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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you agree with these benefits?

328 replies

Sophieleigh26 · 27/09/2022 16:18

Do you think the amount people get in benefits (before deductions like earnings) is the right amount, or it should be more / less?

MONTHLY AMOUNT
Single & under 25 £265.31
Single & over 25 £334.91
Couple both under 25 £416.45
Couple over 25 £525.72

£244.58 extra allowance for children (up to 2 children)

A single parent not working (24) with one child (1) would receive £509.89 a month, before deductions (loans, debt etc)

obviously these are just summaries and there are different rules if you have children born before 2017, for example, or disabilities, childcare costs.

YABU - It seems ok / right
YANBU - It should be more / less

OP posts:
Runnerduck34 · 27/09/2022 21:13

It's very low, I think some will get housing benefit as well , but even taking housing out of the equation its still not enough to cover bills, food , clothing, transport etc

Leobynature · 27/09/2022 21:16

I appreciate that benefits does not cover much. OP has talked about it covering basic essentials and occasions such as Xmas, birthdays, emergency etc. If it did that then what will be the point of working. Benefits are not supposed to be lucrative or accommodating.

It is rather frustrating that there are many young able bodied individuals that could work who don’t and claim benefits.

Many services use to offer a ‘better off calculator’, it would calculate whether people were financially better off for working, I think this is morally wrong. If you can work, you should do so. I rather a benefit system which ensured no one was worse off for working by supporting with childcare costs etc.

There are also a lot of working individuals who earn too much to claim anything but too little to be comfortable. The working poor. There wages has not increased with inflation and they don’t have the money for clothes, Xmas or birthdays. A lot of these people live in there overdraft.

IhateHermioneGranger · 27/09/2022 21:17

Crumpleton · 27/09/2022 21:09

Also what about free prescriptions and dental care where applicable.
If taken into account then it's not a bad amount.

Show quote history

Talking about England here but to get those two things free plus healthy start vouchers you have to be earning a tiny amount or not working. Many UC claimants won't be eligible.

urbanbuddha · 27/09/2022 21:18

Also what about free prescriptions and dental care where applicable.
If taken into account then it's not a bad amount.

It's below the poverty line and not much above destitution.
poverty thresholds

KeepOutingMyselfAnotherNameChange · 27/09/2022 21:19

urbanbuddha · 27/09/2022 21:07

You have a job rather than becoming a drug dealer to supplement your benefits. And therefore you’re not surviving on just the amounts quoted in the OP.

Bit of a leap to assume that people claiming benefits must be supplementing their pittance by becoming drug dealers. Some might but most won't

My ex did he earned more then I do now its gutting 🤣😭

Paigeycakey · 27/09/2022 21:19

covidnurse · 27/09/2022 17:20

It's not enough. With these and childcare allowance, we don't get enough to cover childcare and rising bills. This week we had to use a food bank.

OP post is unclear.

Childcare is externionate and for the poster saying it's possible and they have done it... how many years ago was that?
90s kid here and my mum sent us to a playscheme for something cheap like £1 a day literally.

On UC you have to pay your Childcare costs upfront. I have no idea how those manage with nursery fees it's a nightmare.
You do get it back but because of how the system works it can be 6 weeks later it's ridiculous! If you upload a recipt from a registered childcare setting how could you possibly be making this up.
DS playscheme costs around £40 a day! That's not anywhere near London either.

Livinginanotherworld · 27/09/2022 21:25

Sophieleigh26 · 27/09/2022 16:37

@tulips27 together. One person in the couple will receive the payment, to share with the other one.

Is this on top of a wage or are there no wages coming into the household ?

Paigeycakey · 27/09/2022 21:27

@120go that is just the surface and people have left London but then the issue is that other locations will become the new "London" 2nd best and this affects the people who live else where. Not to mention causing overcrowding.

How is forcing people away from their hometown and pushing them to other cities helping long term? It's like tidying up and just shoving things in a draw.

palygold · 27/09/2022 21:27

Also what about free prescriptions and dental care where applicable

I don't know that free dental care means much given the shortage of NHS dentists and the waiting lists running into years?

Calandor · 27/09/2022 21:29

I don't see the point in there being an under/over 25 stipulation especially among those who have kids.

Rent, food etc aren't cheaper for under 25s.

XenoBitch · 27/09/2022 21:32

I appreciate that benefits does not cover much. OP has talked about it covering basic essentials and occasions such as Xmas, birthdays, emergency etc. If it did that then what will be the point of working. Benefits are not supposed to be lucrative or accommodating.
It is rather frustrating that there are many young able bodied individuals that could work who don’t and claim benefits

OK, so as a person on UC, I am just meant to sit in my cold candle lit house in rags, never give any birthday gifts to anyone, let my dog starve to death, sleep on a manky mattress on my floor (I really need a new bed), if my fridge dies I am just meant to shrug and say it is my own fault for being on UC.

NewBootsAndRanty · 27/09/2022 21:33

Is housing benefit for under 35s still capped at shared accommodation only levels?
(I think that was the case a while back)

FluffySocks0 · 27/09/2022 21:33

They are too low I think and benefits like carers allowance are abysmally low, standing at less than £70 per week. Considering that to qualify for carers allowance you have to care for someone for at least 35 hours a week then it works out at less than £2 an hour and a lot of carers do many more hours than that.

YennefersDress · 27/09/2022 21:38

is rather frustrating that there are many young able bodied individuals that could work who don’t and claim benefits.

Are there really though? Or have you just been watching an episode of benefits Britain on channel 5 and got yourself all wound up by it?

There needs to be a bigger conversation in society about inequalities of opportunity and why we have an education system that is failing so many, why we aren't supporting people to have good opportunities, why sure starts were closed, and why the government think it's ok to treat the disabled and their carers with such utter contempt. But no, easier to blame the poor and vulnerable than question these things.

LilacPoppy · 27/09/2022 21:40

I had no idea it was so low. That would only cover utility bills internet tv license etc with the new energy prices. How can they pay for food, clothes , council tax top up, travel , appliances , toys, school trips etc

NewAgain123 · 27/09/2022 21:40

I think it's far too low

NewBootsAndRanty · 27/09/2022 21:47

Re my housing benefit q, I had a Google. I am assuming that this applies to UC claims?

My local council's LHA info for people under 35:
lf you are single and under 35 you get the shared accommodation rate of LHA no matter what size property you rent. You will also get the shared rate if you are single and over 35, or a couple without children living in shared accommodation.
However, if you are a single care leaver under 25, a foster carer, severely disabled, or between 16 and 34 and have been homeless at any time for more than 3 months, you may be able to get the 1 bedroom rate. Contact us if you think that this may apply to you.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates for 2022 to 2023
Rate Shared 1 Bed
£66.34 £121.15

Sleeplessinthesouth71 · 27/09/2022 21:55

Too low especially for a single person

whatsthestory123 · 27/09/2022 21:58

MsPincher · 27/09/2022 18:59

I believe it’s raised based on inflation six months previously though (although still doesn’t get the generous triple lock for pensioners).

Show quote history

i was under the impression whatever the inflation rate is in September 2022 that increase happens in April 2023

ComtesseDeSpair · 27/09/2022 22:04

XenoBitch · 27/09/2022 21:32

I appreciate that benefits does not cover much. OP has talked about it covering basic essentials and occasions such as Xmas, birthdays, emergency etc. If it did that then what will be the point of working. Benefits are not supposed to be lucrative or accommodating.
It is rather frustrating that there are many young able bodied individuals that could work who don’t and claim benefits

OK, so as a person on UC, I am just meant to sit in my cold candle lit house in rags, never give any birthday gifts to anyone, let my dog starve to death, sleep on a manky mattress on my floor (I really need a new bed), if my fridge dies I am just meant to shrug and say it is my own fault for being on UC.

Are you young and able bodied / mentally healthy and capable of working? If so then why aren’t you in work and why would you think others are obliged to pay to give your friends and family birthday presents and feed your pet? If you’re not, then the person you quoted didn’t seem to be referring to you at all.

ItsJustLittleOlMe · 27/09/2022 22:14

CeeJay81 · 27/09/2022 16:40

I think when people go on about people getting loads in benefits it's disability benefits. Just universal credit/job seekers is just the bare minimum. Its really tough to live on that esp if you private rent as jousting costs aren't fully covered.

Yes, this. I've just had a baby and had a relationship breakdown, so am reliant on UC atm. It isn't a lot (it's as is said in the OP actually). However I am grateful for the help I receive. On the other hand, disability benefits are a lot. I know this as I am the appointee for my parent so deal with all of their money.

goodnightsugarpop · 27/09/2022 22:15

I don't know where this idea comes from that people on benefits don't pay council tax. I've seen several people on this thread say it like it's fact. I'm on UC (and work part time) and I pay 75% of the normal council tax rate due to being the only adult in my household. It's over £100 per month.

HighlandPony · 27/09/2022 22:22

I don’t understand why it’s different with age. A single mum age 24 working in Tescos with a 2 year old is likely to be swimming in the same shit as a single mum age 25 working in Tescos with a two year old. You’re basically saying “you’re mums only 24 so you’re worth less than him because his mums 25”.

KatieB55 · 27/09/2022 22:54

I think it's too low & agree with the point re LHA which needs revising. Rental property is hard to get, landlords can charge higher rents and UC in very many cases does not cover all the rent.

urbanbuddha · 27/09/2022 22:55

Poor people live in poor places. That is how it should be, it's not some injustice.

Dear God!

The poor must take responsibility for their poverty. Ignore the injustices created by inherited wealth.

Who cleans the hospitals, who serves the meals in fancy restaurants charging more than a week's benefits for a single meal, who looks after the children in this Utopia of yours. Or do the poor travel hours to their minimum wage jobs because that's what they deserve. The poor must be punished for being poor. What an appalling view to have.