I’m a single mum claiming a UC top up AMA

[cadburyegg]

There’s a lot of negative press and misinformation about benefit claimants so thought I’d start a thread. I work nearly full time and have 2 children. Ask away.

I work full time for the nhs and have one teenager,own my own property so no housing costs and claim UC (£200 pm)
I'm not even the lowest pay banding either...

So what happens when the goverment's your employer but said goverment doesnt actually pay you the minimum it deems fit for a child to live on ?

@Trumpisacunt I should have added that I believe both parents should be held financially responsible for the children they make. Two ft incomes should be enough to get by just about?

Of course it shouldn’t be a permanent solution. I can’t do anything about how underfunded public services are… by the government. I can’t do anything about CMS making my ex-husband pay more… and the loopholes that get him out of it (I’m sure the government could do something about this if they wanted to). I suppose I should have picked a better Father to my kids? I see that a lot on here (blame the woman again). Or I should just magic up a better paid job? I don’t have the capacity to retrain, with working and trying to manage the kids on my own. I’ve looked at jobs with transferable skills like safeguarding and they pay even less. Sadly I have more than 1 friend in nursing in the NHS who are in a similar boat to me and getting UC. If wages were enough to live off properly, and CMS was fixed it would help a lot of people. I certainly don’t want to be on UC but it’s my only option right now.

@hulahula88 I understand, but the reality is that some people are on benefits permanently when they could be working. Having children (especially of school age) is not an excuse. A lady on here the other day, for example, said that she was unable to work because she had two much older teenagers!
If there were less such people then more could be done to ameliorate the situation for those who are genuinely working as much as they can but on not enough to survive.

Hi, you work term time, not full time. Full time is 52 weeks a year. Term time is 38. OP works more hours per year than you do.

@Differentforgirls I tutor so why are you basing my hours of work on that of a teacher? Silly Billy.
And the point is we receive no benefits.
Unlike the OP.
So not sure what point you are making?

So does that make you better than OP?

The OP gets under 200 quid a month UC. It's less than 50 quid a week.

From the sounds of it, you would get more than that. If you claimed.

You're saying you and your bairn are living a life of just making ends meet. Your pride isn't some sort of badge of honour here.

@NotEnoughKnittingTime I didn't say i was better - I was putting you right with your claim re my hours. A tutor can of course work far more hours than a teacher who is limited by school hours and they often do.
How many hours a week do you work?

@gamerchick No we are just not living a luxurious lifestyle. My daughter has more than enough as my husband and I both work hard to support her. Netflix and swimming lessons are not essentials to us.

There is an air of superiority about your comments. I am one of those who work but limited in how much by a lack of childcare and SEN which affects many parents.

Swimming lessons are essential. Netflix maybe not but life is short and people need something nice in their lives.

I think this is true. You are taking a small helping hand for a few years until your kids are a bit older and you intend to go back to full time work.

@NotEnoughKnittingTime I disagree that expensive swimming lessons are essential, especially when swimming is part of the NC in schools. My daughter can swim because her Dad taught her.
Does the OP have SEND children? I missed that bit so apologies.

Don't schools provide swimming lessons?

Who looks after the children?

Only a couple I think. Not enough to properly learn. Depends on the school.

None now as you've reverted to name calling, unlike the OP. If you don't get paid for school holidays you only get paid for 38 weeks per year. The OP gets paid for 52.

I mean I am teaching mine but I don't see the issue with swimming lessons. Sounds a good use of money to me. OP is entitled to spend the UC as she wishes and she is spending it on her kids.

No idea about OP but for many you simply can't just up your hours if childcare is sparse or you have a child with potential SEN who can only do mornings or afternoons at nursery. Plus many jobs might not have the hours so you have to try to find a flexible job..

No child has ever learnt to swim in 5-10 x 25 min school group swimming lessons. It's important but it won't save a life or get a child fit.

Mine took a few years of weekly lessons to get to a half decent standard.

"My daughter can swim because her Dad taught her." Of course he did. Two adults and one child. You have double the time to spare than a single parent does. UC helped pay for my kids lessons as I couldn't do it alone.

I learnt to swim at school (haven't needed to save a life - yet) I am fit and very sporty

@Differentforgirls I was arguing with the working more hours comment. Unless the poster knows how many hours a week I tutor? How many evenings after 3.30, for example?
And no - I still don't think swimming lessons are an essential.

@Differentforgirls School if they are school age and then wraparound. That's how most parents do it? Lots of single parents work.

PER YEAR. I don't know what part of that you don't get. She works 52 weeks per year. You work 38. She works 14 weeks more than you and also, working only 38 weeks per year and only get paid for 38 IS NOT FULL TIME HOURS!