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

@Katemax82clearly your DH earns a lot but disabled dc makes a big difference.

The system is designed to always be better off working - she would have lost 55p in the pound for that £1.00 - so £55 taken away from benefits - but £45 better off. Perhaps the 3 days extra AL was a more attractive option to her?

Yes

Surely as a person of normal intelligence you realised that if this person earns the same as you and you don’t get benefits, her circumstances must be different?

I can say that and you are wrong to say I shouldn’t have stated they wouldn’t be entitled. Perhaps you missed it but I did say ‘unless they have another element’. Unless there is another element, which not everyone has, someone earning £34k with 1 DC would not be eligible for UC. If they had eligible housing costs they would have another element. Therefore my post wouldn’t be relevant to them. I was merely pointing out the pp is wrong that everyone on £34k with 1 DC is eligible for UC. They aren’t.

The poster that said they weren’t eligible despite earning £34k and having 1 DC has quoted my post and said “exactly”, so they quite clearly don’t have any other elements and my post applies to them.

Who knows

Going by the reactions at the beginning of the thread - this woman was seen to be a "deserving" recipient of UC

If she had been someone who didnt work but was a carer of disabled DC she would have been judged differently, Going by numerous past threads on MN.

God forbid she may have been disabled too. Stealing tax payers money for nails and holidays like Mary down the roads cousins friends neighbour.

And if she had been just out if work - well she should get a 100k job immediately as everyone can get high up the career ladder. There is no reason why some people aren't as smart as the high flyers that post on MN. They did it while simultaneously breastfeeding quintuplets and living in a shed so they didnt have to steal anybodies hard paid for taxes.

Maybe we need to go back to the old system where benefits were classed by what they were for.
Income support
Working tax credits
Job Seekers

Then the Great British Public could know who and where to direct their spite and rage. Might save some time and make things a bit less confusing. Then "we" can all decide who is deserving and who are the scumbags

How is your income 750 a month?

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

I wish I was on £34k

If course you can apply.

Go on turn2us and do a benefit calculator

What are you on?

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

How old are you? Always been on minim wage?

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

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!

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

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

Yes some MNetters are painfully clueless.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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