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

I have already explained that a full time degree is not the equivalent hours of a full time job (unless you’re medicine or hard sciences). I hope you found my post helpful because I did try to explain how some courses can adapt to modern family life, even in difficult circumstances.

No I am not. Read my posts. 30 odd hours of study I managed to do in 15 max - more when assignments were due. I did it because I wanted a better future. I pushed myself to do it in the shortest time possible. It’s possible with 8 hours a week study max.

Literally, in the time you’ve been arguing on here trying to ‘catch me out’ under the guise of wanting advice - you could’ve completed a weeks worth of study on an undergrad. Choices.

Yes, in the hour that I've been on here I could have done a week's worth of undergrad 😂 thanks for the advice!

and for the last few months he's been doing what? applying for tens of jobs every week? or sitting on his backside?

Yes you could. In the time you’ve been on here you could’ve done a weeks modules on an undergrad unit. As @Secondwindplease has told you also - you know a uni lecturer.

@fluffyguineapig Differences aside, if you are interested in pursuing a degree then you can PM me. I am more than happy to help shortlist courses, research funding and review applications. Its not easy but it’s more accessible than people first think.

That’s a really useful post and I hope Op sees it so she’s not blindsided by that too.

An hour relentlessly arguing with strangers online trying to look ‘smart’ . Trust me, posters reading this thread definitely think you’re being a busybody, nobody is cheering you on, but instead think you’re being incredibly petty.

Go spend this time with your own child instead which you seem to heavily advocate for, instead of playing detective on a post that will be off the front page by tomorrow morning 😂 was it all worth it?

This.

Come on, you know as well as I do that you can't do a week's worth of undergrad in an hour. I do have a masters degree - I got it before I had children. We both know that that isn't true that you could complete the week's work in an hour, especially if you want to get a first class degree. There's no point in trying to encourage OP to study by grossly underestimating the time commitment, otherwise she could end up wasting time and a lot of money and becoming completely snowed under.

Why borrow £200 off your mum and yet your son keeps £200 of his UC as spending money? He should be giving you the £200 and looking for work? Ffs there's a lot of work out there, our local butcher can't get anyone I know 2 builders desperate for labourers and the local Costa us advertising. The problem isn't UC its you and your son.

My child is cuddled up next to me thank you, as he always is. Glad to hear that you speak for everybody reading this thread :)

No, an hour a week is possibly an exaggeration. Could have got through a lecture though.

If you have a masters then why the faux ignorance about how to do it? Several times you said you’d like @Princessandthepea0 to reveal all as it would be helpful for you?

It really is, especially in humanities. I literally did it. Assignments aside… Hopefully op if they are interested ignored the negativity and the ‘it’s impossible’ and messages someone like @Secondwindplease who can help with future plans. Not an instant solution but a long term one for her and her children.

Well done for confirming what everyone on this thread knew though - you weren’t after help - you wanted an argument. It doesn’t reflect well.

Thanks @Secondwindplease I do already have an MA, which I got before having my children. It's nice of you to offer though.

I imagine she speaks for most of us, yes.

Then they must be independently wealthy in some way to be able to pay for help or have a large amount of family support as God knows there's none from the broken system we have.

But quite frankly as a mum of kids with complex needs I simply don't believe you. Not sure how anyone is physically able to when they have to care throughout the night. Maybe they have developed super powers and can dispense with basic human need for sleep.

It's not faux ignorance - it's knowing that what she is saying isn't adding up, and it's all very well saying that it's possible to work full time, study full time and take care of three disabled children all without any childcare, but it doesn't add up. Especially saying that you can complete a week's worth of work in an hour. And it's not fair to sell false hope to people like that, especially as courses are so expensive to start.

You are entitled to scrutinise, but you did suggest that it would be helpful for you to know as maybe you could do something similar, which was insincere.

It does add up because I did it. You’ve just outed yourself I’m afraid. I have been very clear. I did full time which was about 15 hours a week. You can do less. I was being flippant as you were so desperate for help. You kept asking how I did it as you wanted to know as it would help you. I advised getting off the internet and using that time to study.

Turns out every poster who called you out was right to. You didn’t want advice. You just can’t cope with someone’s success story. I’m sorry, that’s just sad. Maybe you’d be happier not trying to place glass ceilings on people. Try it.

I mean I would love to retrain but my child doesn't have a school place so it's a non starter. If there was any actually useful advice then I would definitely appreciate it and file it away when the LA finally pulls their finger out and educates my child.

How lovely to read!😊

I asked you how you did it and you said that you worked full time (40 hours) studied full time (apparently really quickly, doing 30 hours in 15 hours - then changed it to one hour!) and only had 30 hours away from your children a week, and you just didn't sleep. Well done, but it's not any advice that's helpful for anyone else!

I am sorry things are so tough. It’s a shame this thread has become so heated when we’re all clever, ballsy women who should be pulling in the same direction.

Thanks @Secondwindplease, yes life is hard enough without judging each other <3