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Original poster

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

358 replies

Balicious · 25/09/2026 14:37

I was listening to BBC Radio 5 Live at work yesterday morning. They were discussing the Conservatives’ proposal to stop people spending benefits on alcohol, cigarettes, etc.—but that isn’t what my question is about.
One caller said she earns £34,000 a year as a trainee social worker and receives an additional £500 a month in Universal Credit. She didn’t mention having children, paying rent or having a disability—she simply said she struggles to live on £34,000 and needs Universal Credit to top up her wages.
What is going on? That’s more than I earn! Could I apply for a top-up too? Has anyone else heard of someone working full-time and earning well above minimum wage having their salary topped up by Universal Credit? I just couldn't get over what I was hearing!

OP posts:
Therewegothen · Yesterday 07:28

EvieBB · Yesterday 00:51

It is of you're on minimum wage

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Only relatively. Objectively £34k isnt even an average salary, let alone an average household income.

Youneedas · Yesterday 06:55

SkyRaisin · 25/09/2026 20:37

Ditto

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How old are you @SkyRaisin ?

SimplySoo · Yesterday 06:50

One third of Universal Credit claimants work and earn wages.

You should do a benefit check OP. The cost of living is so high, make sure you get help you're entitled to.

EvieBB · Yesterday 05:43

karrabee · Yesterday 00:59

I earn over 40k and get uc. Childcare, rent and disabled child...

Are you a single parent?

karrabee · Yesterday 00:59

I earn over 40k and get uc. Childcare, rent and disabled child...

EvieBB · Yesterday 00:51

aliceyyyy2654 · 25/09/2026 20:17

Why do you think 34k is a high salary? It isn’t

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It is of you're on minimum wage

Namemechangey · Yesterday 00:30

It’s shocking how wages have stagnated while prices have inflated so much.
where is the money going ? It’s not going to the workers, it’s going to shareholders and ceos.
wages haven’t risen for 20 years, it’s disgusting how much they are suppressed. And now suppressed to the point that the government has to subsidise people’s wages so they can have a basic standard of living. While money gets siphoned off to shareholders and investors and wages just stagnate.

Therewegothen · Yesterday 00:14

I earn significantly more than that and I'm entitled to the childcare element of UC, it literally pays the wrap around costs. If I didn't have wrap around/childcare costs then I wouldn't be able to claim.

researchers3 · 25/09/2026 23:19

PrettyLittleRose · 25/09/2026 14:53

I don't think £34K is a lot these days. I would have agreed with you 10 years ago. Even 5. YABU.

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Exactly.

aliceyyyy2654 · 25/09/2026 22:30

CeciliaMars · 25/09/2026 22:15

Better job than a teacher / nurse/ midwife near or at the top of the pay scale? Look at it this way. When I first started teaching 20 years ago, the top of the main pay scale was £30k. Full time minimum wage was £10k, so a third. Now top of the main pay scale is about £46k, and full time minimum wage is £26k, which is 56% of the experienced teachers’ pay. People on minimum wage then invariably get topped up by UC and all the associated benefits. So the gap between minimum wage and experienced professionals with a degree is getting smaller and smaller. What’s the actual point of getting these qualifications and having a stressful job anymore?

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I was being sarcastic in response to the poster who suggested those living in expensive areas and struggling should ‘just move’

CeciliaMars · 25/09/2026 22:15

aliceyyyy2654 · 25/09/2026 20:28

Can you not just get a better job?

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Better job than a teacher / nurse/ midwife near or at the top of the pay scale? Look at it this way. When I first started teaching 20 years ago, the top of the main pay scale was £30k. Full time minimum wage was £10k, so a third. Now top of the main pay scale is about £46k, and full time minimum wage is £26k, which is 56% of the experienced teachers’ pay. People on minimum wage then invariably get topped up by UC and all the associated benefits. So the gap between minimum wage and experienced professionals with a degree is getting smaller and smaller. What’s the actual point of getting these qualifications and having a stressful job anymore?

Coconutter24 · 25/09/2026 21:46

cadburyegg · 25/09/2026 15:01

I earn just over that with 2 kids and receive about £200 pcm UC

Would you like a pitchfork ?

What a stupid response to OP asking if she is being unreasonable to be surprised by (wrongly) thinking a woman with no children would get UC whilst earning £34k

catspam79 · 25/09/2026 21:20

roaringdragon · 25/09/2026 20:18

Unless they have another element, a single person on £34k with 1 DC wouldn’t be eligible for UC. That applies even if they don’t have any savings/other capital.

The calculation is:
Standard element £424.90
Child element £351.88
=Total UC award £776.78

Say earnings of £2.5k per month (which is more than £34k would be but for ease of calculation) - work allowance
£2500 - £710 = £1790

Earning deduction
£1790 x 0.55 = £984.50

So, as you can see, the earning deduction would wipe out the UC award.

The elements are slightly less if the single adult is younger than 25 or their DC wasn’t born before 6/4/2017.

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exactly this

catspam79 · 25/09/2026 21:17

Plsfindattached · 25/09/2026 19:49

So there’s other detail behind quite simply….

I am a single parent of one dependent child on £34k a year

because if that was the case, you would be entitled to UC @catspam79

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Okay so I’m lying?

Pluto46 · 25/09/2026 20:56

Anyahyacinth · 25/09/2026 20:06

Grenfell? Accountability for the private sector?

Privatisation ..water?You seriously believe this private sector is credible, efficient or cost effective?

US healthcare charges over the NHS? This is such an ill informed post

Just look at the breast care scandal in the UK this week and see where the profit motive takes you …or kids dying in the US because an inhaler jumps from $69 to $699 in a month…yes 1 inhaler. Or a $200 dollar fee to be handed your baby you just gave birth too

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The private sector is massive compared with the public sector so there will clearly be some example . The NHS has had more scandals and cover ups than you can shake a stick at and whistle blowers are systematically demonized - you'd be hard pressed to find more institutionalized toxicity which has gone unchallenged for decades.

XenoBitch · 25/09/2026 20:56

It always baffles me how £34k is not seen as enough to live on, so you get top up... yet if you are unable to work you are expected to manage on just over £800pm (now less for new claimants). And if you are between jobs, £400pm.
That is why with UC, it pays to work. You actually get more help if you have a job.

But yeah, a single person with no kids is not going to get a top up. They just get told to work more or live in an HMO.

Kettledodger · 25/09/2026 20:43

conun · 25/09/2026 20:39

I suspect those who think 34K is a well paid job own their houses outright or have tiny mortgages.

For people paying upwards of £900 a month in housing costs it’s not a lot.

This is what we pay East Midlands. London/Birmingham etc so so much more expensive

A lot of middle class Mumsnet don’t have a clue

aliceyyyy2654 · 25/09/2026 20:40

conun · 25/09/2026 20:39

I suspect those who think 34K is a well paid job own their houses outright or have tiny mortgages.

For people paying upwards of £900 a month in housing costs it’s not a lot.

Exactly right, rent around here for a 1 bed flat is £1700+. Many posters on mumsnet are completely out of touch with reality.

conun · 25/09/2026 20:39

I suspect those who think 34K is a well paid job own their houses outright or have tiny mortgages.

For people paying upwards of £900 a month in housing costs it’s not a lot.

aliceyyyy2654 · 25/09/2026 20:39

SkyRaisin · 25/09/2026 20:37

Ditto

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Mature 😂😂

SkyRaisin · 25/09/2026 20:37

aliceyyyy2654 · 25/09/2026 20:28

Can you not just get a better job?

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Ditto

aliceyyyy2654 · 25/09/2026 20:28

SkyRaisin · 25/09/2026 20:21

There is no way those on £45k should be busting a gut in jobs that have more stress to fund others just getting given the difference. It needs to stop!

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Can you not just get a better job?

sandwalk · 25/09/2026 20:27

Kettledodger · 25/09/2026 20:24

That is definitely a recent phenomenon

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People maybe use AI to gather information about posters so best to

Kirbert2 · 25/09/2026 20:26

roaringdragon · 25/09/2026 20:24

Many will be eligible for those, yes, but the poster I quoted was responding to a single parent with 1 DC who said she isn’t eligible, and the poster I quoted said “a single parent on £34k with a dependent and presuming fits the parameters - would get UC.” so I was explaining that it is possible for a single parent with 1 DC to not be eligible even if they earn £34k.

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Ahhh, yes, sorry. I misread!

Kettledodger · 25/09/2026 20:24

SkyRaisin · 25/09/2026 20:22

I change my name every time I post as do many.

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That is definitely a recent phenomenon