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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be on low income , but dont want to claim benefit's

182 replies

Hidijihidoho · 26/04/2023 22:18

We are on low income working oart time each And live very simply . We have a 15 year old car , live on very simple food and enjoy being creative. No heating on ! …
we could claim top up benefits , but having paid taxes as public service workers paying tax for many years ,we don't Feel that it is right for the system to support us when we choose to work part time .. its nit the taxpayers job to pay for the choice We have made as we have got older and cant hack working in the public sector full time anymore .
people keep telling us we should claim .. we are not wearing hair shirts .. we simply feel it does not fit with us .. are we bu ? Is it normal to expect our income to be supplemented now that we feel burnout and need to do less hours ? For us , we would rather cut our cloth and although the lack of money can be hard it feels the right thing to do . We do not feel comfortable working oart time but expecting others to supplement our income as ultimately its out choice ?

OP posts:
ThreeFeetTall · 26/04/2023 23:31

You wouldn't be entitled to UC as pp say so not really an issue? It's not a choice you are making to not claim.

bumpytrumpy · 26/04/2023 23:34

What benefits do you think you're entitled to?

ladydimitrescu · 26/04/2023 23:35

Don't then? I honestly don't see the point of the thread. If you want to continue struggling that's your choice. I think you're being a martyr but again, up to you.

Loria · 26/04/2023 23:37

If you've no dependent kids you're not entitled to anything anyway. Yabu for going into massive detail about your finances with barflies though.

HeddaGarbled · 26/04/2023 23:37

Blimey, I’m used to the anti benefit-claimants threads but I’ve never seen an anti benefit-claim-pushers thread before. Where did you find these pushers? They may need protection because they are surely a rare breed.

Rewis · 26/04/2023 23:37

Can you clain benefits when you've decided to work part-time as a lifestyle choice?

UndercoverCop · 26/04/2023 23:37

You wouldn't be entitled unless you were either seeking full time employment or have medical grounds for why you are both unable to work full time. Unless you lied and said you were seeking full time employment and made up job interviews etc, which is fraudulent.
You choose to work part time and live accordingly, that's fine

Loria · 26/04/2023 23:37

Rewis · 26/04/2023 23:37

Can you clain benefits when you've decided to work part-time as a lifestyle choice?

No.

Plantgeumstoday · 26/04/2023 23:41

Whatever you don’t claim leaves more for the politicians to line their own pockets with. And they feel zero guilt about it

AllOfThemWitches · 26/04/2023 23:42

Um OK. You are wonderful people. Or something.

Satsumastocking · 26/04/2023 23:44

You chose to suffer burnout and be unable to work full time any more?!

It's stretching the concept of choice, as, presumably, working full time would have led to increased illness.

The benefits system doesn't allow people with burnout not to continue until they drop, however, so it's unlikely you'd be entitled to much if anything. You can only get benefits if you're looking for more work in the time you're not at work, or if you're severely ill or disabled, and even then it's very difficult and a very distressing and often humiliating process.

I'd just be glad you're able to manage as you are and perhaps not tell people your circumstances.

AllOfThemWitches · 26/04/2023 23:44

Hidijihidoho · 26/04/2023 22:36

Because if we are out locally we have to explain we cant drink in rounds or go put for meals … the people then suggest claiming … its onky when we have to decline invites and explain re money so as not to apear rude or look like we dont want to go which isnt the case .

Hmm that's so odd.

"Is it your round @Hidijihidoho?"

"Sorry, can't afford that."

"Have you thought about claiming benefits?"

Strange conversation.

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 26/04/2023 23:45

How would people know you're skint and can't buy rounds because you don't work full time and are not claiming benefits?
People on benefits are skint too aren't they?

ChopperC110P · 26/04/2023 23:45

You can’t claim benefits and choose not to work FT so it’s a moot point.

Satsumastocking · 26/04/2023 23:47

AllOfThemWitches · 26/04/2023 23:44

Hmm that's so odd.

"Is it your round @Hidijihidoho?"

"Sorry, can't afford that."

"Have you thought about claiming benefits?"

Strange conversation.

Show quote history

It's not that odd, considering myth and media spread misinformation about benefits, pretending it's easy to claim them and that most claimants are lazy cheats or liars. These people in the pub probably just think it's easy to get benefits if you feel like it.

Loria · 26/04/2023 23:50

It's a canny bit of rebranding on op's part though.

From 'always last to the bar' to 'proud and saintly self sufficient striver' in one fell swoop.

ChopperC110P · 26/04/2023 23:58

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 26/04/2023 23:45

How would people know you're skint and can't buy rounds because you don't work full time and are not claiming benefits?
People on benefits are skint too aren't they?

I suppose the punch line is that benefits is booze money for rounds at the pub.
Not money for heat and food.

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 27/04/2023 00:03

@ChopperC110P Confused

QueenMegan · 27/04/2023 00:15

No you're right it's your choice to work part time.
I don't get how you'd be entitled on thst basis otherwise the while country would cut their hours and top up their wages surely 🤔

PrinnyPree · 27/04/2023 00:37

Burnout and stress is hardly a choice OP. Xx People who are unable to work fulltime because of their compromised mental health shouldn't feel they aren't entitled to state help if its available.

TooBigForMyBoots · 27/04/2023 00:43

Hidijihidoho · 26/04/2023 22:36

Because if we are out locally we have to explain we cant drink in rounds or go put for meals … the people then suggest claiming … its onky when we have to decline invites and explain re money so as not to apear rude or look like we dont want to go which isnt the case .

I don't see why this means you have to go into personal financial details. If I can't afford to go out I tell my friends I'm skint. I don't give them an itemisation of my income and expenditure.Confused

Oldsu · 27/04/2023 01:16

Why do you think you will have the choice if you go on UC you will have work commitments if you work part time you and your husband could find yourselves called in by the job centre on a regular basic to increase your hours unless you have ill health or disabilities and have completed a heath assessment and have attended a work capability assessment which might put you in the limited capacity for work or work related activities (which turns off work commitments) or you have caring or child care responsibilities which limits your hours, then just deciding to work only part time and claim benefits is not an easy option any more

JudgeRudy · 27/04/2023 01:40

You don't mention children and I'm going to assume you are both mature but not yet OAPs. Why would you think any benefits would be available to you anyway...like what? 2 adults sharing a homr on 2 part time wages is doable. It doesn't leave much spare. If your kids are older and you have no disabilities you'd be expected to work 30hrs each anyway.

RandomSunday · 27/04/2023 01:43

YANBU OP. Not everyone holds their hands out for the state to provide for them and theirs.

Lots of families do their very best to provide for the children they chose to have.

The Government is to blame for enabling the entitled among us. It won’t last. It can’t. So many families now rely on benefits and cost of living payments. Regardless that the bread winner of the family lives elsewhere, yet stays over at his partners a few times a week and gets her pregnant every year so she can claim benefits whilst he gets a full time wage 🙄

Sooner or later the powers that be will wake up and put an end to it. Otherwise everyone will be giving up their jobs in favour of benefits. Where will we be if everyone jumps aboard the gravy train?

caringcarer · 27/04/2023 02:17

If you both did claim benefits they would be questioning why you could not work more hours so you are probably right not to claim as you acknowledge you could but don't want to.