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

So now you're moaning about them getting a job? hmm

Erm you said they’ve be worse off in the long run and I’m pointing out that they will probably be better off, as most eventually want to buy their house and get it for a hugely discounted price.

Actually hang on a second.

There is no way this can be right, surely if you've had back to back babies you aren't entitled to SMP this time around?

@Lemonlady22

You have worked since 17, now early 20s so what 6 , 7 years of tax a d NI if earnings over £12,000...I've worked since 17, to 60, never claimed a bean. You get near on £2000 a month, I've had to take early retirement due to ill health and have had to fight for over 18 months to be able to claim contributions based esa (42 plus year of contributions)..which I get for 1 year which is £ 75.00 a week...thats why I'm fed up with the system. Never mind I've got 7+ years until I retire. It's a piss take in many ways.

I'm angry on your behalf! This is what I find hugely frustrating but habitual benefit claimants will never understand. A lifetime of paying all our contributions yet others will always take far more than they put in. I don't see there being any state pension for me when I retire yet I started work at 15 and have at least 17 years still to go (you know, the goalposts will have shifted again before I get there).

People get jealous of others on benefits, years of government and media telling them that we're stealing their money to distract from the fact that actually it's the rich stealing their money.
They don't care if you're disabled they're going to spit their vitriol because we're faking it especially those of us with MH issues. I wouldn't claim PIP for years because I didn't believe I deserved it I took advice from here and put in a claim and got higher rate care and standard mobility straight after my assessment. It's not living and I'd give up all my money to be normal.
My best friend is probably more the stereotype mum of 4 kids with different dads living with one of the dads but claiming as a single parent. Looks shit when you just see those bits but you don't see her incredibly poor mental health, the 2 children with ADHD and autism and the other child with trauma from the abuse she saw her mum go through or the fact that the partner she lives with is often abusive in many ways including not supporting her or the children at all but people who bash don't care about that they need someone or something to be angry with and we're easy targets.

@Elsiebear90

So now you're moaning about them getting a job? hmm

Erm you said they’ve be worse off in the long run and I’m pointing out that they will probably be better off, as most eventually want to buy their house and get it for a hugely discounted price.

Alright. Quit your job then, go on benefits and live a great life.

I’d have a lot more patience if the OP was on the ‘baby was an accident and then my partner buggered off’ side of this coin, but to sit there and pretend (to herself and us) that it was an active and well thought out decision to have children is laughable

@Cheeseonpost you've literally made that up because where did I say that? I said, '(didn't start out that way but your whole life can literally change overnight and that's what happened to me)' I don't need to go into depth about my personal situation because that isn't what the thread was about.
Don't put words in my mouth

Honestly? It's because wages are low. £2k on benefits is £24k a year which is pretty much the average salary for your age group. Half the working people will earn less than you and have commuting/childcare costs.

They're not just bashed on MN

@Cheeseonpost

This is a goady post but I will bite

You are early 20’s with 2 under 2 and you state you didn’t intend to be a single parent?

Tbh you are the embodiment of a stereotype so I don’t think your story will help convert those who bash those who have to claim benefits to maintain a standard of living.

This in a nutshell. Early 20s but 2 kids?

Benefits are meant for those who find themselves in temporary or permanent difficulties and unable to work.

Approximately 40% of UC claimants are in work, benefits are not just for people who are not working.

A lifetime of paying all our contributions yet others will always take far more than they put in.

Those people who take far more than they put in will be most often people let down by the system and suffering mental health disorders or physical disorders that mean they can't work or need proper support back into work yet here you are angry at them. We're supposed to be supporting people who can't support themselves we're meant to want more for them and to elevate them not pull them down further because we think it's the easier life. It's really not.

Benefits should be set at x% of NMW that way everybody that works is better off than those that don't, and everytime benefits go up, people that work for a low wage get a pay rise too.

@Hospedia

I don't benefit bash, very very few people are long term unemployed by choice, and it angers me that working people need benefits in order to survive. A full time minimum wage should be high enough to afford to run a house, raise a family, and live a modest lifestyle. Instead we have a situation where minimum wage is basically poverty wage and we have people needing UC top ups and/or to work 2/3/4 jobs in order to afford "luxuries" like food and rent. It's wrong.

I massively agree tbh

£24k a year which is pretty much the average salary for your age group

Geez! Compare that to the starting salaries of police officers and prison officers who risk their lives for us all - and have to deduct travel costs to get to and from work. Eye opener.

Surely you can't be receiving that much? Are you not affected by the benefit cap?

I got the same on benefits as a single mum as I did working full time. I'm now married and my husband works full time but we're still entitled to benefits because he doesn't earn enough. I stay home because we've got four children, one with a disability so it makes sense for one of us to be home. The only way we would be better off financially if I was to work is if it to work cash in hand and commit benefit fraud.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I get why people are mad at the system but I don't get why people get mad at the individuals for it. There is plenty that is unfair about the system, not just regarding benefits either but tax, wages, etc.

Thank you that's basically what I'm trying to ask. Why are people angry/annoyed at individuals but not the actual system?

I'm on UC and work. Your UC entitlement will be deducted by 55p in every £1 after your work allowance. Also your childcare is refunded up to 85%. I think it's definitely worth staying in work, why do you think you would be worse off? The alternative is gap in your employment, losing opportunities for progression in your career, and having to make up for the shortfall in that later on. So potentially worse off in the long term too.

So you 'claim' around 24k a year in benefits and can't possibly understand why that might piss people off?
If your in your early 20's you have paid basically nothing into the system yet.
Never mind, I'm sure you'll go on to great things and pay it all back over your illustrious career.....I'm sure I'll be able to find some stats that point out that single mums in their early 20's claiming benefits go on to have the best and most financially rewarding careers out there

You yourself in your op made the point to why people do. You're better off with children on benefits than you were childless and working. It's not hard to see why people feel anger towards these situations. It's not bashing, but being frustrated at a messed up situation.

Good luck to you OP you have to start from where you are, but you COULD have made better choices. You could have.
Why do you have two children in your early 20s? You say life can change overnight, but anyone with any insight realises they are taking a big chance getting pregnant at 20 ish. You can't have known the man for many years. Why did you think he'd make a reliable Dad? Where is your own career? How hard did you work at school? Why were you working at 17? Surely you considered that you might be financially responsible for children on your own if he buggered off or even if he died. Why did you not plan for this eventuality? Most marriages end in divorce and even more cohabitaions. It just seems like you have abdicated responsibility for your own life. And then brought children into the mix.

@caranations

There really are people out there who genuinely believe that anyone on a low income or in receipt of benefits is the architect of their own misfortune, and therefore deserve fuck all.

I find that really sad but I guess you're right

We’re you pregnant with #2 when you split?

I struggle with people struggling to afford things for children they had knowing they already couldn’t afford the one/s they already had.

In this day and age contraception failures should be a really, really rare occurrence, literally everyone is taught what and how they work (and fail).

I got established in my career (and decent Maternity package) before I had children.

I agree some disabilities prevent people working, but I also work with a lot of people with a variety of disabilities and with reasonable adjustments they can hold down a job. I have inflammatory arthritis and heart issues, and I work.

There are lots of people out there for whom I wish the benefits system was simpler, and more generous. But it can’t be because there are too many people using it who should not (and with adjustments in mindset/lifestyle/area of employment) be using it.

With the hideous cost of living now I am horrified at how much more pressure everyone will be under, and over-reliance on benefits compounds this.

I think the people who are the worst claim benefits they are not entitled to. There was a woman in paper last week took £40k over many years ordered to repay £1. I get frustrated when there are woman with 6 or 7 kids from one partner. He sleeps in house with her most of but not all of time he pays council tax elsewhere and days he resides there. She claims benefits for herself and all kids and he does not pay any child support. She gets given larger accomodation and housing support. There is a woman in Birmingham who does this. People who are disabled do not get enough support because too much money goes on those who choose to live that way. I don't bash those who work and claim top ups as that is normal behaviour.