To think she should look for work?

[Daisydoodo]

my sister is on the migration from tax credits to universal credit. Her husband works and earns around £25k a year and does not aspire to earn anymore she has 6 children 3 over 16 and 3 5-16years she was complaining today that she may be expected to start looking for work when she migrates and how she thinks it’s unfair as she is only just getting her life back now the 5yo is in full time school. AIBU to tell her to get a grip and get a job? I feel awful for saying it but it’s getting on my nerves as I was expected to return after 6 months mat leave. Should the UC system force her to look for work

Her children will end up contributing to society, we need more children for all the expected elderly in care

Well let's hope so, considering all the taxes that future elderly are paying for these kids healthcare, education etc.

I'm one of 5. My mother kept having kids because she didn't want to work. We grew up in a lot of poverty and had generally shit lives. Only my eldest sister and I have actually done something useful with our lives. The rest are all on various benefits with lots of kids. It's looking like a third generation of my family are going to be scrounging off the taxpayer 🤷‍♀️

Well yes it is ridiculous, however our mortgage (on our 3 bed just btw) has gone up by 600 quid. I'm pregnant anyway so hey sod it.

Does this mean that almost all of you disagreed with tax credits?

Do you not realise how much easier women’s lives were with tax credits? Why do you all want women’s lives to be hectic and for there to be no effective safety net?

I thank God that my migration letter arrived a couple of weeks before my tax credits ended! And I wish that they still existed for everyone else.

I hope that the people who don’t agree with benefits done become ill or disabled. It could happen to any of you. And there will be no help.

I'm not judgemental about his wages at all. Not one bit. I am massively judgemental about the pair of them and their inability to be responsible about family planning and their sense of entitlement that the benefits system should fund their life choices.

You're missing the point. They're not ill or disabled. I'd say 99% of posters here wouldn't begrudge anyone unable to work access to the welfare system, it's what it's for. But I do begrudge people who fund their overactive wombs with benefit payments.

I doubt anyone has a problem with benefits for truly ill or disabled people. However, having 6 children isn't a disability, is it?

Women who were single parents had to work on TC.

That's not what I said though. Either being a SAHP is lazy, or it isn't, regardless of where the income is from. So if you think she's lazy, you think all SAHPs are lazy too.

But I don't think they are necessarily

I was one when my dc were young

I

Not until their children were 5, and only 16 hours then.

No, they’re fundamentally different.

Only 16 hours was required right up until the youngest child left education at 18/ 19 years of age ! Madness. Then again a couple only had to work 24 hours to be topped up by working tax credits !

No they aren't though. You might not like where the income is coming from, but a SAHP is doing the exact same thing whether it's on benefits or provided for by a partner. In fact, the single SAHP on benefits is doing a far harder and more relentless job as they don't have a partner to help them.

And actually, as a single parent of one child with a full time job myself, I do not envy any SAHP with 6 children, sounds like my idea of hell. I'd choose my life any day.

You spelt feckless relentless wrong

Yanbu. Having 6 children was a choice. She needs to start taking some responsibility

It's more likely for kids from households that were on benefits long term to end up on benefits themselves...you can do a simple Google search for the literature on this.

Wow lots of responses! Apologies I have been at work. It just really frustrates me that it’s almost an entitlement that she shouldn’t have to work because tax credits have entitled her to do this for years! I understood when the children were babies but they are in school she could at least try to get a part time job for a few hours a day! Her worry is that she will be expected to work 30 hours minimum (I could only wish to work 30 hours a week I work minimum of 40) and have only 2 children because I can simply not afford to have anymore and we are only just above threshold for receiving any help. The system just seems so broken! I know she is my sister and do support her when I can but I just don’t agree with her stance on this

Have you suggested to her that it won't be so bad because her husband will naturally step up to do more in the house and share pick-ups, drop-offs and sick days when they are both working?

Hey now, I make over £17 an hour to wipe bums, don’t knock it! 😆

OP, YANBU to feel the way you feel. Of course she should get a job. And just personally, as a former SAHP, I felt I “got my life back” much more when I did get back to work! I truly loved getting to have chats with co-workers, a long lunch break, etc.

I don’t know what you can actually do about it, though. If she’s asking your opinion you could tell her as tactfully as possibly that it’s good for everyone to support themselves as they are able…but I don’t think it would help anything to bring it up and have a fight over it.

I wish I could choose where my taxes go. I would choose not to spend them on the lifestyle choices of women who don't like the idea of working for a living.
People are entitled to have lots of kids but they shouldn't expect others to pay for their upkeep.

'Pull his finger out...'

Say whaaattt.... you expect him 2pull down 6figures... ???

So rude....

But we would assume the DS likes it, no one is forced to have 6 children!

Who on this thread said they don't agree with benefits?

It's just the scroungers people don't agree with.

Stop twisting what's been said, it makes for a poor argument.