Ok, this has probably been done a million times already but; I work full time (am single parent to 2 dc) and have to pay my own mortgage myself (£800). I do receive working tax/family tax credits and a little maintenance from ex, but still have very little/no money left at the end of the month.
My sister is also a single parent, works only 16hrs a week, and refuses to work any more than this as she knows her whole rent of £1000 a month would no longer be footed by the tax payer.
She recently sold her shared ownership home, managed to keep the extra £13k she made out of it and bought a brand new car, a holiday for her kids and boyfriend and brand new furniture for her new rented house. She owes my mum several thousand pounds but did not pay her back.
How is this fair??? Needless to say, we are not v close!