To ask you to help me work this out?

[Lulu2021]

My head is a mess as I'm going through some relationship difficulties with a young baby and I'm trying to make sense of my entitlement to financial help.

I've done a UC calculation a few times but it comes out with an amount that i think is an overestimate.

My details are;

• FT salary of £47,126, net monthly income £2,516 after deductions.
• 2 DC (ages 15 years and 6 months) - no childcare costs for eldest, costs of £700 pm for youngest when I go back to work from mat leave.
• child maintenance of £120 pm for the eldest child only.
• private rented property
• no other benefits claimed
• no significant savings

It's telling me I'd be entitled to in the region of £650 pm as a single parent. Does this sound right? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Op

Why are you doing this to yourself

You have got pretty definitive help from people in the know (UC benefits advisors!)

Why are you responding to the baiting. Just hide the thread.

Look I don’t begrudge you but your reasoning makes no sense. You’re suggesting you don’t get anything back in taxes except you do.. it’s not you get 300 but you pay in 500 so you’re covered.

That 500 goes towards road maintenance, bin collection etc. never mind the fact that you have children so are all using the National health service, schools etc. you will always be taking out far more than you oh in unless you’re in the 1%.

OP use www.uceplus.co.uk and use their calculator.
Myself and my husband take home about the same as you and we are entitled to something, but that's mostly because of childcare costs!

@Reallyimeanreally2022

Op

Why are you doing this to yourself

You have got pretty definitive help from people in the know (UC benefits advisors!)

Why are you responding to the baiting. Just hide the thread.

I honestly don't know! I just had no idea the general public could be so bitter and angry about someone getting temporary support at a shit time in their life when they've never asked for or needed it before. I thought Mumsnet might be a good place to seek support and understanding - given its full of fellow mums who might know what it's like to struggle or experience relationship difficulties. I was evidently wrong.

@Newmum29

Road maintenance and bin collection?! Isn't that covered by my council tax? Why am I paying for that twice from my taxes as well?

never mind the fact that you have children so are all using the National health service

Using it.... working hard in it and being a role that helps to improve it .......... yes. Such a scrounger I am.

Road maintenance comes from central govt as well as local funds - there’s an amount sent to each local area. Roads are paid for form income tax and from council tax.

[quote ThisMustBeMyDream]@lynntheyresexpeople no it hasn't, and yes she is.
And cut out the catty comments. It isn't needed.

I can earn (single mum of 3, one on HRC DLA) over 60k before any entitlement would end.

Do you know something though? I'd have much much much rather of had a husband and non disabled child. I'd have rather not raised my 3rd child alone from the off, and had to pay a Nanny just so I could still go out to work in my career. Yet there are a load of envious people on here, who seem to actively want to be in this situation, just so that they too can be "entitled". I mean, come on... this way of thinking is insane. Be grateful you are not in the shit, like OP, myself and countless others have found themselves.
I mean, we are literally talking about taking money away that is intended to support children. People want the mother and children to suffer, rather than the state helping at a time of need. I know there are countries out there that like that philosophy. Thank goodness we don't live in one of them....[/quote]
Exactly this. I bet half of these posters were voting for free school meals and vouchers. Now look? I don't rember many piping up where is your child's father then!

You shouldn’t have posted on AIBU

Just call citizens advice. Get them to do a calculation. And read the posts by the poster who is a UC benefits advisor

And then focus on your baby, because the daft responses from those who think £47k salary is huge are invariably going to be antagonistic

[quote Lulu2021]@ANameChangeAgain

"Most families" might not have studied and worked their arse off for over a decade to be professionally where they are, making multiple sacrifices along the way. Sorry but your comment has infuriated me. [/quote]
And there was me thinking that benefits were paid out on need, not how hard somebody has worked and studied. 🤨

I haven’t read all 25 pages and I know the benefits system is flawed, but I will be genuinely shocked if somebody on £47k is entitled to benefits.

@Lulu2021

If you claim, you can claim & that's the fault of the system. But it's not that on £47000 you can't afford to pay childcare, it's that you can't afford your optional pension savings & a lease car (have you looked at returning it & getting something cheaper?) or expensive items like a 2k bed.

Yes if he doesn't keep paying his half of the hire purchase things you could look at him being made to.

It's not a case of forcing unmarried mothers to quit their jobs at all. It's a case of someone being paid £47,000 not cutting their clothing instead expecting to continue the same lifestyle.

I just think there are other things you need to do before relying on UC to pay for HP & car leasing etc.

@Bigeggsinapackoften

Road maintenance comes from central govt as well as local funds - there’s an amount sent to each local area. Roads are paid for form income tax and from council tax.

I mean OP - see how far your thread has been derailed!!

The op asked and I answered? It’s not a derail?

Lulu, it’s an emotional time for you, you’ve got the help you needed on UC, just hide this thread now.

People are mostly reacting out of surprise that a salary of over £47K means someone is eligible for UC. We’re told quite often by the media that UC is a terrible amount to live off etc - it actually is surprising that a salary like yours is eligible.

But that doesn’t make you personally wrong to claim it.

So just hide the thread, it won’t do you any further good.

@Whatamesssss

Everyone saying the OP should not be entitled on that salary.

Can you not see that it is better this way?

If she gets no help, she will have to give up her job, claim a lot more money and also pay no NI or Income tax. The public purse would be worse off.

Please think and engage critical thinking before posting bile.

I shouldnt ask this but I will, if OP was to give up work completely would that work better for her? I expect not, right because she is on a 'good' salary? Just trying to understand the system.

*It's a case of someone being paid £47,000 not cutting their clothing instead expecting to continue the same lifestyle.

*
Trust me when I say my lifestyle will be not even remotely close to where it was when his income was factored in. There were months he was bringing home close to 3k! You really honestly think my aim here is to maintain that lifestyle?! By substituting his 3k for £336 in benefits to help with a brand new £700 being added onto my outgoings?

You'll have to trust me when I say my aim is to stay afloat for a few years and keep my career, and nothing more.

Also what are you talking about? Just because you work in a role that’s meant to improve the nhs doesn’t mean you don’t benefit from the service?

Anyone who has children is using a lot of public service money in so many different forms, it’s not a judgement, it’s a fact.

I also wasn’t calling you a scrounger, I said I don’t begrudge you because I don’t but people massively overestimate their own contribution. You’re incredibly lucky to live in a country with free healthcare and education.

@FWBNC And have you written to your MP about these facts on UC you dislike and disagree? If you haven’t it would be interesting to know why you haven’t done so

@NoSquirrels

Lulu, it’s an emotional time for you, you’ve got the help you needed on UC, just hide this thread now.

People are mostly reacting out of surprise that a salary of over £47K means someone is eligible for UC. We’re told quite often by the media that UC is a terrible amount to live off etc - it actually is surprising that a salary like yours is eligible.

But that doesn’t make you personally wrong to claim it.

So just hide the thread, it won’t do you any further good.

You're right.

I've been patient but seriously. Fuck this. I have enough of the being metaphorically kicked when I'm down at home at the moment. Don't need it by self righteous, judgemental Internet strangers as well.

To all those who have enjoyed their little digs and popped along to tell me I don't deserve any help: I sincerely hope you never fall open temporary difficult times and need a little safety net to see you through. I hope your lives continue to run smoothly and predictably forevermore. Most of all, if that doesn't happen and you need support and post on a forum for advice, I hope you are met with people with some human compassion.

To all those who have helped me with calculations and practical advise and/or simply been able to show empathy to a struggling mum - thank you again.

You’re incredibly lucky to live in a country with free healthcare

Some of which I work tirelessly in my role to provide ....... you seem to have missed that.

Just wanted to say good luck OP

Bringing up two children slime is admirable. A bit of help with childcare for a couple of years is nothing compared with what you'll contribute to society.

*alone not 'slime'

@emptyempire

Just wanted to say good luck OP

Bringing up two children slime is admirable. A bit of help with childcare for a couple of years is nothing compared with what you'll contribute to society.

And on that lovely note, I will leave the thread and focus on my baby.

Thank you x