To think I will be better off on £27,500 salary than income support

[user1495366815]

ive just got a new job where the starting salary is £27,500 a year. Going up to £36,000 after 5 years.

My mum seems to think I might as well be on benefits as I will hardly be any better off and won't have any spare money.

She has never worked and my dad has earned close to minimum wage his whole life so I think she comparing my salary to their situation.

My tent and council tax are low.

I have worked out that I will be £1000 a month better off on this salary than I was on income support.

AIBU to be annoyed with this comment?

I think it's partly coloured by her views that women shouldn't be out working. I need to work for my mental health anyway, even if there's no financial gain.

AIBU to think financially I will be considerably better off working?

Well done on the new job, sorry your DM is not really supporting you.

Why on earth does she think that? Has she no access to a calculator?

That is unless there is more to your set up of course!

Yes and congratulations on your new job!

I think you will always be better off working in the long term. Financially is just a small part of it, but it's loads better for self esteem confidence and for a start routine and to allow some human interaction.
I had a job for 7 years which was largely work from home except for meetings about once a month. Even though I was working, I did become very isolated and had a very unstructured lifestyle. My present job allows me to work from home about 2 days a week and the ref of the week I have to be physically present and the structure of work and having a fixed schedule and human interaction had done wonders.
This job sounds like it has a good progression and has above average salary. I would definitely go for it.

Being in work is good for finances but also has health benefits as well, particularly mental health. Well done you snd ignore your mother

And do you really live in a tent?

Wow congratulations!! And fabulous pay. What will you be doing?

I went from a £9k job to a £21k job and was no better off because of having to pay for childcare, losing tax credits, more petrol and parking etc.

In the long term you'll definitely be better off though. Welfare is no long term solution. Working is worth it just to know you've got a pay cheque coming on a regular day

Well you'll be able to buy a higher tent now!

And after 5 years you might end up on even more!

Go for it. Well done you.

I completely agree with fatdogs. Monetary value aside, there's definitely something to be said of the sense of achievement/accomplishment you will get knowing that you can stand on your own two feet. Congratulations on the job!

Your mum is taking a load of bollocks quite frankly.

Well done on the new job. I defintiely think working is better than being on benefits for many reasons. However it isn't always the money! When I earned £27k I took home about £1400 after tax, student loan and pension. If I'd been on income support, tax credits and housing benefit I'd have been taking home around £1200 but wouldn't have had the commuting and child care costs!

You'd be:

1. a good bit better off working on £27k than on the dole;
2. lots better off on that kind of money once your kids (assuming you have them) are grown; and
3. immeasurably better off on £36k.

As others have said it's your housing situation that I'd be worried about.

That must be one helluva tent!

Hahaha I have just seen my typo.

I wondered what on earth you were all going on about a tent for.

I think I get some tax credits as I'm a single parent.

I won't have to pay much childcare as my son is in school.

I'm on less than 27k full time. Single parent, 2 kids mortgage, car etc...

And I thank my lucky stars I'm not on the dole. Yanbu.

Well done on the job Op

If you're really that much better off, then you have the opportunity to save a deposit and buy a home.

I went to work for no more than benefits after being Widowed, but it allowed me to gain experience and get into a Access Course leading to a BA.

Working does a lot for your self esteem, your Mum is living in a different time, that isn't relevant to today's World.

Congratulations on your new job and just ignore your mother's comments.

Will you also be getting a pension and other benefits that you wouldn't otherwise?

The long term pay will possibly also get even better, widening the gap.

Oh dear, your mum is intellectually challenged.

Well done on the job!

Your pay will go up and benefits will go down under this government.

Congratulations on the job, OP. Take a look at the workplace pension scheme offered by your employer as this could be a long-term boost in addition to being better-off month by month.

Sometimes we just have to recognise that our parents do not know what they are talking about.

Probably best not to discuss salaries with them - they'll think you are inviting comment and their comments will be at best useless and at worst upsetting.