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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:
happinessischocolate · 27/04/2023 07:12

Hidijihidoho · 26/04/2023 22:23

Its not virtue signalling at all . We are used to looking after ourself and find it odd that people seem to push us to claim benefits

I did a calculation on entitledto.com and based on what you've said there's no benefits you could claim anyway 😂

So stop being so smug and goady and assuming you're entitled to money when you're not 😁

knittingaddict · 27/04/2023 07:13

Babyroobs · 26/04/2023 22:24

Depending on the ages of your children, you would likely not be able to work part time and claim benefits anyway.

That was my first thought too.

Universal credit doesn't really support people choosing to work part time. You will definitely be "encouraged" into full time roles. The exceptions being single parents of younger children. You will need to prove that you are working to your full potential. That might be stressful for someone who wants to live as you do.

Blamunge · 27/04/2023 07:14

I was unemployed and didn’t claim benefits. I’m autistic and couldn’t cope with the level of harassment you get when you sign on. I lived on my savings and lost a ton of weight because I couldn’t afford to eat.

dogandbonio · 27/04/2023 07:15

Can you actually claim benefits if you CHOOSE to work p/t? Why wouldn't they tell you to work more hours? That makes no sense.

hattie43 · 27/04/2023 07:16

@Morph22010

The post is talking about benefits for work choices not disability or accident but having said that we have savings and insurance for catastrophic events like that .

knittingaddict · 27/04/2023 07:18

NotABeliever · 26/04/2023 22:33

How silly. If you've paid into the system by way of national insurance contributions why would you not take back what you've paid in the form of a benefits top up? It is not immoral to.do.so, it's what the benefits system is for?

I honestly think this is looking at it the wrong way. I've never claimed benefits apart from unemployment benefit for a few months 49 years ago. My adult daughter claimed universal credit for a few years. I see it as tax payers helping those who can't earn enough to support themselves, not a scheme that I can take out of when I could easily support myself.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 27/04/2023 07:21

Hopefully, you never accept the offer of a drink and sit there sipping on tap water, rather than ever accept their generosity.

Pretty sure that thread 2 of this will be 'Why doesn't anybody invite us out anymore? Is it because we won't claim benefits?'.

x2boys · 27/04/2023 07:22

So don't then🙄

hattie43 · 27/04/2023 07:24

@Willyoujustbequiet

My answer says about state pension and child benefit which are not means tested .
No there are no disabled people in my family and again the thread is about work benefits

drpet49 · 27/04/2023 07:24

Hidijihidoho · 26/04/2023 22:25

The point is if we choose to work part time why should we expect those who work full tome to support us . Doesn’t feel right .

I fully agree with you. Choosing to work part time is a luxury.

millymollymoomoo · 27/04/2023 07:25

You should both work full time before claiming

FotheringtonThomasMinor · 27/04/2023 07:28

This thread reminds me of the old joke-

How do you know if someone doesn’t have a television?

They’ll tell you.

OP, stop telling people the details of your finances and they’ll stop offering unwanted advice.

CecilyP · 27/04/2023 07:30

Do you even know you are entitled to any benefits? It doesn’t look like you’ve checked. Just because you can’t stand a round of drinks, go out for meals or buy new car doesn’t mean you’re entitled. You can’t go by the suggestion of people much better off than you. You don’t say how many hours you work but a couple each working part time is equivalent to one of you working full time, so it’s unlikely you are entitled to anything.

Anyway, in this period of serious labour shortages, you are not so public spirited!

SmallElephants · 27/04/2023 07:31

do check your national insurance contributions as if your income too low and you have missing years you won’t get full state pensions.
claiming benefits when your income too low to pay your NI contributions means these are paid for you. There won’t be a way to fix this retrospectively and you may find yourself in unexpected difficulties later in retirement.

sorry for your burnout from your jobs.

Doggymummar · 27/04/2023 07:32

Hidijihidoho · 26/04/2023 22:25

The point is if we choose to work part time why should we expect those who work full tome to support us . Doesn’t feel right .

What benefits are you eligible for? I work 16 hours and dint qualify for anything?

x2boys · 27/04/2023 07:34

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 .

Well you,are not that skint if you are able to go out regularly🤔
But yeah it's not a conversation can imagine would be having with my friends .

sst1234 · 27/04/2023 07:34

This is MN, OP. Here benefits claimants are considered to be the Salt of the earth types and everyone else is an inferior being.

Tooyoungtofeelthisold · 27/04/2023 07:36

TBH, I don't think YABU, I think if you did claim benefits they would most likely want you qnd your partner to commit to working more hours to decrease your need for benefits.
So you'd be adding on all the stress for money you don't really want, and in all likelihood won't get because they'll likely sanction you if you don't try to up your hours.

Morph22010 · 27/04/2023 07:37

hattie43 · 27/04/2023 07:16

@Morph22010

The post is talking about benefits for work choices not disability or accident but having said that we have savings and insurance for catastrophic events like that .

but what people define as “choice” not to work isn’t always choice, it may be due to not being able to work due to mental health or having a disabled child and not being able to get childcare. Personally I wouldn’t be so smug about never having to claim benefits and having everything sorted as you never know what’s round the corner for you, you think you have everything all covered with insurance etc but I’d bet the reality of day to day life if it actually happened would be different. We both work full time so don’t claim any means tested benefits and aren’t entitled anyway but I do have a disabled child so I mix in lots of circles where people have had to give up really good jobs and are now on benefits as there was no other option so I wouldn’t judge

hattie43 · 27/04/2023 07:42

@Morph22010

I think disability is a totally different issue tbh , choosing to work or not is a choice and benefits shouldn't pick up the slack and imo disability benefits should be a lot higher because there's is no choice there and the disabled have been dealt a shit hand anyway without poverty added into the mix .

C1N1C · 27/04/2023 07:45

There are waaaay more people claiming waaaay more than you are considering, doing much less work, and far less justified.

I'd say claim, as you've earned it. Most people's gripes are with those that haven't...

x2boys · 27/04/2023 08:22

hattie43 · 27/04/2023 06:42

I would never claim benefits , it would be a sign of shame in my family or with my friends . No-one I know has ever been on benefits accept child allowance or in receipt of state pension but I don't know if they are called benefits.
It's your choice to work part time and it's your choice whether to get benefits or not .

So you would choose to starve instead 🤔
Sometimes things happen outside of our control.,I never intended to claim benefits either ,both myself and th worked full time when we planned to have our children ,what we didn't know was that our youngest son would be born with a rare chromosome disorder,and would be severely disabled,,we now have to.rely on tax credits etc,although my dh,does still.work ,life doesn't always,pan,out as you think.

monsteramunch · 27/04/2023 08:36

C1N1C · 27/04/2023 07:45

There are waaaay more people claiming waaaay more than you are considering, doing much less work, and far less justified.

I'd say claim, as you've earned it. Most people's gripes are with those that haven't...

What do you imagine they'll be able to claim if they want to continue working part time by choice? They'll be expected to spend the difference between their current hours and full time hours looking for full time jobs. And they don't want to do that. So what do you think they will be able to claim?

Original poster
Hidijihidoho · 27/04/2023 08:42

Thanks for all the comments . We dont know anyone on work related benefits which lead to this . It seems that some people feel its ok to claim as “ thats what they are there for “ and other's dont. In our view ( disability etc apart) the benefit system is for emergencies etc not to support a lifestyle and we feel it is our choice to work part time and others should nit have to fund this . For reference we do not work in public services anymore .. we both did 30 plus years in a medical setting and in our 50 s we simply cannot do it anymore at all . Working part time doing odd jobs such feels such a relief and part of my wish to not claim is that feeling ,and to know that we can do jobs that dont break my heart on a daily basis despite loving our jobs This feels the right balance for us and the thread has helped anchor our choices.

OP posts:
FlemCandango · 27/04/2023 08:48

The irony of this thread is that I don't know if the op has assessed her potential eligibility for benefits. This appears to be a couple in reasonable health working part-time (in your 50's??), With no dependents living with them. It is likely that they wouldn't be entitled to a benefit "top up". I work in benefits advice and people in this situation have to be paying rent in an expensive area to get more than a very marginal top-up. Once income from work is taken into account and having no work allowance unless there are children/ disabilities there is not going to be much to claim if anything, it is not a generous benefits system. If you are entitled you have to be working enough hours to meet your claimant committment.

If either of you lose your job make sure you do claim at the very least contribution based benefits related to employment (new style job seekers or employment support allowance), as that maintains your national insurance contributions while you are looking for work.

If you are entitled then claim, there are no prizes for not claiming and I expect my taxes to be used for benefits and public services that is the purpose of taxation. I use schools, the NHS and if I was entitled to claim benefits I would.