If you could decide how much people get in benefits

[OneLemonOrca]

There are benefit bashing threads being posted often, with complaints that certain people on benefits can afford a better lifestyle than them when they work, and that it is being made into a life style choice?
So if you could decide, I am just wondering how much you think benefit claimants should receive in certain circumstances or what their money should or shouldn’t be able to pay for, to get a general idea of what mumsnet thinks is “right”.

Any way that was years ago, they now 26 and 24.

Mmmmm..

WTF you mean Mmmmmm??????

An occasional Costa is one thing, being a second property owner while claiming UC is another (see previous post)

Just that you seemed to question dodge. Everyone on here says it’s impossible to live off benefits as a lifestyle choice yet you said it would’ve been really easy to do it?

I think it makes sense if you’re a single mum to work part time and be topped up by benefits If there’s no other option, but it’s a shame the government doesn’t aggressively pursue shameless men who don’t support their children more. The cost should really be on them.

The 16 hours thing doesn't exist any more under UC!!! How many times does it need saying.

I don't believe you.

Thank you

It's water under the bridge now 🙄

Well I’ve never seen it said. I don’t frequent benefit threads and have not RTFT of this one yet .

Well she gets some kind of in-work benefits to enable her to work 16 hours and has been since 2016.

I just assumed everyone had been moved on to UC but perhaps not?

I worked full time since mine was 7 as a lone parent with no help. You do have a choice, not an easy one admittedly but there's no reason not to work full time when kids are at secondary school at least. They don't need childcare at that age.

Yes!

Then stop talking about things you don't know and spreading the 16 hour myth. It's about a decade out of date. Under UC, it's a requirement to work 30 hours once youngest is age 3 depending on salary.

Calm down. I made a mistake about the type of benefit she receives perhaps but the rest is accurate so my main point still stands . She works 16 hours and receives top up benefits (and she’s not a single parent).

When I earned a bit less and was only entitled to a small bit childcare benefits which i was grateful for. I got a bit cross with a school mom that never worked and chose not to live with her 3 kids' dad so got single parent benefits, at the time you did not get pressure to work if one kid was under 4. Also rent paid for. We picked up the same but she got free dentist, prescription, free school dinners and no travel to pay out or childcare so I literally had a lot less left. Her Chap lived with his mom and paid for a lot of stuff for the kids. My husband's business was struggling. What I mean probably people that work pay out a lot more. The net value should be looked at. I remember my son crying that he could not have school dinners as I could not afford it. I am glad now people that work that are on universal credit on a certain level get free dinners. Obviously as well people that don't get any maintenance struggle too.

Those benefits are being phased out so it won't be an issue soon. Not many people are still left on them. UC is vastly different and much stricter.

This.

The earnings threshold on UC that people are expected to meet are still pretty low, especially for couples.

I thought a second property was an asset when claiming UC.

Really?
How any employers are happy to take on someone who ends up in A&E/police cells/136 regularly?
Or who has not worked for over a decade?
I have spent most of my life trying to "get rid of my mental health condition"... when it is more like trying to get rid of myself.
I would love to be able to work... and have money for things that are literally not just bills.

How will you determine who is not "trying hard enough" with their MH issues? Will you be happy to see them in poverty?
Fucking stroll on.

The not being a single parent bit is kind of important. A couple have a certain amount of money they have to earn between them. My DB and SIL manage quite easily by having a part time job each.

You’re being aggressive and talking like you have a point but you don’t. You’re not completely incapacitated from working, and I am disgusted that you’ve been enabled to not get better and sit on benefits for 10 years. There are things you could do to improve your mental health and quality of life everyday, there is a lot of advice. When you’re better, you could set up a business from home, and sell online.
I have disabilities where my capacity and abilities fluctuate a lot. There are times during the day that I can’t communicate properly, focus or pay attention. I lose my spatial awareness and have interception issues. I have a condition effecting my joints, bones, skin and nervous system, causing diarrhoea and chronic pain daily. Most of my energy goes on my basic needs and there is nothing that I can do to improve these disabilities and I will have them for the rest of my life. Your mental health issues can be improved and you shouldn’t be enabled to do nothing to improve them

Universal hasn’t been rolled out in my area - it was delayed due to Covid.

"Councils ferrying children in taxis miles and miles because the nearest school doesn't meet the child's needs, why can't the parent do this?"

Why can't the council provide a school that meets the child's needs close to home as it does for children without disabilities?