New UC rules to force both partners to work ??

[Citrusmuffin]

I can’t find anything online about this but have heard it’s being changed as previously there had to be a certain number of hours worked but this could be by just one partner but now it’s being changed to make both work even though the total household hours don’t change??

This seems very unfair and taking away choice for some families in difficult circumstances. I just can’t find the official guidance is anyone able to link to it ? Thanks

You can only get carers,allowance if the child is in receipt of either medium or high rate DLA, care component you can't get it for Low rate Care

@Citrusmuffin

The govt can't cater to every individual 'difficult' circumstance

And having difficult circumstances isn't an excuse not to at least try to find some kind of work if you can.

I think you are wrong about the total number of hours. I think both parents will be expected to work the full number of hours. Or the second parent will be expected to work at least 16hrs and the first parent working 30+ hrs. This is what we are expecting/preparing for in my work.

@Citrusmuffin
"Why is it wrong to care about other people who may be affected by this ? Are we so unkind now that it’s just a race to the bottom 😞"

Because some of us @Citrusmuffin are working hard barely earning enough to keep ourselves afloat, paying the taxes that fund benefits. I have no problem with that but I do mind working 12hour plus days to fund others' lifestyle choices!

Having a disability or a disabled child isn’t a lifestyle choice

Agreed. Some of us work 12.5 hours per day!

I’ll try to find out as the issue will still affect parents in difficult circumstances obviously but would seem less petty .

Yes, what I'm getting at is lots of disabled people aren't getting the help and aren't considered disabled in the eyes of the government.

The SAHP thing also confuses me. Why is everyone so upset over the government subsidising a SAHP when they also subsidise childcare places for many working parents? Why is one more worthy of the other? I would rather look after my own child where possible than leave them with a childcare provider (if I had that luxury) or is this what working parents are angry about? They shouldn't have that luxury because they aren't paying for it and they are forced to go to work?

I think everyone is angry at the wrong people. Most people are struggling to survive at the moment.

Well carers allowance stops when you earn over around 130 pw ish ( not sure).

If I was back when my son was 6, and I couldn't cope with his violence I was phoning MASH begging for help which included telling them I was facing him going into Foster care. If I was there again but with no carers allowance or UC or alternatively working full time he would end up in care anyway if I liked it or not as again, taxi won't drop to child care and who would childmind a child that strangles kids and punches them in the head? Care was £250,000 per year back then. I was getting penny's in carers allowance and tax credit in comparison.

It's OK saying its choice. I don't rambert ticking the yes please box to having a child with SEN.

There should be systems in place to cover all difficult circumstances. Can you imagine if hospitals said ‘sorry can’t cater to individual circumstances’!! This involves people with medical issues /SEN the same should apply

www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-relating-to-in-work-progression-equality-analysis/equality-analysis-raising-the-administrative-earnings-threshold-spring-budget-2023-announcement?fbclid=IwAR2go7lQ8OR7EkRmN8VrRwLQIi9qe1ecauI8mv2ScdliI6RQyBOpbbWZnno

Nobody should be able to choose not to work.

It baffles me the amount of people who see benefits as a right, and ho complain bitterly if they are expected to work.

My mum’s neighbour gets UC because only her DH works so they get childcare element. However, she’s not incapable of work, she’s just chosen not to, and in the meantime she spent her £100k inheritance on refurbishing her house, which she happily boasted about.

Someone my sister works with only works sixteen hours a week because, in her words, “If I work more the government won’t pay my rent.”

We’ve become a country where benefits are seen as a lifestyle choice, not a last resort. If you’re capable of work then you shouldn’t have a choice to claim benefits.

There will be those who absolutely can’t due to their own ill health, but let’s not pretend that there are vast amounts of the population who are unable to work.

And as for home educating, well, if you can’t afford to do it then your kids will just have to go to school like the rest, with the exception of children with SEN who may not be able to get a place.

People can only make those kinds of choices if they can afford to. If not it’s not the taxpayer’s job to fund them.

@P3N

I'm not angry.

You can have an opinion without being angry.

I dont think the state should fund lifestyle choices

If you want your family to have a sahp you need to fund that yourself

Lone parent to a child with SEN, home schooling now.
I work full time and an extra job. Needs must, I don't have a choice.
No family help, it's all me.
I don't understand why because you are in a couple you get to have that choice, seems really unfair to me.

@Citrusmuffin

But everyone's idea of difficult circumstances are different

People on this thread are saying they have disabled kids and work

Others are saying its impossible

Some people think the govt should fund sahp just because

I dont.

The govt has stated that carers are exempt so that is where the line is drawn

What's your issue with this, exactly?

If one income isn't enough for a family, why should the benefits system make up the shortfall whilst an able bodied adult chooses not to work?

If people don’t want to work that’s fine but no way should this be supported by the taxpayer

@Citrusmuffin

The option to be a sahp and live on one income isn't there for many at all anymore.

The government have changed childcare rules to fall in line (hopefully)so that two parents can be working between then some hours at least or everyone's going to have the same thought process that the government will supplement them.

Many of us never had the option to stay home because they are in that line that they don't earn enough to live with one wage but earn slightly too much to claim any help.
It's how it's been for a long time for many families.

We need people back In work and earning to have money to put back into the economy to try and get everything up and running again

Having a child or children isn't an automatic rule that means you can opt out of working life.

We've been a two parent working family for ever and it's hard juggling but you get through it.

How do you think other people manage it?

Did you miss the post literally above yours.

They should extend eligibility to carers allowance to anyone of receipt of dla regardless of rate that would help more people

If all those kids that are being home educated suddenly got flung into the already over crowded, under funded public school system it would impact your children.

I understand the frustration on the thread but a lot of it feels like benefit bashing. I used to help people look for work before I had a subarachnoid haemorrhage. It's not as easy as "look for work" and "get a job" for a lot of people.
If the government was to implement this change, I doubt they would provide the means to help people back into the work place. Just sanction those that don't comply.

So some can work and some can’t. Which shows people will when they can and we should allow people to make that choice if they can or not and trust them if they can’t and support them

Op the best thing to do if you are home educationing a child with SEN is the claim dla for them then Carer's element and you wil then exempt from working commitments.

? Claiming a benefit should entitle you to more benefits? 🤔.

Curious point of view.

@Citrusmuffin

Regarding health issues I have had a long term health condition that will be with me for life and can create other issues.

I've had it for eleven years.

I've still worked for those 11 years

Having a sen chil or children is different.

You didn't say that in your first post. But would just like to say there are other families with sen children that do work but work opposite hours and get some support
Have you looked into that?