Page 21 | To think unversal credit is a disaster *trigger warning*

jnfrrss · 2018-05-05T07:31:57+00:00

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

HelenaDove · 06/05/2018 20:02

YY Agustarella I got told "you arent human" (by a man) on a TV chat show 20 years ago.

Childrenofthesun · 06/05/2018 20:06

maybe they should have considered childcare costs before getting pregnant

So only rich people can have children??? Eugenics by stealth? The issue is that wages are too low and childcare costs are too high to create a fair society. Other countries manage so we should be able to. And plenty of people (like me) would be willing to pay more tax. Let's face it, food banks are a tax on the generous.

dorey69 · 06/05/2018 20:13

Even though this government think it’s ok to put families at risk and cause them hardship without thinking its wrong, I just can’t get my head around it. But as we see regularly of some mums having 6 or more for the fun of it. Single! No education! No intention of working etc,
Who take the mick out of the system. I worked for years till I ended up disabled and have chronic pain condition and bad nerve damage for 13 years and I have to fight every year just to stay on ESA. I don’t claim anything else. To scared to. Cause I have to fight after all these years of being unwell.. then you see benefit cheats pretending to be disabled and claiming everything under the sun and all the others you take the mick. I don’t think it will change till the Tories ate out.

Gilead · 06/05/2018 20:19

dorey disability benefit fraud is 0.04%.

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 06/05/2018 20:20

You don't have to be rich but nobody should be having children they alone, as parents, can't support. It's irresponsible

Perhaps if it was illegal to not financially support a child with harsh penalties for both parents then far less chidren would be born as people would make wiser choices.

Gilead · 06/05/2018 20:23

Perhaps if it was illegal to not financially support a child with harsh penalties for both parents then far less chidren would be born as people would make wiser choices. [sic]
Again, eugenics. Only the rich can procreate.

Smeddum · 06/05/2018 20:29

You don't have to be rich but nobody should be having children they alone, as parents, can't support

That statement is a contradiction. Have you been outside in the last 5 years? And actually met people who don’t live in an ivory tower?

I’ve got family members who are doctors, one is a solicitor, a couple are nurses. None of them are minted and struggle.

You’re unbelievably out of touch with reality and it shows.

LVXiii · 06/05/2018 20:41

And what about those people who have more than two children who's situation changes, which I'm sure is more common that people who are on benefits but just decide to have more kids? Do they send them back? Put the youngest up for adoption? I know I've said this before but the vast majority of people on benefits are there because something has gone wrong - they've become disabled, or become carers, or lost a job, or a marriage broke down.

Everyone talks about this stuff as if 'benefits claimants' are a separate race of people or something. They aren't. We are all potential benefits claimants and every single person reading this who has more than two children is liable to be caught by this clause.

figelnarage · 06/05/2018 20:42

Oh ffs. I don’t get any benefits and I started a new job which means I have to wait to have DC2 as I wouldn’t be able to afford without maternity pay which I had to do with DC1.
Plenty of people not in receipt of benefits DO plan around finances, so why should those who do receive benefits be any different?!

figelnarage · 06/05/2018 20:43

And to add...I cannot afford more than two children so I won’t have anymore...simple

Smeddum · 06/05/2018 20:45

Everyone talks about this stuff as if 'benefits claimants' are a separate race of people or something. They aren't. We are all potential benefits claimants and every single person reading this who has more than two children is liable to be caught by this clause

Yes! Statistics say that many people (I can’t remember the exact figure but it was very high) people are only one month’s pay away from serious financial trouble. So redundancy, illness, disability, relationship breakdown. All of these can cause immediate and sudden hardship unless you’ve got savings squirrelled away.

It’s easy to be smug when you’ve never been in that position.

figelnarage · 06/05/2018 20:45

But I am disgusted with this current government who seem to only look after the rich and f&@k everyone else

Lloyd45 · 06/05/2018 20:49

Seriously I would not have more than 2 children. I will be telling my daughter not to have more than 2 children. I am in a stable relationship and never claimed benefits but would not take the risk. 2 children is plenty

saison4 · 06/05/2018 20:54

I am in a stable relationship and never claimed benefits but would not take the risk. 2 children is plenty

so if you or one of the DC or DP were to become seriously ill or disabled and needed round the clock care, would you not require help from the state? You make it sound as if sticking to 2 DC would make sure you will never need benefits.

Thebluedog · 06/05/2018 21:00

*sosickandtired

But again - how many unemployed/low income people can even afford to pay upfront the first month, realistically??*

Surely this is something you should consider. I dont go to work, unable to pay my fuel bill to see my customers, as I have to claim this back after the event. I go without my luxuries to enable me to cover the costs to do this, it was the same when I went back to work. I ensured I had enough to cover childcare and rent before taking the job. As I said before, benefits are in place for people who can’t work. Not those who choose not to. It’s not a case of the wealthy only having children, it’s a case of only having children if you can pay for them, wether that minimum wage or £50 per hour. It’s the mentality that ‘I want I’ll have’ wether it’s a car on finance, credit cards or benefits.

Mightymucks · 06/05/2018 21:00

sticking to 2 DC would make sure you will never need benefits.

Sticking to two DC means that if you do become ill or lose your job you will be able to claim the amount which will maximise your income per family member and provide you with the best standard of living and security.

Anybody responsible would think before going ahead and having a squad of kids what would happen if they became sick or unemployed and if they could manage. It’s no secret there is a two child limit and people need to plan their families around that even if they are not currently on benefits.

RoadToRivendell · 06/05/2018 21:01

I struggle to see how it's sad that someone would have an abortion because they can't afford a child. I've had 2 abortions, it wasn't traumatic.

Left and right wing activists alike are fond of advancing the 'abortion as tragedy' narrative.

ToftyAC · 06/05/2018 21:02

As someone who relies on UC it’s utterly dreadful. There are those who tell me to get off my arse & get a job - we’ll im bloody well trying. I remember a time not so many years ago where I could walk out of one job and start another in the same week. Not any longer. I’m highly skilled and qualified in what I do professionally, but it’s damn tough out there and when you’re poor you have very very limited options. This government have made UC so we’ll all work. Fine, I’m willing to work - but getting a job that fits round childcare is a nightmare where I live.

SilverDoe · 06/05/2018 21:05

For god sake RoadToRivendell , you do not speak for all women who have had an abortion this woman found it traumatic.

Lloyd45 · 06/05/2018 21:11

I'm not saying I will never claim benefits, I'm saying I will never have more than 2 children, 2 is plenty, why would you have more, I think it's crazy, why take the risk, it's not fair on your children

RoadToRivendell · 06/05/2018 21:14

I'm not saying I will never claim benefits, I'm saying I will never have more than 2 children, 2 is plenty, why would you have more, I think it's crazy, why take the risk, it's not fair on your children

I don't understand it either. It's a high-risk proposition.

People will say they love children, yada yada. I love children, I felt the tug many times, but I didn't want to stretch to it financially.

poopsqueak · 06/05/2018 21:18

I worked on the digital side of UC for DWP. It was a shambles from the inside too. Instead of regrouping and working out what was working and starting again, they jut keep throwing more and more staff to it. To the detriment of other critical DWP services. It was why I left civil service to be honest. Massive money waste.

flowermug2 · 06/05/2018 21:20

I'm not saying I will never claim benefits, I'm saying I will never have more than 2 children, 2 is plenty, why would you have more, I think it's crazy, why take the risk, it's not fair on your children

Seriously? There are plenty of people with 3 or even 5 children who have happy lives and support themselves etc.

Lloyd45 · 06/05/2018 21:27

Yes there is but you never know what's round the corner, no relationship is 100% safe, you or your partner could fall ill, loose your jobs, why take the risk. As a woman we are the one left to pick up the pieces, the more children you have the harder to get out of poverty. We are so lucky in this country to be able to choose how many children we have. I would not want my daughter to have more than 2 children.

greystripedteepee · 06/05/2018 21:37

Quote from the article:
The pregnancy] wasn't planned as such but it wasn't avoided.

Should have used contraception.