Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I worse off than someone on on UC??

166 replies

Underduvet33 · 18/02/2022 20:12

AIBU here to be annoyed? I recently heard someone say that they get £1300 in Universal credit per month and work 12hrs a week earning approx 300 pounds per month- plus they get all their childcare free as on UC plus require less childcare as only work 12 hours a week

That leaves them with 1600 to spend on rent etc (do they get help with this too??)

I don’t get any benefits I have 2 children in nursery full time- so I can work full time. Even with one of my children receiving 30 hours free - after childcare costs are deducted from my take home salary I’m left with 1100 a month to pay rent bills etc. i am in a good job with a good profession but it seems I’m worse off than someone on benefits?

Have I got this all wrong? If I quit my job worked and worked a small part time job claiming benefits of get more money per month in my pocket and spend more time with my kids?

I really think I must have misunderstood because I don’t get the impression that people on benefits are living the high life?

What have I misunderstood??? Were the numbers I told incorrect??

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/02/2022 20:15

Are you both lone parents? Have you done an Entitled.to calculation to check for any working tax credit/UC help with childcare costs?

Mumoblue · 18/02/2022 20:16

If you are legitimately confused over your entitlement if you worked less hours, here you go: www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

I am so tired of the Universal Credit threads. If they get 1600 they will have to pay their rent with that amount, they wouldn’t get rent on top of that.

Best of luck.

Ponoka7 · 18/02/2022 20:17

My DD has two children and has never got that. She got around £1k a month. You don't get any other money towards your rent, that's it. Your example is very lucky to have her child care covered, a lot of nurseries give set hours, if you are talking about her 15 free hours. Every two year old gets that. You don't get free childcare on UC, people on low incomes get 30 hours for a 3/4 year old.

Sofiegiraffe · 18/02/2022 20:18

You are probably temporarily worse off than someone on UC claiming for 2 children in FT childcare. But in the future (when your DC start school for example), your childcare costs will drop and you'll be better off than someone on UC then, because the money you're paying out for childcare will be back in your pocket. However someone claiming UC and not working will lose the childcare element of UC when their DC are no longer in childcare, making them worse off. Staying in employment pays in the longer term, imo.

Ponoka7 · 18/02/2022 20:19

Also she isn't just 'on benefits', she is on top up benefits, why shouldn't she get enough to manage?

BigPurpleEgg · 18/02/2022 20:20

I'm a single parent (dad doesn't have any overnights with kids) to 3 kids, I can't afford to go back to work yet due to childcare costs. I'm on 1200 a month for me and 3 kids in a 3 bed house. Dad pays the bare minimum CS so it's a struggle. I wouldn't be any better off working part time so I don't and won't until I can go back to my proper job (teacher)

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 18/02/2022 20:22

Is her rent more than yours? Universal credit has a housing element as part of it.

Also are you both single parents? Or do you have a partner?

And there's nothing stopping you claiming universal credit too, you could be entitled to some money too. Me and my husband both work and we are entitled to it.

BigPurpleEgg · 18/02/2022 20:22

Just to add I can pay the heating (for now) and put food on the table. The kids do dance classes etc. I'm not destitute. But I've not bought myself new clothes, had a night out or my hair done for years. My winter boots have holes in and Im wearinf my exs wellies when it rains. So I'm far from living the high life but my kids are comfortable and that's what counts

RandomMess · 18/02/2022 20:25

Biggest factor is always rent. Who benefits from that - Landlords.

Original poster
Underduvet33 · 18/02/2022 20:26

Thanks for the info and replies. I fully support the system and believe everyone should be adequately supported to live.

I had not taken into account longer term prospects/ financial support in the longer term that is a good point

OP posts:
Really18 · 18/02/2022 20:29

@Ponoka7

My DD has two children and has never got that. She got around £1k a month. You don't get any other money towards your rent, that's it. Your example is very lucky to have her child care covered, a lot of nurseries give set hours, if you are talking about her 15 free hours. Every two year old gets that. You don't get free childcare on UC, people on low incomes get 30 hours for a 3/4 year old.
That not entirely correct not every 2 year old gets free 15 hours at 2. You only get it if you receive certain benefits or on a low income. Everyone get free 15 hours from 3 but if you meet the eligibility you could get 30 hours.

OP I think you need to check your entitlement on a benefits calculator. You can see what you would get if your circumstances change. They are actually very accurate.

PicaK · 18/02/2022 20:30

Have you checked that you're not eligible for any form of UC

cadburyegg · 18/02/2022 20:39

Single parent here. I get £400 a month UC on top of my part time wage. I have a mortgage which makes me ineligible for housing help. HTH

Original poster
Underduvet33 · 18/02/2022 20:39

Thanks :) I am fortunate to have family support so I am well supported. I suppose like for like I just was shocked, but actually reading this I think really now when I read this and think about it- what I should be annoyed at is not her and how much free money she has is instead the problem here is not with benefits or UC amount it is with the amount / proportion of my salary that is being paid to childcare

(So I guess I actually am being unreasonable!!!!!!)

OP posts:
Musereader · 18/02/2022 20:47

Assuming you are a single parent and Given the information you have given about your self you are entitled to at least a £400 top up from UC yourself, better get claiming.

Your eligibility is £324.84 single person + £282.50 + £237.08 + an unknown amount of rent + up to 646.35 for childcare So at least 1490.76. The amount deducted for wages will be 1800 - 335 x 55% ( I assumed £700 per month for childcare because you don't specify) =805.75

so 1490.76 - 805.75 = 605.01 plus as said an unknown amount towards rent.

That 1300 the other person gets does include rent, (but not childcare as she gets that free).

Musereader · 18/02/2022 20:51

In order to be accurate I would need to know if you were single, how much childcare you pay and what your lha area is as of this website lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/

Isntisironic1 · 18/02/2022 21:00

Yes if you are a single parent on let’s say for arguments sake minimum wage you are better off working part time than full time. The system is so messed up

forinborin · 18/02/2022 21:05

Yes, with two in the nursery you will be worse off compared to a single parent working minimum hours on welfare. I've been in your position, and was worse off on a ~80K salary (total childcare costs almost 3K at that time).
If I had an option to go on benefits at that time, I would in a heartbeat, not for the money, but for the additional time with my babies.

Belle96 · 18/02/2022 21:09

Im a single parent to two. I have a well paid full time job. I get UC. Not to the levels in your OP and still my youngest will not get the 15 hours free when she turns two despite this
Im also lucky to have family to help
If youre a single parent check the calculator every penny really does help and I've been putting this away to be able to pre pay and put him in nursery as soon as I can

RJnomore1 · 18/02/2022 21:14

How on Earth does she only get £300 a month for working 12 hours a week?

HeyGepetto · 18/02/2022 21:18

Can I just point out that UC claimants are only eligible for a set amount of help towards rent, this does not come anywhere close to covering actual rental prices. For example, where I live the local housing allowance for a 2 bed property is around £600, the actual price is more in the region of £850 and they are few and far between.

EmbarrassedAllOver · 18/02/2022 21:20

@Ponoka7

My DD has two children and has never got that. She got around £1k a month. You don't get any other money towards your rent, that's it. Your example is very lucky to have her child care covered, a lot of nurseries give set hours, if you are talking about her 15 free hours. Every two year old gets that. You don't get free childcare on UC, people on low incomes get 30 hours for a 3/4 year old.
Nope. Every 3 year old gets 15 hours free.

Only those on UC get it from 2 years.

womaninatightspot · 18/02/2022 21:20

I think crunch your numbers on benefits calculator. I work 30 hours a week but really I'm worse off if I work more. By the time I pay for petrol. You can claim back up to 85% of childcare costs depending on income but that can also be counted as income which decreases the amount of council tax you need to pay.

Musereader · 18/02/2022 21:20

Basically as a single parent with one child who rents I would have to earn 2,530 per month to not get the basic UC and 3,705 per month if I include the maximum childcare.

Every body who rents and has children should be able to get UC if the monthly household income is less than 2k and sometimes even higher than that. Exactly how much depends on the exact circumstances, but there are a lot of people on around 2-3k who seem comfortable that don't even consider it but are still angry about the help others get.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/02/2022 21:22

You do not get free childcare on UC and you need to be working a minumum of 16 hours to get help towards childcare costs so they're talking bullshit.

Swipe left for the next trending thread