To think the benefit cap is going to plunge families into poverty

[Firsttheworst]

Next month the benefit cap comes in. It sets out the maximum that can be claimed in a week across all benefits. This doesn't include disability or wtc. Its aimed purely at women (mostly) claiming income support. You can only claim income support if you have a child under 5 and don't work.

The benefit cap is in the government owns words designed to get IS claimants out to work. The cap is currently £500 and will be reduced to £384 a week.

This includes, housing benefit, CT benefit, tax credits, income support. So all in total cannot be more than £384 a week. Over a 30 day month that comes to £1645.

From that £1645 I need to pay

rent £900 a month (no I can't move, its impossible to rent on benefits as it is, not giving this house up and its below market rent as it is)

CT - £60 a month

Electricity £80

Oil £80

Diesel £ 120 (rural don't drive anywhere other than school runs and supermarket/town once or twice a week)

Car insurance £49

Car tax £19.99

Phone/internet £40 (thats a basic mobile and broadband)

House insurance £13

TV licence £11

That leaves 272 a month to pay for food, clothes, car breakdown, school trips, birthdays, miscellaneous and god knows what else. For one adult and 3 children.

AIBU to think that the government have just decided that if they starve us out for long enough we'll be forced to go out and find a job? Like I said rural area so jobs are rarer than hens teeth and believe me i'm looking. It is pure discrimination against single mothers with small children (i doubt many men claim income support)

gillybeanz are you also in receipt of cash benefits then?

In this thread the OP is being told that school hours jobs are rarer than hens teeth.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2745143-To-be-confused-that-dh-has-said-I-should-get-a-part-time-job

So which is it!

Manumission

you really don't have any idea of who I know do you??

I currently know a single dad (now with GF) in a 3 bedroom maisonette - they've had to 'make' a spare bedroom out of an extension. 3 girls, 1 baby boy.

I know a single mum in a council house who at one point had 2 kids, a foster child (unofficial) and she rented out a room to a friend.

You do what you have to do to get by.

by twatty comments I suppose you're referring to my mum's struggles are you??

Yes, just about user
Not sure for how much longer though, our income is going up slightly and the threshold is coming down.
It would be nice to know that when we are no longer entitled to tc we will have enough income to live on, but I'm not holding my breath.
Hence, have just got a pt job, waiting for start date.

gilly indeed, and i'm happy with those, i take your point. My point was simply that if we're looking at the range of salaries that might be in a position to be jealous of benefits claimants, you need to include at least up to £50,000, which includes an awful lot of people.

sophias that sucks with your experience have you thought about finding something better paid. To get a well paid job its all about the number of years you have worked in those job roles. Food for thought.

£384 cap is generous I'd cut it further if it was me. My heart is struggling to bleed for people who'll be capped at £1600 a month of free money, it's a struggle because I've used up my energy working 7 days a week so that I can pay half your cap out in income tax each month, and meanwhile my partner is at work 5 days a week taking home less than £1600.

I can't understand how all these working households have time to be bothered in what other people have, why?

Really? You can't understand why someone who goes out to work full time and pays tax on their wages might be pissed off because someone on benefits gets the same amount of money (or more) to live on as they do? And then comes on here to moan that it's not enough? You really can't see why they might be annnoyed?

People are 'bothered' about what other people get because it's not magic money dropped by unicorns, it's money which comes from people's taxes, so of course they are going to wonder where it goes. I also question why such a huge amount of taxes goes on weapons/wars. I'd much rather taxes were spent on looking after those who need looking after, and doing it with dignity. Unfortunately, I don't consider a fit, healthy adult with children (2 of them at school) to 'need looking after'. She may need some help, but she is capable of work.

Move to a smaller 2 bed property.kids share .you sleep in lounge on a put me up.rediculous amount of rent...move to a cheaper area..we had it to do...we moved up north.all started again...didn't want to .but no choice.and we dont claim either..why should If be different / better for those that do claim

In this thread the OP is being told that school hours jobs are rarer than hens teeth.

That is very true because most parents are thinking down that route of juggling children with working hours. There's to much competition for 1 TA job.

Becker are you claiming dla/pip for yourself and carers allowance and dla for your dd? If not please get help to claim them.
Also the £30 ESA reduction is for wrag new claimants only ( still a horrible policy)

It's not easy on income support I claimed it for about 6 months and then when I was ready got a job and our lives improved by 100000%. It is not sustainable to be on IS for any length of time so go self employed or back to education or ideal both. It honestly is your only chance

Rabbits

I know you weren't being nasty, and my point was not really directed at you as you didn't sound like you were complaining.
Just as I read your post I was thinking yes, we all make our own choices.
I understand how some people have a lot of outgoings and whilst may earn a good salary, have little to show at the end.
But this too is choice.
I just see it as ridiculous that people will concern themselves with what others have, rather than change their own situation to make themselves happy.
I didn't want the type of lifestyle that meant me and dh needed to be professionals earning good salaries, I don't moan about those who have chosen this route and the lifestyle that goes with it.

Very few posters are net contributors so it's not coming out of their taxes at all.

That is the problem with SAHM they don't skill themselves up while they are at home or when its affordable. When the time comes to find work your stumped to unskilled labour that you don't want to do. Your to tired to study for a career that you want because you left it to late. Thats a harsh reality.

gillybeanz - then it is unsurprising that you are not worried about the op receiving cash as you are in the same boat! Some people don't receive any cash from the govt at all but pay an awful lot in tax, they may be a bit pissed off don't you think?

I agree to that too and hard to feel jealous of an op who by the sounds of things has seen her world collapse and is struggling to rebuild it all.

gillybeanz you said
"I didn't want the type of lifestyle that meant me and dh needed to be professionals earning good salaries, I don't moan about those who have chosen this route and the lifestyle that goes with it."

Why would you moan about them, they are the ones paying into the system so you can have your cash payout!

She has to start from scratch with little means coming in thats hard.

Sunshine precisely - have said it what 2 or 3 times here - OP would be better off skilling herself up to get a decent job, I have no idea of what her previous work history was like.

To be brutally honest though I would not move to a rural area for many of the reasons she claims it is hard unless I had the money to do so. If you have the means then carry on...

Not jealous of the OP, more frustrated by the idea that it's so impossible/inconceivable to work as a single parent. Annoyed, perhaps, that I was a mug for going back to work after maternity leaves when I could have stayed at home on benefits, yet the idea didn't appeal to me as I wanted to work and had no reason not to.

Even though the benefits system blows my mind, I dont mind my taxes going to those who need it. I absolutely don't. I would rather that than see people out on the streets ... or in hostels ... or living in poverty etc

BUT £1675 really is a lot of money when the OP gets to see her children all day every day if not at school. Electricity and Oil - surely there are cheaper providers? Surely. Can anyone give the OP names of providers they use to get her started?

Also – OP, who do you have mobile/broadband with? Could you merge them all with one company to save? Or switch to a PAYG phone?

In all honesty, it’s appalling that your Ex is not contributing financially. Could you ask him to give you a lump sum for the deposit, to enable you to move should you choose that option as so many people have suggested?

Last point - can you go to your local foodbank - for food?

I hope claimants use the time they are at home with their children to do such things as college courses, IT qualifications, night-school, voluntary work etc. so they can quickly re-enter the jobs market.

So before the benefit cap you were getting the equivalent of someone on a salary £30k plus you are entitled to all the other benefits like free school meals and free prescriptions.

There are many full time workers earning this that get no support or benefits. Many are working long hours in jobs they hate, without a pay rise for years. They are struggling to make ends meet and like you they also have to juggle school runs and childcare so you can see why there might be little sympathy.

Being on benefits should be a safety net and not a term solution. Having said this the government really do need to make fathers pay their share to support their families.