to be shocked at universal credit amount?

[oddsocksmatchifsamethickness]

I've just become a single mum of one, husband gone. So obviously I want to bring my earnings up. I'm self-employed and will be doing so. But I put in a calculation for UC to see if I could get help while I sought new contracts. I'm self-employed. I earned 1K this month and did the calculation and it says I will get another 650 a month from UC.

Can that be right? It seems a lot, it would take my income up to a wage of 28K/year, but I only work 20 hours a week.

Is this what people get?

BTW @PurpleyPineappley children don't get PIP.

I take home far less, around 1200 with a salary of 24,000. I pay tax, student loan, pension, NI. The ops figures seem about right.

They do at 16.

They're contributing more than if they didnt work and cost the state 50% more. Also childcare costs dont last forever and the amount claimed will be reduced possibly to less than 4k?

Yes, but the post specifically said child, not teenager or young adult.

palygold
What is it you're wanting to discuss exactly @oddsocksmatchifsamethickness

If the universal credit calculator is correct, or something else?

The calculators are not always accurate and I was wondering if it was anything close to accurate the calculation I had done. It seemed a lot to me

Aren't they?
Then contact them to check if their calculators are accurate.

You see how it could look like a benefit bashing thread.

I dont want this to come across wrong but would you not be better getting a job elsewhere and changing things for the better for yourself? Why would you stay on such low wages otherwise?

Curious to understand how living on £1650 / month as single parent who is renting is generous. Sounds utterly meagre to me.

Universal credit really was utterly amazing when I was a single parent - myself and my children literally would not have survived without it!!!

I used to get on average around £700 a month - which just about covered my rent - I had to sell my house after a split as couldn’t afford the mortgage so hence why I was renting. Was actually such a relief when it sold since I knew I would get the help with my rent from UC!

I still recall the day I had my claim approved and they gave me an advance - I walked out of the job centre in happy tears because I could actually go and fill my fridge.

I totally ended my claim when I moved in with DP as I figured we earn enough between us now and I’ve since increase my salary - but I’ve nothing bad to say about UC at all! It’s great when it’s received by people who really need it!

Unless I’m spectacularly stupid, £1650x12=£19800??

Yes but that's what you take home @ShimmeringShirts

I didn't do either of those things. Jump down off your high horse, go look up what those terms you're throwing around actually mean, swallow your wounded pride and false sense of virtuosity at calling someone out on something you think they did (but didn't do) and come back and apologise.

Bet you won't do any of that though.

Which parts? Because I live in the North so tell me where you can get a private 2 bed "much cheaper" please

My 2-bedroom lovely house in "the north" is £500 pcm. Private rent.

But a £19,800 salary wouldn't be £1650 a month take home. The OP said equivalent salary....but also student loan coming out etc.

@bloodyeverlastinghell thank you.

some people really don’t understand. I said I was contributing not replacing like for like. Once childcare reduces(April hopefully) i’ll be getting around £200 per month UC so definitely paying more in than I get out.

come back and apologise

Shan't.

I stand by what I said 💯 per cent.

OP, if I'm understanding the minimum floor thing correctly, surely you just put that into the calculator as your earnings? I think a PP said it will be £1131 for you.

Remember to factor in those months where you say you may earn 800 though, as there wouldn't be any top up to cover this.

Can I ask where in the North you rent privately for a 2 bed private house? How long have you been renting it for? I'm asking this because private rents have definitely shot up in the West Yorkshire area.... since the pandemic.

I'm lucky and live in social housing but I have helped a friend house search and we don't live in well off areas. There's a lot of properties in poor condition and the private rents are definitely above £500 per month for a 2 bed. Your lucking more £700 per month and more.

I expected nothing less. Congrats on outing yourself as an idiot who's purely out to make nasty untrue comments about others for no good reason other than trying to make yourself feel better because you're having a bad day or bad life or whatever.

OK. Have a nice day yourself.

I expected nothing less. Congrats on outing yourself as an idiot who's purely out to make nasty untrue comments about others for no good reason other than trying to make yourself feel better because you're having a bad day or bad life or whatever."

Calling out the ableist post you name changed to make?
She wasn't the only person to challenge your post @PurpleyPineappley

How was anything I said ableist? Give me an example. I can't see one.

If you're referring to the fact I clearly stated the child was disabled, that's mentioned because it's relevant to the actual topic. Or maybe it's because I said the child doesn't have expensive additional needs - again, relevant because there are disabled children who have extensive and extremely expensive medical needs or otherwise, which is not the case here. Again, in no way ableist - simply relevant.

In case you missed it, the people 'challenging' my post were the ones saying the amount quoted was not possible, and others came along to demonstrate that it is very possible. Again, not ableist. Simply stating facts. I made no judgement calls on any of it, beyond expressing both my friend and I were surprised at how much UC she's now getting. Does that make the mother of the disabled child ableist too?

So it was your post, Rincewind...

It's already been pointed out to you why it was inappropriate. More than once I believe.

I'll take every penny gladly, I've worked all my life and like the work I do but money for doing nothing is welcome. I paid in, and none of you truly care about us taking "your taxes" or you would be shouting from the rooftops about what MPs do
And that's fine but will you have the same cavalier attitude when your children have left home and you are no longer entitled to anything and you have to work your ass off to earn just enough to survive and then having to live on the state pension only. Maybe then you might regret your lack of investment and moan how little you have to live on. What you do now doesn't only gave an impact on your present situation but your future too.

If you think that is ' it pays not to work' you are living in a parallel universe and reading too much Daily Mail.

This. UC is fairly generous IF you are a working parent. This is to encourage parents to work and to ensure children can be fed, clothed and housed.

If your youngest child is over 3 and you don't work, UC is pitiful. You have to look for work and you will be sanctioned if you don't.

If you have no children and don't work, UC is frighteningly low. You are expected to look for work and will be sanctioned if you don't.

And children grow up fast. Once they leave full-time education, UC and child benefit stop. Then you're left to fend for yourself.

Of course, if you're disabled, you are eligible for more in benefits - as you absolutely should be. Anybody begrudging benefits to disabled adults or children is morally bankrupt.