I want to get off benefits

CMS isn't counted as income.

The universal credit system was designed to make people feel like garbage. And all the rhetoric about scroungers, shirkers, hard working tax payers being ripped off etc. It erodes your self esteem over time. The old system was far more conducive to building a life and a future for working people who just needed a bit of help while their kids were small, it should never have been combined with unemployment benefits. I've got to say this thread has surprised me, usually the OP would have got a lecture about how she deserves to live on gruel and how anyone can do 60 hours a week down a mine and still have time for community work if they just put their mind to it by now.

You trained as a social worker but couldn’t cope with the work. You work in a school and think you might like teaching but fear that you couldn’t cope. There is a pattern here - low self confidence. What are you afraid of? What needs to happen for you to recognise your potential? There are lots of books about boosting self confidence, or ‘faking it till you make it’. You are bringing up three children on your own, which is no mean feat - so why do you think you are less capable than others?

Ah op, I could have written this word for word but only with one child. Part of me was devastated when I became a lone parent because I really wanted more kids but then there's part of me that knows it would be even harder to make ends meet with more. So I think you're doing amazing in a really tough situation.

I do feel a bit embarrassed sometimes about being a lone mum on benefits even though I also have multiple degrees, a 'good' career and work full time. The issue really is the sector we work in doesn't pay people a wage that reflects the level of specialism and training that goes into it, nor the emotional cost of the work. There's also the constant issue in the community sector of unstable funding where you never really get to feel secure. It's no reflection on you or I, in my previous role i was one step below ceo level and only earning about 5k more than you. In any other sector I'd be on so much more, especially considering the level of responsibility.

I ended up leaving a job I loved to move to another community based role which pays more but isn't fully utilising the specialist training i have and while I enjoy it, it's not my passion either. But it puts food on our table.

I met with a careers advisor after becoming a lone parent for advice. One thing that might be worth looking at for you is how your work could translate to universities. They often pay better, have decent hours and can be flexible with more stability. That was my plan before I had to move too far away from our local universities for it to be feasible. You probably have a really good cv for student support roles.

Either way, I agree sometimes the uc system feels hostile and while I totally agree the public purse needs to be protected, there's ways to go about it without making things harder for people than they need to be. Being out £50 for example when you're already on a tight budget is ridiculous and that needs to be looked at.

It's not your fault in anyway op. Your doing a very valuable job and should be paid more but due to wage stagnation in this country most of us are screwed. Fiscal drag is the pitts and the continued freezing of tax thresholds is absolutely horrid!!

Don't feel ashamed!!

MYOB. You know you just want to moan about your taxes and we all know it too.

Have you considered safeguarding job at football/sports sector which will pay more than a school.

https://www.uksport.gov.uk/global/jobs/uk-sport/2026/04/18/learning--development-projects-officer

www.uksport.gov.uk/jobs-in-sport/search-all-vacancies?q=Safeguarding%20&tags=176|164&uksp=1&ngb=1&sort=r

This safeguarding manager role is an old one from last year but it shows you the skills etc that you need to work towards a similar role. The salary range is more than £30k, you have a good skill set to apply for welfare and safeguarding roles in the sports sector.

The FA careers, look here periodically for safeguarding roles at football clubs or check your local club websites directly. Someone I know earns £60k as a safeguarding lead at a premiership club.

Oh my! I’ve just gone on to UC top up (I’m a secondary school TA with 3 children) now I’ll have these audits in the background. I just thought because I was working it would tick away nicely in the background but obviously not. How annoying!

My friend had this and they couldn't accept she did not have a passport or driving licence Passport and driving lessons were a luxury she could not stretch to

Why is he only paying £200 a month??? Have you gone to CMS? Doesn’t seem anywhere near enough.

I seem to have to give them 4 months of bank statements and other documents every month of 2. No idea why. I’m pretty sure nobody has reoported me and I have not done anything wrong.

The Job Centre staff are horrid.

In January, they put in one of their regular requests. The upload links were set up so I could not uplaod
all the files they asked for. I messaged them multiple times asking for new links so I could give them
what they wanted. More than a month later, they messaged me complaining I had not given them everything. They had (oh so generously) decided to extend my deadline and I had 3 days to provide them with the files, otherwise I’d be in trouble. I pointed out I had been asking for help for over a month….. no apology.

Lol

This is the only correct answer.

Done 25 years of it and recently retired. Wouldn’t wish teaching full time on my worst enemy.

This 100%. I’ll add that you’re doing an important job with lots of responsibility which your salary clearly doesn’t reflect.

I completely understand what you’re saying.im also on UC and they make me feel like a criminal sometimes

Firstly, please don't feel guilty? You are doing all you can from the sounds of it.

If you enjoy your career and are good at it, I would focus on that, grab hold of any additional training you can get (even if it's after hours on line stuff you voluntarily do, if that's commensurate with hour childcare responsibilities).

Our school has just appointed a non-teacher to be our overall DSL, I think that's happening more and more. She's excellent and very experienced and will be great at the role. You could keep your eye out for promoted posts like that. (I am assuming you are not a DSL at the moment from your wage - or if you are, perhaps at a small school?).

And you should be proud of the work you do, it's such an incredibly important job, and not one many people can do!

Some safeguarding experts in nhs are band 7, so high £40ks. Excel in the SG role and leave schools for other employers maybe?

That’s unacceptable!! My ex pays £136 a week for our one child.

I don't have any sensible practical help but I just wanted to say OP you sound great. You are parenting two children as a single parent, working full time doing a challenging job involving keeping children safe. It's terrible that wages aren't high enough for you to keep your family and that you are treated in this way.

Yes that's true. Why is that? Why don't the government take that in to consideration?