AIBU to be surprised someone on £34,000 receives Universal Credit?

I’ve just made a calculation. If I become a single parent with 1 child, I’ll be getting £1400pm from UC while working FT NHS band 3 job in London. It means I’ll be getting £3900pm take home.
It’s an equivalent of £62500 gross salary so around band 7 pay give or take.

Even with rent around 2400 it’s OK’ish, I guess? I didn’t check if I’ll still have to pay council tax or the council will pay for me.

I can’t believe actually, maybe I’ve screwed the online form?

My husband earns £47k a year and we receive £1k a month in UC.

If someone is claiming UC with that wage, it means they are likely getting the housing element and/or childcare element.

How can someone budget when rents and childcare prices are so high?

If people were paid better, there wouldn’t be a need for such a system!

The outrage is always aimed at the same people, by the same narrow minded people. The benefit system fits a purpose, ensuring the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor! They don’t pay enough for people to save towards their own homes, but hike up the rent for renters ensuring private landlords are kept well in pocket.

If people looked to reason and not to judge, it really isn’t difficult to see what is going on! The government have created this situation for a reason; to make the rich more money. It really is THAT simple.

In a lot of countries people get tax rebates for dependents which we don’t in this country. For some people at the top of the scale where they receive UC it’s going to be covered by their tax and NI contributions. Then as they keep working and the children get older their tax and NI will be able to cover other services.

A friend earns £1800 pm, single Mum to one child and not eligible for UC so I can't see how this can be true?

You should not need benefits if you are on 34 grand a year. What they need is advice on how to budget

Are you saying it's reasonable for someone earning a whopping £34,000pa to be claiming public money also. If that isn't enough they need a serious sit down to sort out their finances

Get frustrated or angry or upset with the employers that are keeping wages low

I get £36,000 and UC. 2 children, live alone with them. The uc is very helpful. Don’t drink or smoke. Only hobby is gym. Get off your high horse

She has children and is entitled to help with childcare and housing costs. Have you not seen the cost of sky high rent lately? She is working to improve her life not sitting on her bum doing nothing. I see no issue here.

So prob not unreasonable but maybe a little blinkered as to how life is for others.

If you go onto a benefit checker calculator it will show what someone can get.
I am sure she will have had children.
I used to get a top up of UC on a similar salary. But only when I rented. Now I have a montage I dont get any and bills are higher.
A salary of 34k doesnt actually go very far at all once rent is paid/bills paid etc. Was she single?
I think people forget that single people's utility bills/rent/mortage/CT etc are much the same as a couple...its hard.
After paying all outgoings I have no spending money/no ability to save etc.

I know a family who get £1500.pw in UC that £78k a year cash! 7 kids renting 2 on DLA

As some replies suggest, you are just starting a potentially frenzied debate about benefits. This is old news and boring. You didn’t have all the facts so could not put forward considered point for discussion.

£1700 😣 what an absolute joke given the average salaries right?

Yes some MNetters are painfully clueless.

yeah I’d say this is the real scandal. That and escalating house prices.

I'm in my early 50s. Yes I've been on a little more at times but I have a history of depression/anxiety/chronic fatigue and low confidence/self esteem (childhood sa and lots of criticism and lack of praise at home) so despite doing well academically at school (top grades at GCSE and A levels) it just didn't translate to the real world due to confidence issues and never feeling good enough deep down or that I fit in (immigrant parents). I do wonder if I'm a bit autistic or maybe it's my foreign upbringing as I can't seem to banter in the same way as most English people do. Feel frustrated and held back when I have managers who are earning way more and not as academic but they have the people skills and a face that fits. :(
Frustrating and upsetting. Sorry, I'm having a "woe is me" moment!

It absolutely does...you get the extra disabled child element for the 2 and carers element for both. It helps because due to the kids care needs I can't work

How old are you? Always been on minim wage?

Minimum wage :(
Despite having A levels and an FE teaching qualification

What are you on?

If course you can apply.

Go on turn2us and do a benefit calculator

I wish I was on £34k

That doesn’t make sense tbh

You’re always better off working more. When I took a pay rise I became about £500 a month better off whilst claiming UC