could look into CAMHS. They are often looking for qualified social workers and it pays a little bit more. Plus there is opportunity for progression eventually

You're working full time so don't feel guilty, your not playing the system on 16 hours.

I think you need to chat to your children father and tell him he needs to give you more than £200 a month. £200 a month for 2 kids is horrible. I know he is self employed and of course he is earning nothing. Meanwhile he probably has a nice car, house and is going on holidays.
See if you can get proof of this before talking to him. See what he puts up on social media or if he has a girlfriend see what she put up on social media also. Screen shots are your friend here. Then report him to the tax man saying how can he afford this when he just pays £200 CMS.

Tell him that £200 pm is to little for his 2 kids and it would be a pity if the tax man was made aware of the new car and holidays ect. A good tax audit and big tax bill with interest due won't suit him.

If he has a girlfriend turn up when he is with her and tell him in front of her that £200 a month is not enough to pay for his 2 kid's. I ring his parents and tell them how little he is giving you as well.
Why not go to his business premises and have a good fight in front of the staff about his lack of cash for his kids.

Tell the kids can't afford things and get them to keep ringing him looking for money. Better still ring his business premises looking for him and money. Tell who ever answers the phone there who you are why you ringing.
It about time this deadbeat dad was embarrassed.

You out there working and claiming benefits. You doing the best you can but if he paid more which he should be doing it would make things a bit easier. Also I would try to speak to a careers coach and see if you could avail of any training or what other jobs you could go for in order to earn more.

It’s not your job that’s the issue. You are doing fine there. It’s your ex not contributing more to the costs of raising the children. It’s disgusting that fathers still get away with paying the bare minimum. The system is broken and needs to change. You shouldn’t need to claim UC. Their dad should be paying more.

How about working towards a LADO job? I know someone who moved from school safeguarding to this. Salaries are more like £45-50K+ afaik.

The government don't take CMS into account so he could pay much more and it wouldn't affect UC

The safety net is there for everyone we all pay for this security including you. Your circumstances changed it happens relationships break down, people lose their job or become disabled that's life and it can happen to anyone of us at anytime. Don't feel guilty for this it won't be forever.

Me too, I’m working a min wage job full time, single parent to one dc, get UC top up and I’m not clever enough to retrain. Ex has lost job so no maintenance for over a year. HA rent luckily but in SE so still skint. Place is a dump, I still have no flooring and holes in every door from previous tenants but it’s “cosmetic” so I have to replace if I want a door without a hole in.
I have had enough, I’ve just started a 5 year plan and a savings account. In 5 years I plan to be living in NE and hopefully at least own a home. Min wage here is the same as min wage there and I’ll have more disposable income even if earning the same.
Of course it will be a wrench leaving family but they understand I need to do this. I want quality of life.