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.

@Differentforgirls Do you know everyone else's story? Of course not. But Neflix is not an essential.

You are obsessed. Why not go start your own thread about it? And stop derailing this one.

@ToKittyornottoKitty What's your opinion re Netflix? 😆

I already gave it…

Neither is bread but you still buy it.

Netflix isn't essential, but neither is it a luxury. It's actually one of the more affordable forms of entertainment. It's cheaper than a TV license, probably has more content, and yet I've never seen anyone argue that people on benefits shouldn't have a TV license.

Having been a single mum for many many years, having affordable TV options was very helpful especially when the weather was shit so the park wasn't an option.

In your opinion.

And how do you know the person hasnt budgeted to ensure that they can afford it.

It isnt for you to deem what someone builds into their budget.

Not forgettijg that they both work AND pay tax.

Hahahahahahahahahaha 😆

Tell that to the DWP.

Yet many on here consider two bathrooms, gardens, driveways etc to be essential. You see people say "oh I couldn't live without my en suite", "there's no way I could park my car on the street" etc. How the other half live! And then begrudge someone netflix for less than they'd spend on a bottle of posh soap for their en suite. I honestly think that if someone is legitimately claiming benefits for whatever reason it is up to them what they spend it on. People's priorities and budgeting skills vary. Obviously some decisions may carry consequences - illegal stuff, neglecting kids etc but this is not exclusive to benefit claimants.

My 5yr learn to swim on a weeks intensive course in the school holidays

So 30mins a day x 5 days. Every day mon to Fri and by Thur was swimming width by self

My salary, UC and CB goes into one pot. I don’t really see why it makes a difference which bits get spent on what.

Of course I see your point of view, I just don’t agree. I view swimming lessons as essential, other people don’t. It would be more expensive and take longer for me to teach my children myself due to the cost of family sessions.

I’m struggling to answer your questions because I think I’ve covered them in my previous post. I guess the implication you’re making is that I should stop claiming UC because it’s not right (in your opinion) that I should be claiming UC and spending money on swimming lessons. Again, I don’t agree.

I get around £170 a month from UC. I don’t really see that as a substitute for a partner’s wage.

But you actually have three children which will have made a difference to your finances historically even if they don’t cost you anything now. Three children will always be more expensive than two.

Also if you’re a couple working full time on low wages then your household income will be around £50k a year. That’s a lot more than mine, even if you take benefits into account.

Your situation is entirely different and not comparable to mine.

I’m curious as to why you believe it’s acceptable to claim CB and not UC.

Definitely no little girl act going on here. I work nearly full time in a professional job and I’ve been with the same employer for 13 years. I bring up my children to the best of my ability, although I’m definitely not perfect. I’ve just had glowing reports from parents evenings for the last 2 weeks, with both teachers saying that my children work hard and are impeccably behaved. I get a lot of respect for what I do from colleagues, managers but also friends.

Hope that helps.

@cadburyegg It is different - I'd love to be able to pay £660 a month rent! Ours is way over £1k (a good price tbf) then council tax is another £250 so you can see how our money is kind of being wiped out?
May I ask where you live and how many beds as that seems like a decent monthly mortgage payment ❤️

My eldest child is now in year 6 and has never had a swimming lesson through school. It would be more expensive and take longer for me to teach my children myself.

No diagnosed SEN but in the process of getting some extra support put in place for my eldest. I have expanded a bit more on this on my post made on the 20th at 21:27.

@cadburyegg I'd raise the swimming with school; definitely.

My eldest is in year 6 and has never had a swimming lesson through school.

To be honest, if a child reaches year 6 and not learnt to swim by then they are not going to learn to do it to any capable degree through lessons school may or may not provide.

Regarding swimming - mine both had free lessons through school in year 5 (in a very affluent area).
They both went swimming lessons anyway but it was good for children with parents who couldn't afford it.
I guess it comes down to different local authorities.

Well then you will be the perfect candidate to get UC rent help. Why struggle unnecessarily?

@LoveSundays Yes I'm guessing it might be down to LA - all the schools I have taught in (all same LA) have offered it starting from early KS2 as part of the NC.

Actually...update. I've just checked and this:

Yes, swimming is a compulsory part of the national curriculum for primary schools in England, where it is a mandatory component of the physical education (PE) program.

So @cadburyegg, as I advised, I'd raise it with your school if no swimming has been offered.

I thought all schools did swimming in ks2 in year 3

payment varies. I had to pay and was about £15per lesson which included a coach to pool

friends on fb - as I had a Moan so did a post - many got for free and walked or paid small cost

£15 ish per lesson per half a term was around £75 if I rem correctly

Ours did it in year 5

Didn't have to pay. But the school's in walking distance of swimming pool anyway so no coach to pay for

My DD had swimming lessons in Y5 at school (as well as private lessons) and at her school, for those who could not swim at all, the lessons helped because most children could swim at least a little already. My friend who is a swimming teacher takes children from schools like DD (most children have already had swimming lessons) and those from schools where 5 out of 60 children have ever been in a pool. Those children will not learn in the one year of school swimming lessons; the pool she teaches at is in walking distance of the school in question too.

Another school whose pupils she teaches has a catchment area with an ethnic community that lost one of their teenagers to drowning a couple of years ago. The parents from the community have paid for every KS2 child to have a lesson every week for all their 4 years of KS2. Even if they've never swum before, THOSE children will be able to save themselves from drowning by the age of 12.

I am pretty sure the PP whose daughter "can now swim a width" won't, though maybe with KS2 swimming lessons she'll be nearer.

Benefits are not awarded on what your costs are. They are a certain amount.
I am on UC and get a fixed amount that is set by the DWP.
If I have some left over after all my bills etc, then I can spend it how I want. I could blow it all on crack cocaine, or I could buy some new trainers to replace the ones I have that have holes in. Or I could save it for when my ancient fridge inevitably shits itself..

BTW, I have Netflix and Prime. Call the police.