Family member shocked I get universal credit

[JungleJungle]

Had a long conversation with a family member today. I've just started a new job so not sure how much UC I will get this month, but previously was earning about 1800 a month, £950 childcare costs and £950 rent and would get, around £800 in universal credit. They seemed to think that I earn enough money to pay for myself and said nobody on 30k a year should be getting universal credit. They were quite shocked that I was getting anything. Childcare costs and rent come to more than my wage (£1900). I would likely have to give up work if I didn't get universal credit. My outgoings would be more than my incoming. I still struggle even with the £700 I have left after rent and childcare costs. Bills are so high, fuel, food, clothes, emergencies etc. Not sure what I'm looking for from this thread. I work so hard, full time, and never considered that I shouldn't be entitled to universal credit. I'm not being unreasonable am I in thinking that this is what UC is for, am I? Apologies for the slightly waffly post, just feeling a bit shit.

Of course it should be enough, and perhaps in 1990 it was.
I usually find shocked people have no idea what childcare costs. My friends without children were in utter disbelief and thought the daily cost was a weekly cost.
Ignore OP

Of course you’re not unreasonable. People have no idea what things cost anymore. Is family member older with a small or paid off mortgage? The basic costs for my home (rent, council tax, utilities) are £1800 a month, before buying anything like food or paying childcare. It’s the cheapest 3 bed you can rent in the area. A single person with kids on £30k absolutely couldn’t live on just that where I am.

My son's dad also gives me nothing. He doesn't have contact with my son. He's a shit, and abusive. I'm literally on my own.

That family member isn't currently claiming a state pension are they? 🤔

Well, I suppose really, you shouldn't be claiming UC on that salary. Both your rent and your childcare should be much more affordable- or your wages much higher. But they're not, are they? So what you gonna do? 🤷‍♀️

Don't worry about it, they are obviously clueless. We get universal credit too, because we rent our home and have 3 children all born before April 2017.

I think some people are bitter about it, I honestly do. If you're entitled to it, then too right you should claim.

Did you lay out these numbers for family member?

Same age as me (early 30s) but is on probably 45k a year and has a partner in the same job so likely earning similar.

I’d be a little surprised too. But then I’m obviously out of touch. We don’t earn much more and quality for nothing (as far as I’m aware). But don’t have kids of caring age so I suppose that makes the difference

Yes and I know I shouldn't have but they were moaning about universal credit and I just got really irritated and said 'so if I told you I was on universal credit would you feel the same about me?'to which they quite hilariously said' well obviously you're not so that's irrelevant'. I couldn't help myself because I was so irritated. We usually get on so well and they have never ever displayed an opinion like this before.

This is where I'm really shot with stuff like this, I'm on around £18,200 before tax on 35 hours a week, a single parent amd have been for the past year, but I seriously don't know what I'm entitled too???? How did you go about claiming Universal Credit????

*shit.....not shot,lol but probably obvious

@Tothemoonandbackx try the Entitled To website, it’ll help

@JungleJungle fair enough to get annoyed, can’t blame you there. They clearly don’t know what costs what. Childcare is so expensive, I’m glad you’re getting help with that.

That's £18,200 a year, not a week 😂😂😂😂 I'd die happy on £18,200 a week 😂😂 Xx and thank you BuffaloCauliflour, I'm going to get on that asap!!!!! X

I just don't know how anyone can be shocked at someone getting universal credit when their rent and childcare alone, without other bills comes to more than their wage. My only other alternative is to just give up work, which seems like madness. Men who father children then abuse their mothers forcing them to leave should be made to pay far more. Sorry. I could rant all day about it... I hate my situation.

On £30k you should be able to live well without benefits. The fact that you can't shows what an absolute shit show is going on in this country - £950 for rent and £950 for childcare before you've even looked at the rest of your bills and outgoings is ridiculous.

And all because I'm playing the long game and want to have an established career when my son finally goes to school. It would be far easier in the short term to give up work but it's the only way I can actually progress in the career I love.

Why are they wrong for being shocked though? To be honest before mumsnet I never would have assumed someone earning 30k would get something like £800 in benefits. I always assumed it was much lower than that based on rhetoric I had heard about benefits.

I really don't think you should discuss money with that person again. It's absolutely nothing to do with them.

YANBU they clearly don’t understand UC and think it’s just for lazy unemployed people, ignore them!

It's not the fact that they were shocked. Its the fact that after I told them they said 'nobody on 30k a year should be getting uc' most clearly implying that I should just pay for myself and not claim.

Can I ask if the 800 uc is separate from the rent/childcare as it seems high on the 1800 per month. Only asking as I got less after my rent element was payed and my wage was less?
Tho to answer your question u have every right to claim as u meet the criteria as that wage doesn't go far these days.

I don't usually, it was out of frustration and to prove a point to them that their opinion on universal credit and the 'type' of people who claim was completely wrong.

It kind of surprises me but I can see why you need it. I don’t know anything about how UC works but I assume you get it because of the children and childcare costs and being a single parent? A graduate salary is around £1800 a month but I wouldn’t assume that a graduate on a graduate salary (eg software engineer) would get UC but that they would probably live in a shared house if single to reduce rent costs?

so maybe they were just shocked as presumably not everyone on 27k gets UC?

That's the full amount I get which covers child element, childcare and rent. Different areas offer different amounts for rent depending on where you live (I think!)