Benefits reduction

[Bonsaitreepic]

I got my UC payment today. Just checked and it’s almost £300 less than usual. This is because my oldest is now classed as an adult as he’s left ft education. He’s not currently in work.
I have 3 other children but now I seemingly only get support for 2 of them due to the child cap.
Im freaking out. I only get maintenance for one of the children as I have the other 2 50/50 with their dad. I cannot afford to lose this much money every month. I was already struggling as it was. I’m unable to work just yet as one of the children has complex needs. I already get some DLA for them.
im quite sure there’s nothing I can do about this but I’m so worried

@ImNotReallySpartacus
If it makes you feel any better, many people work full time and don't have £200 a month to spend as they please.
THIS - 100%!!!

Some of these answers! It is definitely a MN things that children are coddled, fussed over and revered until their 18th birthday, then they are on their own.
This is the OP's son some pps are being so harsh about. I agree in principle that he needs to bring some money in and the OP should have seen this coming, but honestly, there is no need to be so brutal. I can only advise that those who have answered who have young children that this day will come for you, and when it does, you will definitely not see a fully-formed adult in front of you.

Whilst your eldest is looking for work can he contribute more of his UC to you?

This really

The only solution is for him to give all his UC to you and you continue to supply everything as you were.
Or leave him some money to buy the food he wants on the understanding you won't be providing meals. You will need to be harder than me to carry that option off though!

Presumably he is now £250 better off per month so that needs to come to you.

McDonald’s or always looking for staff ! Is there anything local ?

I know. A holiday? What is that?

I work full time (more than 40 hours a week) and struggle to afford the price of the tube, so I end up having to take the bus, which takes 3 times as long. Sometimes, I am so shattered that I treat myself with a £3.20 tube ride, but that means I have to wait in the station entrance for 40 minutes with all the other poor people who can't afford the £1.1 extra we would pay if we travelled during peak time.

Such an easy life!

You're not a "drain on society", OP, you're looking after three kids on your one - one with complex needs. I'm a lone parent too, but only have one and that's challenging enough as it is.

I know it's easier said than done but as previous posters have pointed out, your son really needs to take a job wherever he can get one until he knows how he wants his future to pan out. I hope you find a solution. I've been in financial hardship before now and it sucks arse, big time x

I’m a nutshell he needs to pay virtually all the money he’s now getting in benefits to you as you have lost it and need it to feed/heat/house him.
If he left ft education in June he’s had months to get a job.
Sitting around and deciding what to do isn’t an option. He can get a job then decide. Try local council website there are lots of vacancies on ours - evening office cleaning 7-9pm daily pays £10.90 an hour. McDonald’s is £10.60 for an 18.

Oh don't get all up in yourself thinking you've figured something out that no-one else has.

Virtually everyone knows big corporations are evading tax.

It has no bearing on anyone's opinions about benefits.

They're separate issues. People can know about and hold in mind, numerous problems.

The transparent 'whataboutery' is just as transparent and invalid as Russell Brands Dad saying "Is this seriously the most important thing happening in this world?” he asked. “Immigrants? Cost of living? 10s of thousands killed in Ukraine?".

That's pretty much what I hear when anyone questions or has concerns about the billions of pounds spent on benefits in this country, and the billions spent on fraud or error.

"That's nothing...look over there, that's worse".

It's still billions of pounds. It's a significant amount of money.

Somehow, I don't think OP is coming back.

you must have known this was coming though-they put the two child cap on years ago

you cannot afford for him to be deciding what he wants to do-he must have finished education back in june so why has he still not got a job

Both things can be true you know.

We can think Jeff Bezos and all corporations should pay more tax AND that 18 year old's should get a job/training/education rather than sponge off the government.

If op's money has only just reduced then it's likely her son has only just started claiming. Being on UC for a single person is not exactly an easy ride. He will be expected to look for a job and prove 35 hours of job searching, also go into the job centre likely weekly. If he doesn't show he is doing everything to get a job he will be sanctioned and have his money reduced. My dd left school this year and could not find a job. I didn't push her to claim UC for these reasons knowing how harsh it can ( and should ) be. However we are in the fortunate position of being able to support her a bit longer and she had some money saved from her part time , term time job. I expect op's son has not yet got the full brunt of being on UC and the expectations that come with it. When he does he may be a bit more motivated to look for a job.

What Jeff bezos should or shouldn't do, is absolutely irrelevant to what the ops son should or shouldn't do.

Of course the son should be handing over at least £200 of the money he's just been given from the government for doing nothing for his keep.

It is actually ridiculous that the government give an 18 yo old capable adult with zero caring responsibilities not in any education at all £250 a month. It is easy to get a job when you have zero restrictions or inflexibility, let's stop pretending it isn't. If McDonald's aren't hiring, then you get off your arse and pop a message on your local Facebook page offering yourself out for lawnmoeing or whatever for a tenner an hour. It really really isn't difficult.

Yeah it’s Jeff Bezos fault that op and her son don’t work. Whether he pays tax or not is irrelevant. Hard working people paying tax to keep people who don’t want to work is the issue. People always try to make a point about people who find tax loopholes, to defend people on benefits… when really it’s not the issue

In Central London, my cleaning agency has highly educated masters students from Eastern Europe and India cleaning houses, charging £16 an hour. Do they love it? No! They do it while waiting for something better. These are people who have STEM degrees.

Times are tough. They are about to get tougher.

the two things can be true yes amazon should be paying tax and starbucks but theres nothing we can do about that

my friends son just finished his ft education she knew this was going to happen and prepared for it got an extra job and so did he

He needs to get a job..even 16 hours at minimum wage would be £500pm and he then needs to give you the £300 you are missing. If he's 18 and no longer in education then what is he doing?!

Because my sister is scum, she stole from a woman lying dying in a hospice, used her bank account as if it was her own. And she got away with it! So yeah bunch of low life scum. I’ve always worked, even as a single parent, all my kids are adults and they all work and have their own homes… you would not believe my sister and I grew up in the same home with hard working parents. So yeah there it is!

Lots of jobs for youngsters. Most round here working Saturday jobs since 14/15. Bit embarrassing healthy lad loafing about when funds are so tight.

Everything that is wrong with today's society and benefits system in one thread.

Of course your benefits stop when he's 18 and too lazy to work! What do you expect, handouts from the state forever?

i am sure he will not be not working for his entire lifetime.

And then what does she do in school holidays?