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.

@NotEnoughKnittingTime How much do you save pm? If you are receiving benefits but can afford to save every month then I think really the system needs looking at.

I am on UC? Currently struggling to save so I admire OP for doing so as I am aware it is difficult.

Why?
UC is not paid based on your bills etc. It is a certain amount.
Are you suggesting that someone on UC that is very frugal should have anything other than bills paid back to the DWP?

I have had someone on MN tell me just that. I should pay my bills and pay back extra to the DWP.

Do you prefer people using klarna and getting into debt rather than have savings?

@XenoBitch Do I think people receiving benefits should have surplus money left over at the end of every month to be able to save? No. I think benefits should cover the essentials but the luxuries (such as being able to save each month) should be an advantage afforded through work wherever possible.

@NotEnoughKnittingTime Says the poster who talks about "better budgeting!" I have zero debts (asides from my student loan). You cut your cloth.

I am on UC.
If I buy yellow ticket food, sit in a freezing house, use my kettle no more that twice a day, have a shower once a week etc. I can save money from my UC.
Are you really saying that I should not be able to do that?

I was being tongue in cheek because you are so obviously jealous. I do have a few thousand in savings actually. What that is for will probably make you froth at the mouth so I will leave it at that.

Yep. Sack cloth and gruel for you.

@XenoBitch I'm saying I don't think you should have surplus left over at the end of each month to be able to save. Do you mean you are on full UC or a top-up?

I am on "full" UC, as in it is my sole income. I get a bit over £800pm (I am in the LCWRA group). You would begrudge me saving from that?
I get less than a pensioner.

Yes, and march to the Job Centre to give back the £20 we have left over after our bills our paid.

@XenoBitch How do you pay for your housing, food and all of your bills on just £800 per month and still have money left over to save? That is impressive.

I don't have housing costs. I have to pay everything from that £800.
I live alone and try and do things like batch cooking etc.
But my bills are low and I do have some left over. Not much, but I treat myself. I am allowed to do that.

@XenoBitch Ah I see. Was wondering how it could be done if you were paying rent or a mortgage.

I think the only bad thing about uc and sure many will disagree but

not being allowed /losing some uc if have over £6k in savings

people may say well if they have uc and savings it they don’t need it

equally many families will spend it on holidays or dare I say big tvs and fags 😉 or cars /clothes

either way it’s being used - whether saving it so can better self /get on housing ladder /having a pot to cover 2/3mths salary in case job falls through /car breaks down etc

or spending it all

A question to the benefit claimants. Where your parents on benefits? Siblings?

Will your children escape the cycle?

What difference does any of that make to your life?

Nope. Parents both worked. Grandparents both worked.
Aunts and uncles all worked.
My siblings all work.
I work.

My parents both worked, one set of grandparents ran a successful business, the other were farmers. My siblings all work, as do I.

And I shall hope that by the time my children are adults, that they don’t find themselves in the situation that I am. I will be encouraging them away from the public sector, because clearly it doesn’t pay enough. Hopefully they never find themselves a divorced single parent, but unfortunately no matter how well you pick your partner that can’t be predicted.

Oh yeah, I grew up on a sink estate with my 15 siblings. Ran feral from the age of 3, subsisted mostly on Red Bull and McDonald's. Mum was an alcoholic chain smoker and the kids had 7 different dads. Most of my siblings are in prison now.

But it's going to be different for Jayden and Kayleigh, even if Kayleigh is pregnant at the age of 15 and Jayden hasn't been to school for four years.

That's what you were hoping to hear, right?

Because graduates from 2 parent professional families in the Home Counties never find themselves working single parents temporarily pushed into needing a top up by the soaring cost of living, obviously! 😆

@crackofdoom I agree with you to a point, but we can't deny that these sorts of families do exist. If a child growing up sees parents not working but doing OK financially, they may well not see the value of working hard in order to find a job. And who could blame them tbf?

The UC savings limits need increasing with inflation to help people climb out of it and prevent debt.

My entire family all work and own their houses, as do I. Eldest teen has even started contributing to a pension during a gap year.

When did benifits come in ? Change of government ? Years ago didn’t have them and older grandparent age parents used to often have 3/7 kids

if uc stopped what would people do ? Have to go to work as wouldn’t have money ?

But thats exactly what living on universal credits is - you aren't allowed to have more than £6k in savings. Or are you saying that they shouldn't even be allowed £6k of savings, that this threshold should be lowered.