Page 3 | To feel depressed about this?

Stressful00 · 2023-07-09T20:18:04+00:00

I work at a nursery. Not through choice but not having much luck finding nanny work. I live quite rurally and before anyone says move, I'm not in a financial position to do that. I feel really down tonight. On my FB feed there are people on benefits who are off on yet another mini break or who have bought a new car etc. I'm just living day to day. Working, going to appointments ( I have chronic conditions) and just being careful with money due to COL. I sometimes wish I could pack it all in and go on the dole.

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:06

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:03

The point is if you are on UC you don't contribute to society financially for tax. OP is right to be annoyed.

How much do you have to earn to actually contribute socially too?
What about people who save the taxpayer a ton by being a carer?
There are so many ways to contribute to society without it being financial.

OP thinks people on benefits are rolling in it. She is welcome to claim and find out the truth.

SchoolShenanigans · 10/07/2023 23:07

I find this really strange. Why would you want to be sat around doing fuck all with your life? Yes, you work hard for a low salary, but at least you have purpose. Your day is busy, your time flies and you get to spend your day with gorgeous little ones and (hopefully) lovely colleagues.

I don't envy those out of work at all. That's no way to live.

I know times are tight but it won't always be that way. And at least you have pride that you do an extremely useful, valuable job.

Babyroobs · 10/07/2023 23:07

skire · 10/07/2023 23:02

When claiming UC, the claimant is always financially better off working.

In theory yes you are better off but many continue to stay in part time work only because they are not better enough off to make it worth their while when all things are considered like childcare costs ( a portion of which still need to be paid for after Uc have paid for most of it), costs of travel to work, work clothes etc.

JamSandle · 10/07/2023 23:10

Moreorlessmentallystable · 10/07/2023 21:09

I have seen often people pretending not to be married or living together so they can keep claiming benefits separately, people cutting hours so they don't lose on benefits, and of course people working cash in hand and keeping quiet about it ...people are not very shy about it and unfortunately social media shows a lot, families that you know are in receipt of benefits yet the parents have money to go out drinking and to concerts, but the kids have to be subsidized for school meals, uniforms, school trips? To me that is wrong. I would feel awful using tax payer money for my kids but yet spending on myself.

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Yes, I know a few people who pretend to be separated to claim benefits. They've always been quite open about it. I remember saying to my parents why don't we report it and them telling me to mind my own business basically.

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:13

Caring for people is laudable but it's something that doesn't need UC to do it. That's a choice being made and it's being subsidized by taxpayers. This country is in a real mess. Basic rate tax is going to have to go up, and UC and benefits need a lot of changes. We don't have enough money to pay teachers or doctors apparently but we can pay UC. That's ridiculous and needs changing. The evidence is there is a core of people who never get off claiming it.

Jojobees · 10/07/2023 23:14

We get Uc, I work full time for the NHS. We are going to Greece in 2 weeks.

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:15

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:13

Caring for people is laudable but it's something that doesn't need UC to do it. That's a choice being made and it's being subsidized by taxpayers. This country is in a real mess. Basic rate tax is going to have to go up, and UC and benefits need a lot of changes. We don't have enough money to pay teachers or doctors apparently but we can pay UC. That's ridiculous and needs changing. The evidence is there is a core of people who never get off claiming it.

Spoken like someone who does not know what UC actually pays.
If you lose your job tomorrow, you will have a huge shock at the pittance you will be entitled to.

Babyroobs · 10/07/2023 23:15

JamSandle · 10/07/2023 23:10

Yes, I know a few people who pretend to be separated to claim benefits. They've always been quite open about it. I remember saying to my parents why don't we report it and them telling me to mind my own business basically.

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Yes it's very widespread. I used to have a work colleague who did this. had lived with partner for several years and had youngest child together but he officially lived at his mums. She was getting benefits for four kids as a lone parent ( in the days when you could get more than two) and child maintenance from three different dads for her other kids. Then partner working and unofficially living with her. I hope she got caught and someone reported her.

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:18

Babyroobs · 10/07/2023 23:15

Yes it's very widespread. I used to have a work colleague who did this. had lived with partner for several years and had youngest child together but he officially lived at his mums. She was getting benefits for four kids as a lone parent ( in the days when you could get more than two) and child maintenance from three different dads for her other kids. Then partner working and unofficially living with her. I hope she got caught and someone reported her.

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I know a lot of people on benefits, and it was the ones who claimed to be a single parent that got caught. I knew 2 people, and both ended up on front page of the local paper. They knew what they were doing.
But, some of the comments on this thread make out that anyone on UC is somehow swinging the lead in some way.

Babyroobs · 10/07/2023 23:18

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:13

Caring for people is laudable but it's something that doesn't need UC to do it. That's a choice being made and it's being subsidized by taxpayers. This country is in a real mess. Basic rate tax is going to have to go up, and UC and benefits need a lot of changes. We don't have enough money to pay teachers or doctors apparently but we can pay UC. That's ridiculous and needs changing. The evidence is there is a core of people who never get off claiming it.

What exactly are carers meant to live off then if they can't work? Of course they need UC when you can't work because you are caring full time for a disabled relative or child.

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:21

UC is a totally shit allowance but if I lost my job tomorrow or was made redundant I would be fine. You speak like someone who has never known anything but @XenoBitch. Do you think your vulnerability means that the fact that there is not actually enough tax being taken to support you is something that should be ignored. OP will be paying a lot more for your claim in a short while. Yea she should be pissed off

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:24

@Babyroobs - bluntly, I know a lot of women who hold down a job and are carers. They don't claim UC.

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:27

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:21

UC is a totally shit allowance but if I lost my job tomorrow or was made redundant I would be fine. You speak like someone who has never known anything but @XenoBitch. Do you think your vulnerability means that the fact that there is not actually enough tax being taken to support you is something that should be ignored. OP will be paying a lot more for your claim in a short while. Yea she should be pissed off

I used to work for the NHS. Paid my dues in tax and ultimately, my own health.

Why should I feel bad that someone is paying tax so I can feed myself and have a roof over my head? I pay tax when I buy anything, by the way.

drpet49 · 10/07/2023 23:28

Swrigh1234 · 09/07/2023 21:48

You are not wrong OP. But this is MN. People on benefits are virtuous and good and must not be questioned on anything. Everyone else is just unreasonable.

This.

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:33

It's about the OP. She contributes. You don't, do you? I mean, that's it.

UC claimants are big on their circumstances but light on maths. This country does not have enough people to contribute at the moment. That is why OP should be annoyed, and it is why who gets state support needs looking at. Claiming to pay tax from public money given in benefits is not a serious point. What you are is a beneficiary of the state. But you don't pay tax in a way that will account for your needs. More people need to do that

Annaishere · 10/07/2023 23:33

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:21

UC is a totally shit allowance but if I lost my job tomorrow or was made redundant I would be fine. You speak like someone who has never known anything but @XenoBitch. Do you think your vulnerability means that the fact that there is not actually enough tax being taken to support you is something that should be ignored. OP will be paying a lot more for your claim in a short while. Yea she should be pissed off

The solution isn’t to cut UC which is already a low amount, especially if you have growing children to feed and clothe. It would cause more children to grow up with malnutrition and the service to become even more shit i.e people that are unwell waiting even longer for a decent income, more sanctions, the whole thing even harder if enough people have this attitude

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:37

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:33

It's about the OP. She contributes. You don't, do you? I mean, that's it.

UC claimants are big on their circumstances but light on maths. This country does not have enough people to contribute at the moment. That is why OP should be annoyed, and it is why who gets state support needs looking at. Claiming to pay tax from public money given in benefits is not a serious point. What you are is a beneficiary of the state. But you don't pay tax in a way that will account for your needs. More people need to do that

Yes, I am a beneficiary of the state. Do you want me to flay myself in public for it?

All you seem to be saying is that anyone on UC is some huge drain and should feel ashamed.

Yes, I claim UC. I don't care for the figures and why should I? What would it gain?

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:38

I know why we have UC but frankly the issue is that the UK does not now have enough wealth in its working people to sustain it. So what is to be done? Tax these people more for their work? What happens to OP?

Babyroobs · 10/07/2023 23:41

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:38

I know why we have UC but frankly the issue is that the UK does not now have enough wealth in its working people to sustain it. So what is to be done? Tax these people more for their work? What happens to OP?

What is to be done is that the government need to come up with some ways to reduce Uc spending like building affordable housing to reduce reliance on extortionate private rentals, improving health care, preventing mental health problems and physical health issues, tackling the obesity crisis and providing earlier interventions for mental health care.

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:44

@Babyroobs - agree with all of that. A hard pass on the "why should I care about maths". We all should. It's not in our interests to have lots of people on UC. Or think of it as an alternative to work, which it is not.

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:44

Babyroobs · 10/07/2023 23:41

What is to be done is that the government need to come up with some ways to reduce Uc spending like building affordable housing to reduce reliance on extortionate private rentals, improving health care, preventing mental health problems and physical health issues, tackling the obesity crisis and providing earlier interventions for mental health care.

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I totally agree.

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:45

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:44

@Babyroobs - agree with all of that. A hard pass on the "why should I care about maths". We all should. It's not in our interests to have lots of people on UC. Or think of it as an alternative to work, which it is not.

Oh feck off. Why should I care about maths......? I am on the sickness element of UC. What would caring about maths achieve?
It sounds like you want me to feel bad for claiming!
If that is your agenda, then please own it.

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:48

@XenoBitch you own it. You put yourself on the table for discussion and eek it out. I'm asking you what do you do when you don't have enough taxpayers to fund it? We don't

Annaishere · 10/07/2023 23:48

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:38

I know why we have UC but frankly the issue is that the UK does not now have enough wealth in its working people to sustain it. So what is to be done? Tax these people more for their work? What happens to OP?

Invest in the NHS. Open night schools for adults. Force employers to offer flexible work

XenoBitch · 10/07/2023 23:50

Anxioys · 10/07/2023 23:48

@XenoBitch you own it. You put yourself on the table for discussion and eek it out. I'm asking you what do you do when you don't have enough taxpayers to fund it? We don't

Well, without UC, I would be dead. Is that the answer you wanted?