Why do you benefit bash?

[greyblanket76]

My family and I are working class and always have been. My friends are too and so are the people that I tend to socialise with/meet in everyday life. I've only been on MN since last year but have seen so many comments bashing people who are on/depend on benefits and I'd really like to know why?

Is this because some people on here think everyone that's on benefits is lazy and doesn't want to work therefore claim benefits? Or is it something else?

I'll talk about my situation and will keep it as brief as possible as I already know people will come in the comments to try and shame me. I'm early 20s and a single mum (didn't start out that way but your whole life can literally change overnight and that's what happened to me). I have one DC and I'm expecting another so I've been on maternity leave back to back as I'll have 2 under 2.

I've worked full time since I was 17 right up until I went on my first maternity leave. Due to the rate of SMP, I'm entitled to benefits as SMP doesn't even cover my rent which is £1200. I'm entitled to £1670 of UC which covers my rent and all my bills. During the first 9 months of my maternity leave I was receiving around £1507 UC (due to deductions) + £638 SMP = £2145 a month.
Once I give birth to my second DC, my UC entitlement should go from £1670 to £1907. This isn't 100% accurate but due to receiving SMP, let's say the deductions would be due £1700 UC + £638 SMP = £2388 a month. That would be excluding child benefit for both children btw.

When I was working full time, I was earning £1383 a month. I do plan to go back to work after my maternity leave ends as I genuinely love my work and have my whole career in front of me. However can people see the huge jump in difference between the two amounts? Nearly a grand in total! When returning back to work, I would be entitled to some benefits however because I'd be working full time, it wouldn't be a lot. That's why it's advised that you drop hours to work part time in order to get the most help available.

I've read my post back and hope it isn't too confusing but I just wanted some people who benefit bash to understand that sometimes life on benefits seems better especially as you have kids because you get so much more help. My mum keeps telling me to consider not working for a year or two just because I need to consider the quality of life my DC and I will have. I wouldn't be able to pay for rent AND childcare so what would I do? There's a lot that comes into play when deciding if you should go back to work or just be on benefits and I hope some people got that from this post. Seeing as this is an anonymous forum, if you judge/bash people on benefits, I'd really be interested to hear why. Posting in AIBU because I'm prepared to be flamed and have learnt not to take nasty comments to heart

And me, so irresponsible

We have comprehensive insurance that covers most of our main bills in the event of one or both of us becoming disabled or suffering injury that impedes our ability to work

Most of your bills? How will you pay for everything else? And for how long? In my experience these policies are time-limited. What happens if your illness or disability is permanent?

@Florenz

I don't think the current benefits system will exist in 20 years. There won't be the money, or the political will to continue it. There'll be some kind of unemployment insurance that you pay into as you work, but it will be time limited, you won't be able to claim for years. And there'll be some kind of help for the severely disabled. But other than that people will be expected to work until they can afford to retire.

If this ever happened, which I pray it never will, then thousands and thousands of people would simply die destitute. Children would go into care as their parents wouldn't be able to afford to care for them, crime would skyrocket, and ultimately it would cost the government massively more than the current, unfit for purpose, system.

What is totally lacking in the benefits system is any sense of humanity or care at all. It is solely about spending as little as possible to stop (most) people dying. As a country that likes to think of ourselves as developed and progressive, the fact that so many people are homeless or in temporary accommodation, that people are having to chose between food and heating, and that people can work full time and still not be able to afford to support themselves should be a source of national shame.

@Viviennemary

The benefits system is mad. Nobody should be paid more than minimum wage on benefits. IMHO. I thought payments were now capped at £1500 a month

So DH, who is on SSP and PIP due to terminal cancer and a stroke should be on minimum wage because the people he works for don't pay sick pay? He's worked all of his adult life, has never needed benefits until now but now he does he gets a fraction of what he was earning up until the day before his stroke. We don't get any other benefits, no housing benefit, no council tax benefit, nothing.

@dontdoubtyourself

Op your calculations might seem great now, but as soon as your youngest turns 3 you will be expected to work at least 16 hours per week. And expected working hours goes up when they turn 5.

@dontdoubtyourself I'll be returning to work once my maternity leave is up anyway

@Waxonwaxoff0 well fuck me if I’d have known that I’d have given up work for six years as well if it meant I’d get a couple grand in benefits. How did I not know this, is it because I’ve always worked and expected to work even after I had children? Much like the op has said she has done and expects to do but of course then earn a wage significantly lower than what benefits pays out. Now that is just a fucked system.

Only have one child- will always be a little sad about that as would have loved 2. Both DH an myself work full time semi decent but pretty average salary's, nursery fees were so hard we had barely nothing left each month after rent, bills and the £1100 nursery bill..

So whilst I don't 'benefits bash' I do think the system is really unfair. That's a ridiculous amount u are brining home each month just handed to you

[quote Cheeseonpost]@Getyourarseofffthequattro

Then I’d most likely need support.

As I have said previously there are very few actual no fault reasons for relying on benefits, those who are randomly struck down with a permanent disability are those.

Not sure what you’re trying to get to here, I’m merely reiterating what I’ve already stated.

The OP however wasn’t unable to avoid the situation she is in now, she chose not to.[/quote]
Not sure what I'm trying to get it? Perhaps it's because you're blinded by your own priveledge. Again, I feel sorry for your children.

[quote Cheeseonpost]@Waxonwaxoff0

She is planning to

Since the OPs ability to plan has been a bit off so far I’m going to take that with a pinch of salt[/quote]
@Cheeseonpost seriously are you okay? Has someone on benefits hurt you, you seem a bit triggered? Everytime I scroll to read a new comment, I'm reading another attack from you

[quote Cheeseonpost]@Getyourarseofffthequattro

Then I’d most likely need support.

As I have said previously there are very few actual no fault reasons for relying on benefits, those who are randomly struck down with a permanent disability are those.

Not sure what you’re trying to get to here, I’m merely reiterating what I’ve already stated.

The OP however wasn’t unable to avoid the situation she is in now, she chose not to.[/quote]
@Cheeseonpost She chose to not avoid having her partner walk out on her?

The benefit system should be in place for people who have genuine reasons to not work. Not people who made poor decisions and ended up single with multiple children and useless fathers. Me and DH waited years until we had children. Worked our arses off to get a house, jobs that worked around children. Then and only then did we stop contraception. I know people who work multiple jobs just to keep a roof over their heads and I know people who just pop kids out and use them as a reason to not work. Shameful

OP apologies if this has been answered but not read the full thread.
I think the problem is OP you have not given your personal circumstances!

Is dad contributing?
Why did you choose to have 2 children so young?

You keep avoiding the question but people may be more sympathetic if you answer!
Personally yes it would be hard for you to work. However I worked a demanding job when I was a single parent with 3 children. I had three children under six. That's life. Their dad contributed - not much though.

Was I worse off- yes I was but I did it. At least the tax I paid could go towards those benefit claimants that genuinely can't work!! I was capable of work- even though I didn't want to as it was bloody hard!

This old chestnut being brought out again to justify poor life choices by the stupid

@Cheeseonpost okay you're definitely deluded🤣 I'm stupid now? Do you know me from anywhere? No but you're probably a grown woman throwing out insults to strangers on the Internet. Let me just ignore your comments before I get out of character. Wouldn't want to add to your judgement of those in benefits any further

We have 2 rental properties which cover the rest, and savings. The cover would pay for 90% of all bills and outgoings. So it’s not too much more to make up. It’s also extremely unlikely for both of us to develop a permanent disability at the same time

Right. So you have been fortunate enough to have massive investments so you’re allowed children. The rest of us shouldn’t have children or even be allowed to get on with life because we can’t invest long term the way you have?

You clearly haven’t thought the rest of it through. One even minor car crash could change both your lives forever. Or indeed, one life whilst the other is forced into a caring role. Or you think you’re immune to that?