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.

This is so fucking stupid. There is no way of picking a man who is guaranteed not to turn shit. If you've got one who didn't, congrats to you, me too. But it's not because we're super smart or superior to other women. It's in large part luck. People change. You're not in touch with reality here at all and you're congratulating yourself on good decisions when you partly just got lucky. It's so arrogant.

Easy to say "take the financial hit." But it's a question of the quality of life of children who are not responsible for their shit fathers, or their parents' ill-luck, or whatever the cause is. Sorry to break it to you, but you have a responsibility to the children of your society, not just the ones you birthed. Anyone who resents their tax money going on this is just a shitheel to be honest.

But WHY? Why can we not as a society ensure that kids have a luxury or two and the same opportunities as the children of richer parents? Why is that not a legitimate aim? It's not like OP's kids will be little forever, she will make more later on probably. Why does it butthurt you so much that the child of a less well-off mother gets to learn how to swim, be saved for a little bit and watch some TV? EVERY kid should have that. They will grow up healthier and happier and probably cost less in medical care and therapy, and make more money to be taxed on. But you're just outraged that the little kid of a dad who fucked off might have some money saved for him. It's pathetic.

If you produce intelligent, successful children, tax payers have no problem paying for them.

If one generation is a blip due to unforseen circumstances is one thing but if that person's children grow up to be on benefits then it is pure fecklessness.

There are not legions of families who have been on benefits for generations. this is made up.

Dumb.

If all these benefit claimants have such superior intellect, please explain why they are not successful entrepreneurs?

What are the higher paying jobs that you refer to here - are they really as easy to get as you would have us believe?

My dad was on ESA for the couple of years leading up to his retirement.
Other than that, no. My siblings are not on benefits, and I don't have children.

Some children have profound disabilities meaning they will never work or even live independently. They will grow up to be on benefits.
Do you have a problem paying for them too?

Two net contributors will look after their disabled child.

What does that mean?

Decent parents have no problem in being accountable and looking after a disabled child.

Who pays their bills?

You think parents on UC with a disabled child don't look after them?

Wow. So the only "decent" parents are those who are net contributors? (which is someone earning over £41k).

Many parents of disabled children are not able to work because they are looking after a disabled child, and saving the tax payer shit load in the process.

Are you?

It is flawed logic to say they are ‘saving’ tax payer money. It is the parents responsibility to look after and pay for their children, not the tax payer.

Reasonably successful. I am not on benefits so it is not applicable.

Silly question. One works and one cares.

That's coming from someone who has never cared for a child with extra needs or spoken to other parents at the school gate about their parenting struggles. (Waiting for the "I work all hours under the sun so I don't have time to chat at the school gate" rubbish).

Probably never parented a child full stop.

Ooo were bregruging disabled kids now. Seems to be a theme on here atm.

Well they would be able to pay for their children but most parents of a disabled child can't work or work very little.

Not true.

Are you suggesting benefit claimants are more likely to have a disabled child? If so, why?

Thought this thread was about benefits not the disabled. Using the disabled to justify all other benefit claimants is disingenuous.

Did you miss the bit about the children being severely disabled?
Do you know how much the carer's element of UC is? It is a pittance.
Putting the child in residential care would be costing the tax payer £1000s per month.
The parents getting some financial help so they can look after their child at home is a bargain.

Then you are lucky. As am I. However, some people aren't as a society we should look after them.