7 out of ten children in poverty

[Gilead]

Come from families where at least on parent is employed. 40% of UC claimants are working families BUT Sunak blames those on Welfare for inflation and he wants to cut benefits by at least £1000 per annum.
AIBU to think that the Tories are trying to create a two tier state?

Nobody chooses to have SEN dc - how could they know !!!

Also there seems to be a lot of assuming on this thread that these families are where they started that they have always been claiming benefits - not the case.

We have a family we support where both parents worked - had 2 dc (later diagnosed with SEN) one parent became very Ill and the other had to give up work to care for all 3.

The reality is some people just need more help than others and benefits
/food banks are there to help, it’s a safety net. We can’t criticise or punish those that need to use that safety net. You wouldn’t start criticising those who use the nhs most just because through no fault of their own they’ve had more illness than others and ‘cost the taxpayer more’ ??? How is this any different

I'm impressed you managed to read that great big block of writing. I gave up

You sound lovely

ffs why is he cutting welfare

Because its a tory vote winner.
They don't care about the divide and the poor getting poorer while all the tories get themselves and their mates richer.

Its an absolute disgrace how this country is being "run" and its a disgrace that you can still speak to the occasional joe public who defends these sorts of decisions.

Im ashames of our government and what they are representing our country as.

If 7 out of 10 children in poverty only have one working parent, why isn’t the other parent employed? The reasons for that matter.

It says at least one parent working....which might mean both parents are working in some cases

And lots of assumptions on this thread about people on benefits/gambling/getting tattos/wasting money etc 🙄

Only if you don't already have a level 3/4 qualification here. If you have a 10 year old level 3 you don't qualify for free funding no matter what your benefit entitlement.

I find the system really frustrating.

I am a single parent of two disabled DC. I pushed myself through the OU to get a BSc and a MA. I spent the last year volunteering whilst they are at school. I got offered my dream, life changing job. I can not for love nor money get my DC into wrap around or holiday childcare due to their needs.

If the state really want to help. Help ALL parents access childcare. Help ALL workers have set hours to allow childcare to be easier to arrange. Encourage the creation of more childcare for antisocial hours. Perhaps subsidise settings to provide more childcare to 9pm and weekends.

Capitalism only works with 5% unemployment currently it’s running at less than three fishy Rishi wants to be careful what he wishes for

Indeed it has wrecked the UK, I just can't believe just how much damage they've done.

It is a classic case of punching down. It happens all the time. The watching and begrudging of people who they perceive to be getting something that they are not. It is tiresome and unreasonable behaviour.

In my case, a disabled child who requires a carer. In a lot of cases, wages won't cover childcare.

This.

What's with all the benefits bashing lately? Are the Tories on a publicity drive or something?

Pushing others down won't lift you up, you know?

Does anyone honestly believe if the welfare bill was slashed the difference would go back into the pockets of ordinary, working people?

The hatred is still there from the Thatcher era !

@UndertheCedartree I asked @Gilead if that's what they are talking about but they haven't responded. I think they are purposely trying to whip up anti tory/Sunak hatred
Actually I went out for a bit, as a wheelchair user it’s a novelty.

I used to work with families and there were some parents who'd never ever worked and had no intention of ever working. You and I may think they live in poverty but they were quite happy with they their lives. Their children grew up seeing all this and many of them went on to not work and have children in their teens and don't work. This cycle will go on and on and on if something drastic isn't done.

Rishi mentioned it in a speech he gave last night.

@orangeisthenewpuce this is no longer the case as it simply isn’t allowed to happen. You have to prove that you’re searching for work.

@GurningGolfer you do realise that people with disabilities are on UC don’t you?

By the way, would like to add, I’m on benefits, I don’t drink, smoke, take drugs other than those prescribed (22 a day), no tattoos. I’ve had a McDonald’s coffee today, is that allowed?
FFS You are allowed a treat on benefits, if that’s a bottle of wine, or an occasional trip out or takeaway it’s no one else’s bloody business. 😡

It was never the case.

Why is that every Tory on MN knows multiple families of generational unemployment but when JRF studied benefits claimants they found that only 1% of benefits claimants have two generations on long term unemployment?

There were no families found who had three or more generations of unemployment, so if you know any you really should report this so this phenomena can be properly researched.

www.jrf.org.uk/report/are-cultures-worklessness-passed-down-generations

@Gilead yes I do, I'm not talking about people who cannot work or study or improve their situation in any way (extremely few people) I've already mentioned that a few times now.

A treat is fine but spending loads of money on stuff that isn't necessary then pleading poverty is totally different, and is in fact what I was referring to.

Too much of a rational question. Be careful, you will be attached for being cruel now.

Low-income families are still entitled to UC/WTC/CTC when both parents are full-time employed.

I got around £40 p/w UC when I was in two full-time positions and neither was NMW. One was slightly more per hour (£9.50) and one was salaried at £17.5k p/a.