Page 19 | Benefits reduction

Bonsaitreepic · 2023-09-22T07:49:40+00:00

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

Dixiechickonhols · 22/09/2023 16:14

A job in a ‘shit place’ is where most people start though.
I worked in a sausage factory at 18 in school hols. It was cold and smelly. Pros were camaraderie among young staff and a heavily subsidised staff shop.
My 17 yr old DD works at McDonald’s. Pay decent, free food, camaraderie/laugh among young staff. It’s done her good in terms of speaking to public, navigating employment systems/managers. Lots of examples for describe a difficult situation for any future interviews.
It’s what you make if it.

Gerrataere · 22/09/2023 16:19

Losttrackofmynames · 22/09/2023 16:11

It's very easy in MN world. Maybe ops DS could take in ironing

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This made me laugh 😂.

It’s bloody tough out there. I agree you have to start somewhere but it’s true that some places don’t have as many opportunities as others. But there is some hint in the op that her son has just sat about a bit after finishing education. I can’t wholly blame him in that - full time educational from 5 - 18 to no idea about the future can be a bit daunting. He has to realise that a good job or an idea will just fall into his lap though.

Other people are quite right about Christmas temp work coming up. Is there a postal sorting office near you OP? If anywhere would be in need at this time of year! And he wouldn’t half be kept busy.

Gerrataere · 22/09/2023 16:21

Won’t just, not will just ffs…

Secondwindplease · 22/09/2023 16:22

Losttrackofmynames · 22/09/2023 16:11

It's very easy in MN world. Maybe ops DS could take in ironing

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In the three months to August 2023, there were approximately 989,000 job vacancies in the UK.According to data from January 2023, approximately 1 in 4 UK businesses in the accommodation and food services had a shortage of staff, the highest of any sector. This was followed by manufacturing, which had 17.4 percent of businesses reporting a shortage, and human health and social work at 15.1 percent.

Jobs are out there. Right now is probably the easiest time in the last twenty years to get a job as a newbie.

FSTraining · 22/09/2023 16:23

Secondwindplease · 22/09/2023 16:22

In the three months to August 2023, there were approximately 989,000 job vacancies in the UK.According to data from January 2023, approximately 1 in 4 UK businesses in the accommodation and food services had a shortage of staff, the highest of any sector. This was followed by manufacturing, which had 17.4 percent of businesses reporting a shortage, and human health and social work at 15.1 percent.

Jobs are out there. Right now is probably the easiest time in the last twenty years to get a job as a newbie.

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If you're in the right part of the country, yes.

Secondwindplease · 22/09/2023 16:24

FSTraining · 22/09/2023 16:23

If you're in the right part of the country, yes.

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We’ve been over this already. Move. Go work in a hotel for free board and lodgings.

Original poster

Bonsaitreepic · 22/09/2023 16:30

Sorry for the delay. I haven’t read all the replies(there’s quite a lot!)
when he was doing his A levels he had a pt job in a restaurant. He was there about 2 years but he left a few months ago. Too many staff, not enough customers.

OP posts:

QuizzlyBears · 22/09/2023 16:35

Your son’s UC payment isn’t pocket money for him. Whilst he’s living at home then it needs to contribute to household expenses. And as for him being at a crossroads - he needs a job, any job, whilst he’s idling at those crossroads. Very few of us land our dream career immediately, he can figure it out whilst he’s working in something to start with.

ifonly4 · 22/09/2023 16:35

My DD was "at a crossroads recently", felt a bit low and not sure how it'd all work out. Been away at uni for four years, adjusting to being at home with us, split with long term boyfriend, affected by uni marking boycott so no graded Decree to offer employers. Also, most jobs relating to her Decree are in London and she can't afford to take them up on starting pay.

So ... she went out and got herself a job in the local supermarket, to earn money and company. In the meantime, she's contacted all local businesses that are in some way connected with her Decree/similar ethos, and this week started a new job - not quite what she originally had in mind, but hopefully will be good for her.

In the meantime, I'd suggest your DS pay more money. DH and myself both work and we have less spending money than the amount your DS has a month between us.

CuteCillian · 22/09/2023 16:36

your household is still being paid benefits for him - it’s just being paid to him directly now as he’s an adult.
Excellent idea for your DS to get a job with accommodation.

Sallyh87 · 22/09/2023 16:38

It seems that you are in receipt of the exact same amount of benefits, just now he is paid directly. This obviously needs to be used to pay his expenses not his luxuries.

He needs a job, there are infinite number of jobs in restaurants etc available.

itsalongwaybackfromsorry · 22/09/2023 16:38

Qwerty21 · 22/09/2023 09:19

The UC your son's getting needs to be paid entirely to you. Until he gets a job and then he needs to pay you £300 a month . It's not fun for your son but that money isn't fun money, uc is for living on. What money did he have before?

This

If he's living in your home, the money needs to fund his living there. He's an adult. He doesn't get to use it as spending money and not work when you're on your knees.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 22/09/2023 16:39

Bonsaitreepic · 22/09/2023 16:30

Sorry for the delay. I haven’t read all the replies(there’s quite a lot!)
when he was doing his A levels he had a pt job in a restaurant. He was there about 2 years but he left a few months ago. Too many staff, not enough customers.

Edited

When he left his job, hate to be harsh, he should’ve ensured he had another job to go to.

Has he completed his A levels? Next steps?

Regardless, he can’t keep all his UC, not contribute towards your household and be at a crossroads for ages.

I’ve known similar young people like this and more often than not they have to make decisions quickly. One of them after years of college and work went to Thailand with a TEFL certificate where he got a good job where he’s been for years and was married with a young child.

Iloveechocolate · 22/09/2023 16:40

Yes, there is no excuse! No incentive to work, if he lives at home with £250 spending money.

FloweryName · 22/09/2023 16:44

Peony15 · 22/09/2023 15:28

Am a tax payer as are my 2 DS, similar age to
yours. Both worked after school and now full time whilst deciding where they want to go career wise. Plenty of jobs out there. May not all be fun ones . Lazing about at home aka " deciding " at tax payer's expense literally makes me 😤.
Money doesn't come from UC cash point, most people should work for a living, especially
age 18. What will you do
when all DC's leave
home ? Was a single parent too btw.
Am sick of funding people like your DS to do nothing whilst I
work !
Zero empathy I'm afraid for him, some for you .

It’s interesting that people seem to have more sympathy for the parent in this situation than the the son who has only just become an adult.

The parent in this sorry situation has chosen to have four children when she was already claiming benefits for two.

The son has been led to believe that free money will just come along if you need it because that’s the example he’s been set by his parent. The parent who should have warned him long before now that he was going to need to contribute to the household as soon as he left education, but who failed to even consider it.

This is a parent who would rather complain on MN that she’s not getting enough free money to support her in her negative choices than ask her son to use his free money to support himself. It’s pathetic. I have far more sympathy for the son than I do the parent.

Kendodd · 22/09/2023 16:45

Checkingcheckup · 22/09/2023 16:07

really not easy to get a job !! My 17 year old stepson has applied for 26 jobs in the last 6 months and only had one interview and he’s applying for everything!!!

26 applications in six months. That's only one application per week.

MAndICream · 22/09/2023 16:48

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Gerrataere · 22/09/2023 16:49

@FloweryName the op has a disabled child. It’s not ‘free money’, the op’s benefit amount is a drop in the ocean compared to what it would cost social care to take over if the op had to work. You have no idea about the op’s history, work or personal so I kindly suggest you remove the copy of the Daily Mail that’s evidently got painfully wedge inside you and actually give constructive and useful advice. Not use it as a platform for some silly boring benefit/single mother rant that has no impact on the fact that the op is on benefits or a single parent.

Gingerkittykat · 22/09/2023 16:51

Bonsaitreepic · 22/09/2023 09:31

I do t claim carers allowance as I was told there’s be no difference in the amount I received

Carers allowance pays class 1 NI contributions and if you are in Scotland you get carers allowance supplement.

Are you claiming the carers element on UC and the disabled child element?

TinglingTangling · 22/09/2023 16:52

Sallyh87 · 22/09/2023 16:38

It seems that you are in receipt of the exact same amount of benefits, just now he is paid directly. This obviously needs to be used to pay his expenses not his luxuries.

He needs a job, there are infinite number of jobs in restaurants etc available.

This.

Real world is calling and he needs to get a job.

Lennybenny · 22/09/2023 16:54

You have known or should have known that your benefits fall when your child leaves ft education. Be happy it's only £300. I lost £700. But I have known for years that my benefits stop next year. I've been looking for a ft role and updating my qualifications so I can go ft.
You'll have to stop borrowing and just live within your means...haven't read all your posts but expecting a drip feed of a sen child and can't work more hours etc etc.

CrazyHamsterLady · 22/09/2023 16:54

The oldest is going to have to get a job and pay you keep. That’s the simple answer. You clearly can’t afford to support him. My DD earns only around £22k a year but pays £250 a month and buys her own food (she always joins us for things like cottage pie and roasts though!!)

Gerrataere · 22/09/2023 16:56

Lennybenny · 22/09/2023 16:54

You have known or should have known that your benefits fall when your child leaves ft education. Be happy it's only £300. I lost £700. But I have known for years that my benefits stop next year. I've been looking for a ft role and updating my qualifications so I can go ft.
You'll have to stop borrowing and just live within your means...haven't read all your posts but expecting a drip feed of a sen child and can't work more hours etc etc.

There’s no drip feed, the op already said they have a child with complex needs. Maybe look at the op’s posts before accusing her of things that you yourself have not read.

TheFormidableMrsC · 22/09/2023 16:56

Lennybenny · 22/09/2023 16:54

You have known or should have known that your benefits fall when your child leaves ft education. Be happy it's only £300. I lost £700. But I have known for years that my benefits stop next year. I've been looking for a ft role and updating my qualifications so I can go ft.
You'll have to stop borrowing and just live within your means...haven't read all your posts but expecting a drip feed of a sen child and can't work more hours etc etc.

No drip feeding, OP has already said she has a young child with complex needs.

FloweryName · 22/09/2023 16:58

Gerrataere · 22/09/2023 16:49

@FloweryName the op has a disabled child. It’s not ‘free money’, the op’s benefit amount is a drop in the ocean compared to what it would cost social care to take over if the op had to work. You have no idea about the op’s history, work or personal so I kindly suggest you remove the copy of the Daily Mail that’s evidently got painfully wedge inside you and actually give constructive and useful advice. Not use it as a platform for some silly boring benefit/single mother rant that has no impact on the fact that the op is on benefits or a single parent.

I had a disabled child too but I was still able to work.

I have more than enough personal experience and experience through my career to know that having a child with a disability doesn’t automatically make people unable to work, even if they are single parents.

I also know that in many cases a child with a disability still needs a parent available at all times even if they are at school full time. Sometimes expecting a parent to work on top of caring for their disabled child is too much to expect because their child barely sleeps or their needs are too severe.

It is not helpful to assume that a disabled child automatically equals an unemployed parent on benefits because it just isn’t true.