To think that my friend should be working?

[Louboutin37]

I'll give you the scenario. Mate is divorced, single mum to 2 kids. Maintenance all agreed and pretty generous with her ex, youngest child is 12.

We were chatting the other day and I mentioned to her that she must be excited about going back to work full time soon. (She works 2 days a week at the mo and claims tax credits)

She replied with "but I can't go back to work, I'm a single mum and the state recognises that I need to be at home to support my babies".

AIBU to think that she doesn't have babies and in her situation should be thinking about getting back to work by now? She seems to think that as she doesn't see herself as in benefits then there's no issue.

PS, this isn't a benefits slating at all.

There are full time roles around but they are generally lower paid and people don't want to do them. There are plenty around here but I wouldn't do them. They don't pay enough so I have gained some qualifications and work somewhere else.

So, don't say there are no jobs - there are just no jobs that are suitable for them...

I have a friend who is looking for a job (for 2 years!). She wants a role where she starts no earlier than 0900 and finishes no later than 1700. But the biggest downside is she just wants term time only!

She gave up her permament role a number of years ago and that's a whole different thread!

Dating for 18 months and she refers to her boyfriend's DD as 'her stepdaughter'?? Poor child. Her dad must be a right knob to allow this bloody nonsense.

Sonnet please do pm these jobs, I'm searching full time work - thanks

I work 2 days a week and never intend to work more than that unless circumstances arise where I need to, I don't however claim tax credits but would if I was entitled to them. Why would you be bothered about what hours your "friend" works?! She is working anyway, who says it has to be society's norm of full time?

She is working anyway, who says it has to be society's norm of full time?

I think the issue is working part time and collecting benefits.

To the poster who said this: If her two day week is not enough for her to live on then she should either increase her hours or get her ex DH to increase his maintanience. This will vary in different pockets of society but I've yet to come across an NRP who voluntarily pays more than the legal minimum he's required to pay in maintenance. The idea that a person could just ask their ex to contribute more pretty please really is laughable to me.

Let's not beat around the bush...this is a benefits bashing thread, no more, no less. I've had similar arguments with working friends who don't seem to realise that one average wage between the two of them doesn't generate nearly enough tax to cover the state education for their 3 children as well as all the other tax payer funded things that they use. They're a far bigger drain than I am but because they don't see the money before it goes towards these things, I'm the sponger. Me with my two voluntary jobs that the state doesn't now need to pay someone to do, which I do on the days when I've paid for DD to be in childcare because she's not 2 yet. Me who had a far more well paid job than either of them for 10 years before redundancy and no dependants to cancel out my contribution. I may currently be in the position where I have to claim benefits (I am working to change that) but I can guarantee that I'm not as big a drain to the system as many of the naysayers on this thread. Me seeing the money before it gets spent doesn't mean I'm using more of it.

Sorry IvyKate44 - just seen your request. I have PM'd you