To think relying on working tax credits and housing benefit is a bad idea

[InkedGreen]

My sister has a very decent amount coming in every month - similar to what I have as a professional with 10+ years experience.

However it's all top up earnings and she's on a low paid job two days a week.

She's quite happy to stay on 2 days even though all her children are at school.

Aibu to think she's foolish to rely on these topups and not try to get a better job or increase her hours? If they try to reform benefits she could very quickly be very poor and I'm concerned even if she isn't!

Op your sister will at some stage, either be migrated into UC or if a COC happens she’ll be moved over to UC

In reality your sister needs to be overpaying her rent, making sure she has enough to cover 6 weeks with out top up money

Then once on UC your sister will be expected to work full time - it’s not a choice but the time not working will have to be spent searching for more hours, otherwise benefits are sanctioned

And yes, I get tax credits and HB, and am scared shitless of being put on to UC. I have always worked, and currently have three or four part-time jobs, but my income is completely unpredictable. It depends on there being work available for me in some cases - and on clients actually paying for the work they have done in others. My income has gone up a bit in the last couple of years now DS is big enough to be left alone and to get himself to and from school, but it is still erratic. If, for instance, I agree to take on a job for Client A on Wednesday, and therefore inform Client B that I am not available to work for them on Wednesday, and Client A cancels at the last minute, then I have lost a day's pay through no fault of my own (as it's too late to go and work for B instead.) Sometimes this can happen three or four times a month. I get no sick pay or holiday pay. And I can't just 'get another job'. I am in my mid-50s, with a set of specialist skills that are almost obsolete, and while I might be able to get taken on by a burger bar or supermarket for 'regular' hours, I would then be stuck indefinitely on the minimum wage and still need top-ups.

As I said, we need universal basic income.

ahhhh sorry, my mistake, I didnt realise when you asked a pp for their opinion that you really didn't want to hear opinions.

@MouseInATelescope : I would swap my life for a full time job/adult company/kids in full time school right now in a heartbeat because I promise you this is absolutely hell and I feel like scum.

I'm sorry for what at your ex has put you through and I'm sorry you are struggling. That does sound very hard.

But I think most people (myself included) would be very sympathetic to your situation, because you are trying to get out of it.

I think he people that many people find frustrating are the people who just take take take from society and have no intention of ever giving back; and are blatantly rude about it at the same time.

I hope things pick up for you soon x

I mean if she’s getting too ups she can’t have a partner as anyone with two incomes isn’t entitled to any benefit help.
If she’s a single parent even if the kids are school age she’s got a house to keep and with full time hours she’d be stuck with zero time to herself.

Doesn’t affect you so leave her be. What’s the harm. I’m sure if benefits change she can go fulltime then.

What Random mess said - when DC are 16/18, the situation and benefits change.

Someone I know is in this position and is now really struggling and has resumed working full time to pay rent and outgoings.

I,work with someone who lost 800 a month once her kids left education. She now moans that she’s skint and blames the government because of how little she has coming in. I have no sympathy. She knew it would end and did nothing

What really needs to happen is for wages to be high enough to make working attractive. You can’t blame people for choosing to spend time with their kids over an extra few quid a week.

Hey I think this is going to happen to my sister and it worries me.

@TinklyLittleLaugh I agree! Even fulltime me and my partner earn roughly the same as his DB and SIL get off of benefits. The incentive to work is slim.

I'm always conflicted on these threads.

On the one hand if annoys me that someone can be bringing in the same as me for less days & spending more time with their children due to benefits. On the other hand I have a fantastic pt job that gives me flexi hours & am able to do pick ups/drop offs most days & have most of the school hols off.

Companies should be paying enough that people can live on those wages particularly as many at the top of those companies will be doing everything in their power to reduce their tax liability's. Plus I know a fair few SE people who get their salary under the 100k mark to claim the 30 hours which isn't much different really.

This is why benefits need to be much stricter than they are. Welfare should be a last resort in bad times, not there to fund lifestyle choices where people want to work little and net the most from other working tax payers.

I don’t get why any parent would want their children raised on benefits rather than provide themselves. I’d be embarrassed if others had to pick up the costs of feeding my children because i worked a token few hours only.

Oh how easy it is to get a better job that pays really well, allows you to work termtime only and have time off if your kids are ill etc.

Or - work much longer hours and have your benefits reduced by more than the extra you are earning so you end up working harder and end up poorer, have to find and pay for childcare during the school holidays and before/after school, and have absolutely no free time whatsoever because you spend every evening and all weekend doing housework.

I know what I'd do.

I thought after the child turned 5 people had to look for work? More fool her. I work in a very physical care job. Some of the ladies there had a similar set up. But then kids leave, no more benefits. They're now working all hours god sends to make ends meet and are the wrong age for such a physical job. I wouldn't say anything though. Not your monkeys and all that

What really needs to happen is for wages to be high enough to make working attractive

Cutting benefits or tougher sanctions would be better. If a person has no work ethic it doesn’t really matter what the wage is.

@yourestandingonmyneck

I appreciate it, thanks next year I'm doing an access course then hopefully, fingers crossed going to Uni to study mental health nursing. Kids in full time school parents will be retired by then too so can help. I see all the parents dropping their kids off at Nursery/school and rushing off to work or to do courses and think that'll be me next year. I'll feel worth something then!

I don't understand why anyone wants an actual life on benefits. At the end of your life looking back, nothing to be proud of, no opportunities, no chances... what a wasted life. Tragic.

It needs to be her decision. I work full time - and then some - as a single parent. My life is utter hell. My children are frankly neglected in favour of other people’s children, all so I can say ‘I don’t claim benefits’. Pride. I did it all myself. God only knows how they’ll remember their childhoods but mum yelling, depressed, sad, fed up, will feature heavily in it. I doubt they will say ‘we’re so proud you did it alone’.

Up to her. We’re all different. Maybe rather than the judgement, R supportive? Easy to judge a situation without any experience of it. If I could do it again, I wouldn’t take this path.

@WhoKnewBeefStew this is exactly what I was going to comment!

I mean if she’s getting too ups she can’t have a partner as anyone with two incomes isn’t entitled to any benefit help

Please check your facts before posting your judgemental rubbish. Totally incorrect.

Increasing her hours in a low paid job is pointless, she'd be no better off financially. She'd be much better off using any free time she has to study/learn new skills so she can earn a better wage when the time comes, or look for p/t work with prospects where she might have to start at the bottom.

Presumably she knows the risks

The thing is that many people (women) don't. When they roll over to UC they will be hit hard. Private rents will have gone up in that time and HB rates decreased. People who were previously calculating how they could minimize hours will be hit very hard; they may never have worked FT and in an increasingly competitive job market will not be looked upon as favourably.

My dsis lives and works in Ireland and according to her the system there incentivizes going into employment, whereas the UK doesn't. She said about how people on unemployment benefits still get paid a certain percentage of their benefits for 3 years post employment, the same for those who have completed higher education whilst unemployed. I've no idea if this is still the case, but it sounds like a good model.

There’s no rules and so people can work 2 days and get top up benefit. If healthy they should be encouraging people to work more hours

If I had my life again I think I’d not bother with s university degree and professional training. Honestly. Why would you?

I have a friend like this who ‘earns’ the same as me for staying home some of the week. She has no qualifications and a low paid low skill job, but we take home the same pay.

Honestly why would people bother to get into debt at uni?

@Sotiredofthislife facts have been run by two welfare advisors and citizens advice. I’m on mat leave and partner works (not high paid) and not entitled to anything. So yeah facts are straight

It’s probably a bad idea to rely on anything or anyone, but For some people until Employers are made to pay a decent wage for decent days pay. A lot have no choice.
I fully agree If you’re working full time. You shouldn’t need any benefits..