Don’t have more kids if you can’t afford them!

[SportMum1982]

I’m not a raving Tory! But honestly I would have loved more children!!! I would have loved 4 kids but I know we cannot afford 4 kids.

Why do people expect the state to pay for their children? Bar education though! If I’m being really cruel tell me, but I feel I did want more kids but stopped.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67999028

"Bit of a pisstake to compare women here to those living in absolute poverty"

You think nobody should have children if they can't afford to do it without help from the state.

So that would be about a third of the UK population.

BTW - there are families in the UK who can't adequately feed themselves, clothe themselves or pay their housing costs.

That's not what I said, so I'm not bothering to reply properly.

That is not what I said.

Until fairly recently I believe you didnt have to look for work until your youngest child was 12 (!!!) and you'd get all other associated benefits for having as many kids (as you wanted) on top! There were plenty of people playing that system, believe me. I grew up with them and ALL of their parents were feckless and a scourge on society.

Imagine not having to go to work for at least 12 years, just because you didnt want to, safe in the knowledge you'd still be housed, clothed and fed. Imagine what that does to the psyche. It is a damaging message for people and their children to get used to.

The 2 child cap is seeking to address this as far as im concerned.

The bloody parents should!

And if they're incapable of providing for them, I have no idea why they think the government should do it. Or why they think they'll get any sympathy crying to the papers.

Anyone can make a mistake. It's very easy to do.

But I'm highly suspicious of people who make the same mistake, time and again, which also just happens to result in their financial gain.

I live in a nice area of town. I’m hoping to be able to move into a bungalow in the next ten years, still in the same area.

Met a woman yesterday 2 years older than me. Has never worked. Three kids, three dads. None of them pay. She doesn’t work, says it’s not worth it and she’s got UC and PIP because she has althritis and needs help.

Shes asking for the council to rehouse her. Says she quite likes X part of town (where I live) and wants a bungalow. I was struck by the fact I’ve worked for 30 years and hope to afford XYZ as a result, where as she expects somebody else to give her the same XYZ because she wants it.

I was also thrilled to hear that she gives her teenage son 100% of her PIP to spend on vaping and gaming. And I wish I was joking.

Country needs a massive kick up the arse.

If you need taxpayer's support for the children you already have, please don't have any more.

I was giving an example.

It is not about overt discrimination but there is a lack of diversity in areas of the work force. It’s simple fact that can be proven.

Being employed is positive for many people and instead of saying “oh the Equality Act will protect you”, we need to encourage people and help them be accepted. Work should work for people.

Some people on benefits look at having another child as the equivalent to having a pay rise.

I think izimbra has a political agenda to spin to create a constituency of people who need saving from themselves and their reproductive instincts.

Oh yes, look at the thousands rolling in for those on benefits

@winewine

A woman came in today with her proof of entitlement which was her UC statement.
It was £3800.00 for the month.

Is this true? That's £45,600/year - so equivalent of around £60,000 salary!

Nobody on MN ever believes that people get large amounts for doing nothing.

That's double my salary & I work 4 long days/week for that.

That does upset a lot of people who go to work five days a week, and take home a lot less. Especially when their kids are the ones disrupting classes for laughs.

@winewine surely no one brings a human being into the world just for a monthly cheque!

It’s not that simple. Read sociology books.

There will always be uneducated poor people having children.

@Papyrophile @converseandjeans it is 100% true but people don't want to believe it.
@twnety yes some are a lot better off on benefits than people working.
@Rosiiee being a single adult with no dependents you will be a lot worse off than someone unemployed with children.

@Rosiiee some women get pregnant when their child gets to an age when they have to start looking for work.

Unpopular options but I've seen it many times over through my work.

I remember a while ago someone posting what the Radfords would be entitled to in child tax credits up until the cap. The thousands literally were rolling in. Albeit most families don't have 16 kids, but 4+ kids on benefits pre cap was good money, all things considered.

Yes, but then they need an incentive to stop eg the benefit cap. And if they don't stop, maybe their children will.

YABVU
Most families in this situation could afford the children at the time they decided not to terminate a pregnancy. From the article:
”Almost half of those affected by the two-child benefit limit are single parents, such as Frances, in London. Her third child was still a baby when her relationship with her husband broke down, and he doesn't support the family financially.
Her children are now aged 11, six, and three. Frances has "reluctantly" left her job as a business administrator as she says it wouldn't cover the cost of childcare.
"I've heard the argument that you need to plan your family, but I did plan, thinking I was in a two-parent family unit.
"But through a breakdown in the relationship, we went from an average London family to me being a single parent and having to juggle those demands and responsibility, and then going to not having an income because of that - it's not anything I could have pre-empted."

So it’s not true that child poverty is due to people expecting the state to pay for their children or failing to plan to only have as many as they can afford.

@OriginalUsername2
Uneducated poor people will keep having children if there is a financial incentive to do so.

This needs to stop hence the cap.

@BoPeepsSheep

People will try to dismiss your example but I have heard it one too many times all over the UK

There are too many people in the UK actively abusing the benefits system for their own benefit.

This had now combined with the people that actually need help to create a perfect storm.

And it just isn't sustainable.

People need to be told "no" in no uncertain terms. No to benefits. No to a free house. No to Child benefit. Not unless you work. Period.

Thats what is has come down to. Tough love.

@Papyrophile

Just ignore Izimbra. She goes around in circles and adds no value to any discussion. Just platitudes.

Until fairly recently I believe you didnt have to look for work until your youngest child was 12 (!!!)

That would have been 2008. The two child benefit cap came into effect in 2017- the same year the age of youngest child at which a single parent must be available to wire dropped from age 5 to age 3.

There are very valid arguments to look at a number of benefits and the welfare system in the Uk - inherited council tenancies anyone??

but child benefit is a grum
amd unnecessary place to target

i genuinely belief - consciously or not - it’s driven by a desire to control women and their
choices

people just can’t resist controlling women