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.

No rent - mortgage. 2 kids in childcare of school age.
It makes me angry that we both went to university and became public servants - for what? One of us isn't even in the pension because we can't afford both to be!

Do couples get more universal credit than single people? Even with 1900 on childcare and rent I would get zero UC if I was on 56k a year (that's a genuine question, not a judgemental one)

They get a couples element rather than a single standard element which is more but then with 2 wages coming in there is much more chance of any Uc award being reduced to zero after deductions for earnings come off.

I wish it was done on a household basis rather than separating couples and single people. Or it was spread more equally. Seems odd that more should be awarded per person because someone is in a relationship.

We're the same 🙋‍♀️ I honestly can't wait for the day we don't have to pay for childcare anymore and hopefully never have to receive it again- not that I'm not grateful mind. We don't tell our family or friends that we receive UC because of the shame and guilt it brings us.

While I'm sad we're both in the same situation but also makes me aware there are others in professional jobs that are reliant and that is not ok

Exactly! People working FOR the state, either educating the country’s children or caring for the health of the country’s population, are not deemed worthy of wages which take them out of benefit entitlement. It’s bloody disgraceful.

Boomers have taken it all. It's because they've consistently voted to pay less tax and to take our council houses at rock-bottom prices and to weaken worker protections that we're in the situation we're in, where so many people can't afford rent and other necessities.

That said, it makes me grind my teeth to read about women who are taking taxpayers' money when the father is not contributing. Why should I pay for your kids when I can't afford to have them?

Men don't magically turn into no-hopers after the baby is born and no one forces people to have children they can't look after. The father should be forced to pay his share--and not the pathetic amount that British men often get away with, but what it actually costs to raise a child. The UK has shocking rates of teen parenthood and of single parenthood. If we didn't pay for it, I bet there are woman out there who would make better decisions when picking the father.

Bit of unsolicited advice here...stop discussing your finances with anyone other than your employers and contributing adults who live in your home. I finally learned that, and it made my life so much simpler.

My ex raped me, and I got pregnant, so I didn't really pick my son, but for personal reasons I couldn't bring myself to have a termination, and he would have beat me if I did. Maybe men would stick a condom on if they were forced to pay, and wouldn't keep having babies they never intended to pay for.

It's always been the advice I've given myself but I slipped up.

Agree so much with this. Kids have 2 parents and quite often between the two of them they could provide for the child but so often the ( usually) man won't, or does everything he can to avoid paying. Why should others pay? Even when they do pay regular child maintenance it doesn't lessen benefits so everyone else still pays. People argue that this is because child maintenance is for the child - if so why is the state still paying for the child too ? Because CM levels are low. I'm not blaming the mums who are usually working hard trying to keep things afloat but why do the blokes get off so easily ? I just don't understand. Other countries don't stand for it so why do we? I have an ex collegue, works very part time, 2 kids ( different dads), both dad paying regular CM , one a high earner and has always paid since child was born. Why does she still qualify for hundreds in Uc each month when getting hundreds in CM ? I know that most lone parents do not receive this kind of high amount but those that do should not be getting the same again ( and more) in benefits for years on end !

AH...that happens. To all of us.

Frankly, I'm shocked that ANY of you can afford to live over there. I'm in the USA, and my last electric bill (heat is electric) was $68 USD. My friends who live in the north are moaning that they are paying $200 a month USD for heating. More power to you for getting credits. Lord KNOWS you all need them!

My best friend lives in Mass and says the same thing!

A state pension is entirely different. You’ve paid into that all your working life through NICs.and are more than entitled to it. It’s not a benefit.

Not true - the state pension is a benefit payment, which technically you have not paid a penny into because the current state pension is paid by current taxpayers through the NI Fund. The number of years you pay national insurance contributions determines whether or not you get the full state pension.

OP, you're not being unreasonable at all but don't mention money to them again. You're doing all the right things, although it's utterly crap that you're in a situation where you do need to claim UC. Don't let their comments make you feel shit, and I hope your new job goes well.

Your petrol costs are far higher, as well. Our average petrol cost per gallon is right around $3.18 as of December 22 of last year. Then again, 11 of our states are larger than the UK, so we drive a LOT more, as our families tend to spread far and wide. Both of my sons live more than 500 miles away from me. LOL, no, they weren't trying to escape mom, they were following their jobs. One writes software for insurance actuaries, the other is a cybersecurity specialist. He's given to cropping up anywhere in the world at any time.

Not their business. Tell them once children at school you will claim less.

I mean. It would be better if it was consistent. My DH earns about the amount you do.
I'm currently on MAT leave. I simply can't afford to return to work as we simply cannot. Even with the tax free element. Afford childcare.
My pre MAT salary was 45k a year. But factoring in travel and full time childminder, I wouldn't even break even. And that's with DH paying all rent bills and expenses.
But. We aren't entitled to any UC as DH salary is too high....
So tbh, I'd be a bit miffed at these figures. Not that I blame you, but I don't understand the maths at all.

Sod them. You're entitled to it and as long as you're not claiming anything fraudulently then you're doing nothing wrong. I never even thought about universal credit but I'm going back to work full time in a few months and childcare is going to be roughly £1200 full time so I checked my eligibility and I'm entitled to roughly £1000 so I'll absolutely be claiming and seeing what I end up with. If it means I can work full time and not copper up every month then I'm glad. I never wanted to claim benefits as I never have and I've always felt proud of myself for doing so (already have DD6) but the helps there for a reason. Plus, childcare costs are absolutely bloody extortionate

If your DH earns what I do and you'd be on 45k a year, you'd be on 75k a year joint though? That's a fair salary and 2.5x what I earn so I don't think it's really that comparable? That's a take home pay of over 4k right?

I'm shocked too. I earn 28k a year and I'm entitled to nothing (I have no children). I didn't realise someone earning well above minimum wage could get so much in benefits. Im not suggesting you shouldn't but it's just a shock that it's required. I found out last year that my colleague pays £1300 a month for childcare..... our take home pay at the time was £1600.

A shock that it's required as in "where the hell is this country going" and not a dig at you, I hasten to add!!

Childcare costs are extortionate. I pay £950 a month and I have to work 3 evenings a week on flexible working hours after he's gone to bed so I don't have to pay more and he actually gets to spend some time with his mum!

Hmm I have 3 degrees, work ft and by the time I have paid my student loan, tax, ni and into a pension I'm only taking home £400 more than you on nearly 40k. I get 0 help with my costs (I have 3 kids) but I'm married. We live in a cheaper part of the country and saved for many years to buy a house with a large ltv so that the mortgage itself was very manageable.

It's a sad reality that so many people have children in rocky relationships before marriage and real commitment, not owning their own home and so people like us who spend years saving, establishing ourselves end up propping up people who could have done the same, saved, established themselves instead of diving in, having children and then realising actually this person is awful, oops I have children and now can't afford to live. You read it time and time again on here women having kids, unmarried early into a relationship. Piss poor planning I'm afraid. Don't worry though the state will prop you and your kids up and pay your childcare and rent costs, meanwhile we'll pay our own childcare and mortgage. It's annoying for anyone who doesn't expect handouts earning a similar amount.

Marriages do break down of course, a good friend of mine divorced last year, she's on 37k and couldn't get any help. She took over the mortgage and bought her husband out the house, so I'm quite surprised you get that. Her husband pays minimum child maintenance earning 60k, it isn't a lot though, certainly nowhere near your £800 a month. Maybe she shouldn't have got married and bought a house she'd probably be better off now living on a handout topup.

No, sorry if I wasn't clear.

Without me returning to work, so only on DH income, we aren't entitled to a bean of UC. Only the 20,% tax free childcare element.

I can't return to work as childcare and travel costs aren't worth it.

Rock and a hard place.

Can you work around each other ? Obviously that mind need a change of work but to be honest that's what most parents did when my kids were young. there just wasn't the childcare help available.