Panorama( Young families Struggling)

[dottydodah]

Did anyone see this last evening? A lady with 2 small DC and a husband working as a Research Scientist was struggling with bills .Another young Mum in tears as her energy bill was so high.A third lady (working as a Nurse) not able to run a car. How will they manage to keep going? Surely Govt could do more?

I think one of the key things that the government could and should do is to do more to ensure that absent parents pay child maintenance. CMS has to be held accountable for their failings and get these people paying for their kids.

^^THIS! How many more years do we have to watch single mothers struggle whilst dad waltzes off lead his best life?

I'm surprised nobody has been on yet to say that they shouldn't have had kids if they can't afford to support them. That's usually one of the first lines trotted out.

@MissyB1

For those criticising the nurse. You need to understand that for nurses it’s very hard to find childcare that fits in with a job that is not family friendly. Even those that have a partner struggle. I’m not surprised that particular nurse only works 3 days, for her to work full time with 3 kids, as a single parent, is going to be almost impossible in that job. Also it would probably be pointless anyway as any extra wages would simply pay the childcare. And with no benefit to her or the kids.

she worked in a radiology department so quite likely she works regular hours rather than shift work. Also she will be on Uc or tax credit both of which pay 70 or even 85% of childcare costs.

Another crazy answer pushing the blame onto the lifestyle of families. No-one would get a job at the care agency I work at if they don't have a car. Honestly, they schedule everything on the basis of travel between calls in a car (not a city centre role), you can't cycle or walk. But, drivers get paid at minimum wage and fuel only between qualifying calls (calls less than 30 mins apart, only between calls not from.office etc). Its not enough to run everything, all of us relying on partners to support us really.
You can bet not one of us is earning enough for a household and running a car (essential to our job but definitely not provided). Employers are not being pressured at all by distant, uncaring politicians that literally blame individuals for not having higher paid jobs.

I've got a degree, in a role that also would not cover the cost of childcare/ car that would be necessary in that role too.
Politicians and their best buddy business owners won't be happy until employees are paying to go to work.

I am looking for work, in care, where I won't have to run a car. No joy yet.

"Why aren't the government doing more?"

The government aren't doing ANYTHING!

Oh yes. I also have to access the Internet to demonstrate I've worked in my care job. Clients don't have WiFi. I have yo have a phone, work do not provide that, nor cover the cost of my data

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

It’s terrifying- I know I’m financially lucky and I’m petrified so god knows what will happen come October for the masses. I’m also grateful I have such young children, if I had teens using electricity , growing into adult size clothes, eating more, all activities costing we wouldn’t survive

Until recently we had four teens and yes it's a nightmare. I know it was our own decision to have them and we have always knackered ourselves out working around each other to provide for them but yes they are so expensive. I have 3 boys and they eat tons, bus pass to college costs £400 a year etc. We are lucky in that 3 out of four of our teens have managed to get well paying cleaning jobs at their old school so that helps in that they can buy stuff themselves.

@Snoozer11

"Why aren't the government doing more?"

The government aren't doing ANYTHING!

I think they are going to have to do more to help towards energy costs whether that is giving out more payments etc/ grants to the most vulnerable. The UC taper rates and work allowances changed quite a bit earlier in the year to help those on benefits but only really helped those working not those unemployed or carers etc, and the rises have in no way kept up with inflation.

@Onlyforcake yeah, but you know what, that's shit. Your employers are treating you appallingly. The care sector needs to up its fucking game, maybe then there wouldn't be such a recruitment crisis.

People are in denial. I was talking to two older, financially secure people about this, and they both said, ‘I don’t see why they can’t just work harder and not have children if they can’t afford them.’ Infuriating!!

I’m sure if miners had been spending money on cars, internet, trainers, take aways etc then they would have been hungry too rather than on a couple of bits of coal and some meat and vegetables

But the internet is essential.

@Babyroobs
Did they specify she only worked Monday-Friday 9-5? Radiology have to have out of hours staff, X rays and other procedures are needed out of hours and weekends. These days it’s very hard to get a contract that lets you out of those commitments, even if you are a single parent. Flexible or family friendly is merely paid lip service in the NHS.

It made me cry.

I made our teen DC watch it, they’ve grown up in a very comfortable bubble- not extravagant but always enough of everything. It’s not always been like this and when they were small things were pretty hard financially which we talked about after the programme. It made them realise how bloody lucky they are. The penny seemed to drop for DS in particular (oblivious, thinks it all grows on trees). We’re being hit by the price rises, NI increase, new monthly vet bill c£200, floating 2 sets of elderly parents and we’ll manage but ffs that’s because we have 2 good wages coming in. We should be in clover but will be ‘getting by’. How the hell this bastard government expects people on less to manage is beyond me. They should be made to come up with a workable budget for a family on NMW & UC and fucking well live on it for the next 12 months. They have no idea and care even less.

@Babyroobs I haven't watched this can someone tell me the channel please? Maybe she was part time because of the hours hospitals often start at 7am till 19.30.

It doesn't make a difference though she would be entitled to UC? Sounds moving I would like to watch.

Ref the nurse on the programme, I think she would be working more hours if it was that simple. Do we really think someone smart enough to be a nurse can’t balance childcare costs?

People are in denial. I was talking to two older, financially secure people about this, and they both said, ‘I don’t see why they can’t just work harder and not have children if they can’t afford them.’ Infuriating

@Blossomtoes this is what I mean. Until Mr and Mrs Comfortable in their semi detached in Surrey realize heating is £500 per month, and petrol for their range Rovers is several hundred more and they have not gotten any bonuses and the interest on their variable rate mortgage is 5% (5% on 500k!) so they barely make ends meet, they are going to be condescending and irritating.

@Dairymilk50

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0016kws/panorama-surviving-the-cost-of-living-crisis

*she worked in a radiology department so quite likely she works regular hours rather than shift work. Also she will be on Uc or tax credit both of which pay 70 or even 85% of childcare costs.

I notice you assume everyone on UC gets the full childcare costs paid. That is not the case especially if you are a nurse. 85% is the maximum they will pay. But if your hourly rate is decent its likely she won't get that in full and let's not forget you have to find the CC upfront on UC unlike the old system.

@MissyB1 you are right. There's few nurse roles that are 9-5. I work in outpatients and I start BEFORE 9am. Its often 8-6 but I will be honest.... I bagged the role in recent times and its because I already worked for the trust 8 years on a ward doing weekends/nights

You cannot assume @Babyroobs

@dottydodah

mydogisthebest How much better would she be even if she had 2 children though? Who knows what the future holds.Maybe she was happily married and was expecting to be with the DC father long term. My friend has 3 DC ,and has been working nights for a long time (SM)She is always tired and is run ragged .No support from ex .Surely we should have a better system for people who fall through the net?

Obviously I can't say how much better off she would be with 2 children but she would be spending less on food and clothes for them for a start.

She says she can't work full time because of the cost of child care but child care for 2 is, obviously, less than for 3.

I don't think anyone (unless you have lots of money) should take it for granted that they will be with their OH for ever. Even if they do stay together one could become too ill to work.

Of course no one know what is likely to happen in the future but sticking with 1 or 2 children is likely to be a lot safer than having more

@sockFluffInTheBath thank you.

The reasons why people are in these situations are complicated and you can't put the blame on one single thing. I'm sure plenty of people could take more personal responsibility but there are many who really need supporting. We have been spoilt and sheltered from the realities of life for a long time and this has been often at the expense of people in other countries.

What is the solution? We only have a finite amount of resources, so making energy cheaper is only kicking the can down the road. Renewable energy isn't a realistic option because all the other resources needed to make it work are also finite.

Agriculture is a even bigger problem, they are reliant on fossil fuels for not only machinery but for fertilizers. Modern farming practices are degrading the soil, we have or are about to hit peak food production and population continues to soar.

I can't help but feel we are on the precipice and many don't realise how bad things could get.

@Antarcticant but no reason or need to have 3 children. Just because she could, presumably, afford them at the time doesn't mean she would always be able to afford them if things changed.

If people stick with 1 or 2 then there is far more chance they will manage if something happens. For a start benefits are only paid for 2 so having more is not sensible.

So many women/couples just don't think about it. My neighbours have just had their 4th child. Neither of them work (well not officially but he works cash in hand). If anything happens to one of them or they split up they will never manage.

@elbea

The other family with a research scientist, the wife was running a shop that seemed to be making a loss. Whilst I don’t doubt they work hard you can’t sustain a shop that has one customer a day, if I was in the same position I’d close the shop and get a reliable income. The husband is spending loads on a 80 mile commute, it isn’t difficult to see why they are struggling.

When you decide to set up a retail or restaurant business you do research into your market and it takes months to set it up.

Lots of retailers, cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars were screwed by lockdown.

These times come in cycles and we have been riding the wave of low interest rates, never never cheap loans and cheap food etc for longer than I ever expected.

Now we have to weather the latest rough cycle but it's been 25 years since the last bad one so some on MN will never have experienced it.

Hole in the shoe, let's the snow come through and chills you to the bone anyone remember that???

If people stick with 1 or 2 then there is far more chance they will manage if something happens. For a start benefits are only paid for 2 so having more is not sensible.

How you seen the birth rate? hardly anyone is having 3 or more dc nowadays.