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Original poster

To have cried!

496 replies

7dayslater · 13/12/2019 13:11

I'm 19. DS is 18 months.

I live with DP & DS. I work hard, I have 2 jobs. DP works too. So, no we don't just sit on our arses, but we still need UC help to pay the bills. I want(ed) to train and work in the NHS. I'm also interested in politics.

So yeah, when I woke up this morning and saw the election result I cried. Austerity is very real, it's not a joke or a fictional story. With the way it is right now, I cannot afford an education. I cannot afford to study for a career. I'm stuck where I am.

Sadder still, others have it far worse. There are children in poverty, a homelessness crisis, the NHS is crumbling when people need it more than ever. I can respect democracy. I can respect the vote. But I have to ask, for people like me - what now?Sad

OP posts:
TheBlueStocking · 13/12/2019 17:28

I suppose the people on this thread feel that they are entitled to an ambulance and hospital treatment if they break their leg. Bunch of scroungers. You should look where you're going. I've never broken my leg, so I see no reason why you should get taxpayers money if you are careless enough to break yours.

OrangeTwirl · 13/12/2019 17:30

People aren't 'entitled' to anything

It certainly seems like the pensioners who have paid into the pot for years are not entitled to anything. Why are people who have paid nothing entitled to everything under a Tory Govt? What that be any different under a Labour Govt? No...of course not!

jellybeann · 13/12/2019 17:30

OP I am a bit confused - have you researched your options at all? It doesn’t come across like you have. Going back into education with a young child is definitely possible, and the election results don’t change anything Confused

If you’re interested in a degree, look into student loans. At your age and situation, you would likely be eligible for a high maintenance loan, a parents learning allowance (grant) and a childcare grant. This can amount to ~£20,000 a year and only ~£9000 needs to be paid back.

If you want to go straight into nursing, there are some fantastic nursing apprenticeships that will allow you to earn whilst you learn.

Good luck, and I hope you find a way to do what you want to do!

PBo83 · 13/12/2019 17:31

I suppose the people on this thread feel that they are entitled to an ambulance and hospital treatment if they break their leg. Bunch of scroungers. You should look where you're going. I've never broken my leg, so I see no reason why you should get taxpayers money if you are careless enough to break yours.

Pointless argument as nobody chooses to break their leg. Plenty of people choose to have children that they can't afford to look after.

Unforeseen circumstances are one thing (which is why we are lucky to have the NHS and Welfare) but expecting a the government to provide you with a comfortable way of life regardless of your own choices is quite another.

OrangeTwirl · 13/12/2019 17:31

The people who struggle to work and pay tax you mean?

leckford · 13/12/2019 17:32

I don’t care about being shouted at - it is not a good idea to have a baby at 17, you need to get yourself sorted with Job/training before. It is not voters/taxpayers fault.

Lifeisabeach09 · 13/12/2019 17:32

He couldn’t organise an orgy in a brothel.

Boris would excel at this, I'm sure. Grin

churchandstate · 13/12/2019 17:33

Pointless argument as nobody chooses to break their leg. Plenty of people choose to have children that they can't afford to look after.

They chose to go hang-gliding, or fell running, or whatever activities they were pursuing when they broke their leg. What does that have to do with me? I don’t participate in risky sports; why should the taxpayer pay for their lifestyle choices?

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 13/12/2019 17:33

It’s not the governments fault whatsoever.

You choose to have a child young, chose to quit education and chose the financial commitment of a child knowing finances weren’t enough hence the benefit claim.

Our choices are ours to make, nobody else is to blame.

OrangeTwirl · 13/12/2019 17:34

I suppose the people on this thread feel that they are entitled to an ambulance and hospital treatment if they break their leg

Nobody needs an ambulance for a broken leg 🙄

Many wont see a car or taxi will suffice tho.... and that is the crux of the hospital crisis.

bringincrazyback · 13/12/2019 17:34

The government doesn’t pay for anything. The money belongs to the people.

Sums it up perfectly.

BeardyButton · 13/12/2019 17:35

This thread is so so sad. I feel so bad for the people of the UK (tho judging by NI, wont be a union for much longer). Bet in 20 yrs time it wont even be part of the G8 anymore. Its depressing to see rhetoric of anti poor, anti immigrant, personal responsibility giving rise to people voting against their own economic interests.

addictedtochoc · 13/12/2019 17:37

Whilst some posters on this threat have been horrible, I don't think it is unreasonable to expect all citizens to have a certain level of responsibility for their own lives. There will always be inequality in terms of which family you are born into and unfortunately there will always be some level of injustice for this as every family will never be equal. It is more about ensuring that they all have the bare minimum - warm roof over their heads, food, clothes etc.

However, no matter who is in power, the UK provides an education until 18 free of charge for ALL children and healthcare for ALL citizens. That is something to be grateful for.

After this stage, it is upto each individual what they do with the education they were given. I believe all individuals should be given access to some form of funding for further education - be it a loan, bursary, grant etc but this cannot be unlimited for the rest of their lives. There simply isn't the money to do this. There is a fine line between providing everything for all at whatever cost and ensuring that the top taxpayers stay in the country. As a higher rate taxpayer, I will happily pay more to help with the current education and NHS crisis and I support labour there. However, their policies were idealistic at best - there is no way a lifetime education could feasibly be funded and likewise with many other promises they made.

In OPs case, she has access to all the funding that any other student would get for their first degree. Yes, it will be harder to juggle with childcare and associated costs with having a child but this is because she chose to have her child so young. This is a consequence of her decision and I strongly believe she should have the opportunities any other young person should have but equally, she needs to make the necessary sacrifices to make it happen

Snowdropfairy85 · 13/12/2019 17:38

can anyone on UC just explain why Wouldn’t be possible for them to train in something? I’m sure I’ll be savaged for this, but it does seem that with benefits and grants and help with childcare it would be possible, so what am I missing?

OrangeTwirl · 13/12/2019 17:39

BeardyButton.

There won't be a benefits system soon because people take advantage and there is not enough to go round. End of!

HopelessLayout · 13/12/2019 17:41

I guess a lot of people have forgotten that it was the Labour gov't in 1997 that abolished student grants and introduced tuition fees for higher education.

addictedtochoc · 13/12/2019 17:42

And whoever said careers advice is terrible in this country - I couldn't agree more and this OP is a prime example. In light of her current situation, it is more important than ever that she considers what she wants to do in the long term and which courses will get here there.

Flitting about between multiple options which are not even remotely in the same field as each other and also have nothing in common with the one course she has done is going to waste more time and money all round

TheBlueStocking · 13/12/2019 17:43

Oh, you don't need an ambulance if you break your leg. Or a doctor, or a cast, or an xray. Why should you, if you are going to play butter fingers with your legs?

And if you find yourself pregnant too late for an abortion, presumably you should throw yourself off a cliff so as not to be a burden on society. And if you happen to have a religious or moral objection to abortion, you should be forced into it presumably, so as not to be a burden on society.

Or we could just take all of the babies from the unwed mothers and put them in the charge of the nuns to be given away for adoption to parents of means?

Poor bloody OP, having to live in a country with you.

BeardyButton · 13/12/2019 17:44

Orange Twirl... So little is lost to the exchequer by benefit fraud. Much more lost through tax evasion (or 'efficiency') by people of BoJos ilk. How is Sweden possibly still afloat, by your reckoning. But ya! Its all the poor people's and immigrants fault.
Sad thing is the policies sold as enabling social mobility through 'liberalisation' really are not going to help the squeezed middle. Really not! Thats what I mean about voting agn your own economic interests.

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 13/12/2019 17:44

Nobody needs an ambulance for a broken leg 🙄

Eh?

MrsMerkin · 13/12/2019 17:45

@PBo83 not often I agree with everything a poster writes on here but you have been spot on in your replies.
OP I’ve worked full time and done open university to get a degree to try and better my life. It can be done you just have to graft.
We live in such a materialistic and entitled society nowadays, SM is a driving force behind that! Unfortunately people seem to think everything comes easy and hard work or compromise in how you have to live your life is offensive.
As Ronan said’ life is a rollercoaster you’ve just got to ride it’ Wink

TheBlueStocking · 13/12/2019 17:48

As Ronan said’ life is a rollercoaster you’ve just got to ride it’

Let's just hope you don't fall off and break something while you're doing it. Because you'll be left on the ground to rot.

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 13/12/2019 17:48

*my sympathies with the poor and downtrodden are wearing rather thin

I'm ashamed to say it, but I know what you mean 😬. All the Tory voters being interviewed today do not look rich and are in deprived areas. I won't say it, but you know...those festive roast birds and the birth of Jesus / pagan winter festival*

Me too. The people who,voted for Brexit because of austerity.....have now voted in a govt who will make Cameron's look like a socialist wonderland.

I have the utmost sympathy and empathy for all the people who hoped for a better world and voted for a better world. Unfortunately I can't extend that to the ones who believed the lies Boris mumbled incoherently.

Parts of the press are saying today that he's not as right wing as he'd made out and we'll have a softer Brexit - but who can tell when that man lies so smoothly and easily and is so,arrogant that he believes he is entitled to the job.

You know what, I'm not going to be affected by this government's policies. I don't have children so don't need to care about schools. Can afford private healthcare so will be ok when Trump buys the NHS and asset strips it. I'll never need a food bank or benefits. But many of the people who did vote for the Tories do need those things and I am finding it impossible to think anything other than you voted for a gold plated shitstorm, fucking put up with it when it comes and don't come bleating to those of us who said it was going to happen.

scrambledeggs01 · 13/12/2019 17:50

I felt like crying this morning - not for me as I'm fortunate that I have a job and education, but for my kids future, for the children in my kids class that won't get support because there are so many cuts in education and special needs.

BeardyButton · 13/12/2019 17:52

@Leighhalfpennysthigh I agree... Except for the last part. Im jst so sad aboit it all.

I do think the the new world of politicians spinning alternative facts and never being held accountable has a part to play in it too.

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