To think unversal credit is a disaster *trigger warning*

[jnfrrss]

This just popped up in my feed. Talking about someone that had an abortion as they wouldn't be able to afford the child without credits. It's not just an isolated issue, a charity says they've had a huge increase in women contacting about abortions as now they won't be able to afford to have any more children. I'm not sure what the answer is but this is very worrying

www.mirror.co.uk/money/it-wasnt-planned-very-wanted-12480380

I think UC is a disaster for many reasons. I also think it’s exactly what the Tories wanted it to be. I’ve read the story you posted and it’s terribly sad.

Meanwhile major employers pay lower wages and seem to expect the credit system to pick up the slack...this article is a few years old but still relevant
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/apr/20/taxpayers-spend-11bn-to-top-up-low-wages-paid-by-uk-companies

I think so too, the child cap is a disgrace.
I've posted here before about it but I've just left an abusive man (made more complicated by the fact that we lived overseas, though i and all of my children are British citizens and I've spent more time in Britain than anywhere else) I digress.
I was not allowed contraception, and I wasn't allowed to say no to sex either.
It's only luck that I have 2 dcs and not 3. I wonder how many burning hoops I'd have to jump through if I had 3 kids? I've never filed a police report (wasn't able to overseas, and am taking solicitor advise here. I may or may not report the abuse in future). I wonder if I'd be left in severe poverty because of that?
I hate to think of a woman in my situation, who had the misfortune to be fertile at the wrong time, being punished for that.

A woman has a right to choose whether to have a child or not.

Women choose not to continue pregnancies for financial or any other reasons. They can also, as can men, choose to use contraceptives or not to have sex.

You are conflating two emotive issues in order to whip up outrage over UC.

If you want to start a thread about UC there are better arguments to use.

It's a difficult one as many working women are in the same position. I know things happen (my son was conceived by rape). He's 3 now and I work full time. I wouldn't be able to manage financially with another child so I take precautions. Obviously "accidents" happen. I would hate to have an abortion especially after previous losses but I need to think about my existing child.

You are conflating two emotive issues in order to whip up outrage over UC

It’s not a separate issue though. It’s an extreme example of how UC isn’t working.
There are numerous extreme examples of how UC has made life extremely diffuclt for families, single people and couples all over the country.

Nonsense painted - if you think that some women won’t have abortions because they physically can’t afford an additional child under this system, you’re naive.

Don't be ridiculous. There is free contraception available in this country. Or just stop shagging if you can't afford a third baby. The government cannot afford to just hand out money to everyone who wants to sit on their arse and have 10 kids when the people paying the taxes stop at 1 or 2 because they can't afford it.

Totally agree with bio

If employers paid decent wages to their employees, where nobody needed any form of top up because their wages aren't enough to feed and home a family, we would be living in a different country.

But this will never happen because of the greed of the wealthy.

I work with UC (not DWP) and it is a disaster in so many ways. It is frightening how dehumanising the policies are.it is like going back to the Victorian era and its treatment of the poor.

Don't be ridiculous. There is free contraception available in this country. Or just stop shagging if you can't afford a third baby

I was on free contraception when DS2 appeared! It’s not that simple. Before you flame me I’m not on benefits, but contraception isn’t 100% as we all know.

“Stop shagging” - oh fuck off. Here come the “I’m a taxpayer therefore I have the right to tell anyone on benefits what to do because I pay for them” posts. No, you don’t.

I don't think anyone should choose to have children based on the amount of tax credits. they would receive surely that's irresponsible , circumstances do change I never expected to have to give up working due to having a disabled child, most people have to choose how many children they can realistically afford and lots of people who don't receive tax credits probably couldn't have afforded a third child I know we couldn't when we both worked.

I'm split on this issue tbh, UC is a fuck up for a lot of reasons, and I find it very hard to think of someone having an abortion they dont really want.

However, this isn't exclusive to UC. Plenty of people have abortions if they can't afford children, both working and non. Why should one group be exempt? We had an unexpected thire child last year and are lucky in that while we aren't rolling in it, we had enough flex not to worry too much. If we couldn't have afforded it without negatively impacting our current children the outcome may have been different. However our employers would not increase our salaries to cover another mouth to feed.

Sorry but the tax payer shouldn't pick up the burden of other peoples need to procreate. Responsible people plan their families and what they can afford. Anyone can have a contraceptive slip up, so get the MAP as a precaution.

One of the richest countries in the world we can afford to pay benifets to everyone who needs it we just need to chase big companies that do not pay there share of taxes.

UC is pure ideology rather than fiancal neccessity why they hell do we now have a 3000% increase in the useage of food banks that less rich European nations dont need .......

Its very niave to think that you know when to take the MAP or that it's even 100% affective! Plus if you're poor how can you afford that every single time there is a microscopic chance?

I'm not sure what the answer is

Contraception's the answer. Adults taking responsibility is the answer.

The management of universal credit is shit, there is genuinely vulnerable people who are having their lives ruined by this system due to all the fuck ups. This article had me angry as the stress was unnecessary
www.buzzfeed.com/emilydugan/these-women-were-taken-to-court-for-eviction-because-of?utm_term=.ilZMNMAqW#.af4262PqD

Contraception's the answer. Adults taking responsibility is the answer

No contraception is 100%, and by adults taking responsibility do you mean terminating an unplanned pregnancy or is there another way?

www.buzzfeed.com/emilydugan/these-women-were-taken-to-court-for-eviction-because-of?utm_term=.wu3y86WaQ#.ugBKJ5WyA

UC tells people they are paying their rent direct to the landlord, and then doesn't pay, resulting in attempted evictions.

UC is a huge fuck up, unless of course the aim is to get as many people off benefits as possible with no thought to their survival.

There is free contraception available in this country. Or just stop shagging if you can't afford a third baby

Exactly. Plus there's always the third option of working or working more if a third chid is what you want.

Those in receipt of no benefits have to work out finances before adding another child so it's a much fairer playing field now. We shouldn't be handing out money to those that want something but feel others should pay.

I've never managed to be pregnant when I didn't plan to be, it's not hard.

But how do you guess between the genuine accidents and planned pregnancies? There does have to be a line.

I have managed to be pregnant when I didn't want/plan to be however. The first time I terminated (following condom split and MAP fail) and the second is asleep on my lap (had a coil fitted, apparently not all that reliable 😂)

Some people act as if the third child will cost hundreds more a week when it's absolutely peanuts compared with housing benefit and the amount that goes to private landlords.

Yet again a horrible government policy is translated into how we can blame women.