To not correct neighbour's assumptions?

[Notalazysoso]

We live in a HA home, because we had a no fault eviction and have a disabled child so were prioritised for being housed rather than a b&b/temp accommodation.

I work full-time, predominantly WFH other than a 2 hour drop in approximately once or twice per week. I work with vulnerable families so it's smart casual attire when I run a drop in. I'm a single parent so my work day usually looks like 9am-2.30pm WFH/at a drop in, then 8/9-10/11 in the evenings-ish. I also try and bank TOIL to give me shorter days during the holidays so my 8/9-10/11 can often be until midnight.

My house is HA and the one adjoining is privately owned. Very unpleasant family who actively stop their children interacting with mine, won't give me the time of day. I was moving my bins this morning as we went away for the week and didn't want them left. They asked if we were going away, I said yes, they made a comment about funny how they work hard and can never afford to go away. They seem to spend their money on the house, which is fair enough but their garden alone cost £6k in improvements last year. I keep mine tidy and functional but prefer to spend my spare money on breaks away with the children. I pay full rent and council tax. I only get UC help and DLA due to the disabled child. If she weren't disabled we wouldn't qualify for any UC.

Neighbours have made comments a few times about how nice it must be not to work. I just smile and respond yes it would be. AIBU to leave them to look down on us with their bigoted ill-informed views and not correct them that I do in fact work full time and juggle absolutely everything on my own even if we do live in a HA home and we aren't a perfect two-parent family?

Our neighbours didn't speak to us for four years because they assumed that I'm lazy (DH works full time but commutes).

Then one day they had a parcel of mine misdelivered, so the woman brought it round. I said thanks, sorry it took my a few minutes to get to the door, was in a meeting blah blah. She looked horrified and managed to splutter enough to ask me if I worked.

I told her yes, I work 40 hours a week, am doing my doctorate and volunteer for two charities, as well as being a parent and managing my disabilities, so I didn't have time to chat at the door...

Guess who tries to speak to me now, every time I leave the house? Judgy twat.

Just ask them what they mean by the work thing. Wait for the answer and don’t speak until they’ve given you the answer.

then if they say anything about not working, just say “I wish! I work full time and then some!”

I don't think I'd bother saying anything to them about the fact that you're working full time. They sound the type (yes I'm judgemental here!) to not understand that WFH can mean you are working really hard. So even if you tell them you work full time you may still get a lot of chat about "but working from home must be easy" or some nonsense.

don't dare justify a damn thing to them. They will always be dicks no matter how much you explain, I'd go further and perpetuate the notion you don't work, claim everything, holiday extensively and let them seethe....

I used to get this from our neighbours. We have a disabled child and my husband goes out to work, so there would have been good reason for me not to work, although I do work part time from home. Were always making comments about how tired they were because they worked with that noted look at me. My husband mentioned I worked in conversation at some point and since then the attitude has changed and no more comments. I would slip it into conversation just to stop the condescension.

Either way, I wouldn't give a crap what they thought as they sound like right arseholes. Hope you enjoy your holiday. Ignore and avoid them as much as possible. Gits.