Do Universal Credit rules require work when you have young children?

[Chezza1990]

Does anyone know if there are any rules with having to have a job when you receive universal credit and have children? To put it into context I have 3 children aged 4 and under, my partner is self employed and im currently employed, however im struggling to maintain a healthy work life balance.

Excellent. Let's all do that.

Indeed @angelos02

can you ever imagine

‘I really think we ought to have children Tom, just to do our bit for society, we need to make sure we have loads so that they pay loads of tax to cover the pensions required at that time.’

said no one ever.

stop lying. You have children because you want children.

For a short period of time.

Not much different from the SAHMs who didn't pay in for their state pensions but now have one yet you judge me more?

Me working more means the government will have to pay for the childcare element on UC. Staying at home means I would get more UC. Either way the government is paying.

They probably get the same out of it that you do several times in this thread choosing to think that your UC is a "tax rebate"

Well good luck to you trying to live on your state pension of under £12k a year( at today's rates). Because if you laze around hardly working you aren't going to be able to be contributing to a decent personal pension.
And when your benefits stop when your children are older you'll be that much older so any personal pension contributions you do make will get you much less pension.

Alot of bitter women on here. Overworked IMHO 😉

Who said I am lazing around? I actually look after a child with SEN. To be fair I could work hard, barely see my kids and then die before I reach state pension age which is probably what the government is hoping for. I will be working until I drop no doubt.

I think I would be very very careful atm not to make any decisions about number of children and choice of career/or not based on the current government. It can change. There is clearly huge numbers of very pissed off working people atm, reform etc popularity is rising. Every vote matters and we could see a totally different government with a very different attitude to benefits in a few short years.

Did you miss the part where she said she works

Some people have no clue what they're talking about.

Everyone else doesn't work till state pension age. Some people retire early. Some people are disabled - both in and out of work

I hope you get that that comment is ableist. And uncalled for

Would you like to explain that comment about my child?

Your first sentence is downright nasty and I hope it gets deleted. Who are you to insinuate pp’s child doesn’t really have SEN?

What do you mean why? Everyone, unless they are physically unable to do so, should be working to sustain the lifestyle they have chosen. If OP can’t sustain the lifestyle she has chosen, using an income that she has earned then why is it up to net contributors, to sustain that lifestyle for her?

Yes, if she wants to be around the children she chose to have more, then absolutely fill your boots. But pay for that choice yourself. Who’s going to pay for all the benefits when we all decide to sack off work to have a ‘better work life balance’?

The SEN is relevant because it impacts my ability to work many shifts because he only attend nursery in the mornings. If I say he has SEN then he has SEN so stop being a knob.

I get you op. You’re getting flamed here but you’re genuinely worse off working a lot of the time.

if you’re not worse off then I’d just claim. There’s no medal for putting yourself out for a job that gives you a worse lifestyle. And I say that as someone who’s worked very literally since the day I left school

It's possible to show kids a strong work ethic without working extra shifts you don't need, though. Wouldn't you rather have the time with them?

Amen. Finally some common sense! 👏

So basically you're saying that people should have children so that said children can care for them when they are old?

Have you ever cared for an elderly relative yourself?

What a disgusting comment.

Sometimes it is impossible to work full time or even at all when your child is disabled.