Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I can go on benefits instead of returning to work?

502 replies

UniversalCreditOrNo · 30/10/2019 22:53

NC for this.

Let me start off by saying this....up until
February last year, I have never not been in work. I got my first job at 13, was working full time and living alone at age 21 (before which I worked 25 hours a week alongside my studies) and it was only last year when I decided to go travelling that I ever found myself without employment. I got pregnant at the end of my travels, and here is where I find myself.

My daughter is now 6 months old. In 3 months time, I’m supposed to go back to work. How do people afford to do it? Childcare is £56 a day where I am. On my current minimum wage job that’s a take home of around £30 a week....before tax and NI.

My partner is on around £20k and I can rely on family for 1 day a week childcare. So here’s my AIBU. Can I go on benefits, instead of going back to work? Is that a thing people can do?!

I don’t know how it works. My area is universal credit....is there even such a category for this? It’s not jobseekers as I wouldn’t be looking for work, and it’s not like I’m signed off with illness or disability.

My partner is convinced we can because he doesn’t earn a lot and ‘this is precisely what the benefits system is for’. However....his mum is a serial benefits user....everything from being a stay at home single mum until her youngest was 15, until now where she’s signed off for an injury from 3 years ago she still claims is affecting her work ability Hmm All I can think of is the stigma behind choosing to go on benefits, but right now I can’t see another option.

OP posts:
Sceptre86 · 31/10/2019 10:29

*kids

chippychip1 · 31/10/2019 10:31

Do people really think people who are benefits legitimately are living a champagne lifestyle?

Or that the welfare bill is so high because some mothers decide not to work & claim £100 a month?

59% of the welfare bill is spent on pensions, £92bn,
27bn is spent on families with children eg tax credits.
Housing benefit equates to 23bn

satanstoenailsandwich · 31/10/2019 10:35

'Creasing at a PP who said ‘champagne lifestyle’. Her baby is bloody 6 months old for Christ’s sake! You shouldn’t be away from your baby for long periods of time until they’re at least 1yo IMO'

Well that's nice of you to say in a forum full of mums who had to go back to work when their children were under 1 to keep a roof over their heads.

Chloemol · 31/10/2019 10:45

Wow just where is your pride? What example are you going to be to your child? Lots of people are in your situation and don’t expect others, ie the taxpayer to cover the costs of your choice to have children

That child is your responsibility not mine though my taxes

Get an evening job, get a weekend job, see if you can amend your hours but don’t expect the rest of us to pick up the slack because you chose to have a child you are now saying you can’t afford care for

Camomila · 31/10/2019 10:51

I would look to see what childcare help you are entitled to.
Almost everyone seems to be entitled to tax free childcare.
I think people are entitled to up to 80% of childcare paid if they are on UC (but I don't know what counts as a low earner for that)

If not see if you could work p/t...if your PIL can help out one day a week and you work 3 days a week you'll still get a profit.

(I'm jealous of your nursery costs, under 2s places are around £65-70 per day where I live!)

katseyes7 · 31/10/2019 10:53

My friend was on ESA, then they took her off it. She was told to apply for JSA/UC (l forget which), but they didn't tell her that she'd only get it for six months. Because she lives with her partner (not married) and he's in a job with a decent salary, she gets nothing in benefits. He's expected to keep her. So l don't think you'd be eligible for any benefits.

Lyingonthesofainthedark · 31/10/2019 10:54

You can get tax credits on his income with a baby I think.

hardyloveit · 31/10/2019 11:04

If your both working the gov will pay 20% of your childcare costs now. This is what we have to do. I work mainly weekends and evenings to save on childcare costs but youngest also goes to nursery twice a week and the gov 20% really makes a difference. If yours is £56 a day that's £11.20 they will pay towards it so you will making more than £30

chippychip1 · 31/10/2019 11:04

How many people on this thread get child benefit? Or what about those in social housing who earn a good wage? Which benefits are acceptable?

Jeschara · 31/10/2019 11:05

Go to your local jobcentre and find out. 20k is not alot for 2 adults and a baby. Do you pay rent? Also UC will incorporate child tav credits and if you pay that help with the rent

Take no heed of the judgey comments they are nonsense. Your partner works full time and anything you get is conditional. Who does not make lifestyle choices, remember people who work still get child benefit and child tax credits. Do not feel guilty.

Jeschara · 31/10/2019 11:19

Sorry tax credits and help with the rent.

Original poster
UniversalCreditOrNo · 31/10/2019 11:27

Still getting emails saying I'm getting responses.

Decision is made, I will be returning to work two days a week with a top up from UC, which according the website I am entitled to.**

This brings my monthly take home not much less than what I currently earn on SMP, just enough in my area to not starve.

Thank you to the positive people on this thread for all your help and suggestions!

OP posts:
apacketofcrisps · 31/10/2019 11:29

@UniversalCreditOrNo do you realise you could have not had a child? It is a choice

Samplesss · 31/10/2019 11:32

At my universal credit meeting recently they told me I don't have to work until baby is 3 and in nursery but if I do they will pay 85% of my childcare fees.

I do wonder what the incentive is to go back to work unless you're on mega bucks, 85% off, jeez. Btw I'm not against anyone getting support who needs it, but when a lot of mums would love to stay off but can't afford to, that stings a little.

00100001 · 31/10/2019 11:36

@apacketofcrisps what a knobbish thing to say.

timshelthechoice · 31/10/2019 11:36

Just to clarify: there are NO MORE tax credits for new claimants. It's a legacy benefit. All UK councils are now full service UC. It's UC for the OP, not tax credits.

Secondly, what's really harsh is the financial stupidity of so many people who jack in FT work to look after kids they have with 'partner'. It is a highly unwise financial mistake.

You won't get much if anything on UC if your partner earns £20k, but you need to stay in work to ensure your pension and earnings potential. Sadly, a majority of these partner relationships ends, even more so than marriages.

You and your partner need to think about how you will pay for the cost of childcare together and of bringing up your child but he's mistaken if he thinks his responsibility extends to 'get benefits' and that the government owes him to pay for his kid by your going on benefits to enable him on top of that.

Gonorth · 31/10/2019 11:37

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz No problem
I worked in the caring professions ( post grad. Prof qualifications )

I wanted to stay at home and this seemed the natural solution for me . I did however treat it like the proper job it was ( things like medical kniwledge and diets etc really helped ) and had a structured day . I was exhausted , but it was a very special job to do as some children had some separation anxiety etc at times .

It’s certainly not for everyone .

Op I see that you have one day a week childcare via family ..
you could work one day , then do weekend work .. living rurally does have its issues .. but often I find employers are desperate for staff as there are less people concentration wise . ?

Mrsboombastic99 · 31/10/2019 11:47

Sorry if this has already been mentioned but would you consider child minding? You would obviously have to look into it but it would mean you could work from home and be able to take care of your child whilst making some money too?

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 31/10/2019 11:49

And you sound like the type of professional I would feel comfortable leaving DD with back in the day Smile

OP also it may be worth looking into things like Appen and Crisp for work you could do remotely from home? I'm sorry I don't know how to link but I think in the Money Matters MN corner there is a constant running thread "Make £10 a day" or similar with lots of recommendations along those lines.

Good luck with your next steps.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 31/10/2019 11:50

GrinGrin

elizalovelace · 31/10/2019 12:03

You say you dont want your DC to go to a stranger at nursery, does this also mean then you wont be sending DC to school as the teacher will also be a stranger?

Handsnotwands · 31/10/2019 12:15

I just don't want to leave my little girl with a total stranger all day and then be almost entirely out of pocket

but that's precisely what an awful lot of us have to do, which possibly explains some of the hostility

short term pain for long term gain innit

Andysbestadventure · 31/10/2019 12:19

I get more in tax credits than I would in work right now after childcare fees. I'll be going back to work full time when DS is 3 next year and we qualify for free hours. Until then, nope. I'm staying part time and DS is in nursery for 15hrs a week which takes up most of my part time wage.

Moominfan · 31/10/2019 12:37

Best of luck op x

ItIsWhatItIsInnit · 31/10/2019 12:43

do you realise you could have not had a child? It is a choice

Harsh but true. Do people not research local nursery fees, benefits and compare those against their wages before planning to have a child?

It's a bit oblivious to have one then say "But nursery is so expensive!"