AIBU to be angry about the benefits system

[Daffodilsinfebruary]

I have recently discovered by using a free, independent benefits calculator called entitledto that had I applied for Universal Credit over 2 years ago, me and my family would be over £16,000 better off.

I had assumed that benefits were for either single-parent families or people unable to work due to disability.

The majority of our savings would have been from claiming 85% back in childcare costs. We also would have had a payout of over £200 each month in addition.

For context, we bring in just shy off £4,000 a month. I thought this was a very reasonable income and we would be entitled to nil.

I feel angry that we did not know about this. A friend of mine who I met through our children attending the same nursery told me she claims 85% back in childcare costs during a conversation in which I complained of my childcare going up £150.

I did further research and 19 billion pounds apparently goes unclaimed every year.

I’ve never claimed benefits in all my life and worked hard to get on the property ladder.

should I be angry that we didn’t claim, or take it in my stride.

I wonder how many other families who could have claimed but haven’t.

The words more fool you come to mind... why you wouldn't at least check you are entitled to some sort of help with childcare costs is beyond me.

It is up to you to discover what you are entitled to. You can't expect someone to hold your hand through life like this. Who do you expect to tell you? Do you expect a government life coach?

Who are you aiming your anger at?

You yourself said 'I assumed...'

4000 a month

This is part of the reason why the benefits system is so broken. No one on that kind of income should need any benefits but, because tax credits destroyed the necessity to live on a normal wage, people expect so much more - landlords, service providers, retailers and manufacturers etc.

How galling OP!

Yes these things should be more clearly communicated.

Just one glance at Martin Lewis' website would have told you this too.

surely the only person you can be angry with is you- your responsibility to check surely?

My kids are late/mid teenagers now and Working tax credits with the childcare element were around when mine were at nursery so not a new thing anyone has kept hidden from you.

How?

Who do you think should be telling you?

I am angry at myself, I was aware of the 20% Government top up on tax free childcare that I claim.

in 2019 before I got pregnant, I had a look to see if we were entitled to any help and we weren’t. So the government must have updated the criteria since then.

It did not dawn on me to check again.

Me and my husband do not struggle and have plenty of disposable income. We do not need the benefits to get by.

I suppose I am also angry that Tax Payers money Is being claimed by couples in the same position as us to have an even better lifestyle.

i thought benefits were for people who could not afford to live, yet me and my DH can afford to live and have luxuries yet would still be able to claim. Just feel this is wrong. Surely we should be able to keep more of our tax.

The system seems broken.

It's easier to find out what financial support you are entitled to than ever before, thanks to the numerous online benefit checkers available.

There has been plenty of publicity about help with childcare costs, and it would have taken a matter of minutes to check.

In your shoes, OP, I'd be angry with myself, not with the system.

Hopefully, you've put your claim now, though?

I can understand being angry at yourself for not thinking of checking, or being angry at whoever told you that benefits are only for single parents and people with disabilities. But - if you thought you were better than those people who were claiming, I'm going to have a job on my hands to find a tiny enough violin.

The fact that 19 billions pounds goes unclaimed indicates a lot of people do not know

I am really surprised that you would be entitled to anything over the childcare element on that wage?

Are you sure it’s correct?

I earn less than 25k full time, and because I don’t have the housing element I get around £300 a month? No childcare costs.

Everyone seems to know to claim child benefit, isn't it mentioned in the hospital Bounty packs when you have a baby ? If they are still a thing maybe a note should be added for people to check for other benefits !

I deal with people every week that aren't aware of the benefits they are entitled to. I'm trained to deal with these sort of things, know about entitledto and other resources but still find it an absolute minefield. Don't beat yourself up about it. Just get on with applying.

We get the child benefit but the universal credit is a different system

Surely there should be one system that does it all? So when I either applied for Tax-Free Childcare or Child Benefit then maybe it should have included Universal Credit. Should all be under one roof.

Well, you've survived and clearly not starved so on a basic level you didn't need them.

The benefit system is for people to claim if they need it. If they are struggling.

It isn't a secret.

But when you checked before you were pregnant you weren't entitled to anything. So that was right. When you had a child that you were paying childcare for your circumstances had changed so you should have checked again. But you don't have a time machine so it is what it is and as you say you dont need the money there isnt really a problem is there.

Ffs £4000 though

I guess they set the thresholds and people will claim if they can just because they can whether they need the money or not. There have been a lot of post on forums recently where people have been switching from tax credits to Universal credit and people who have been on tax credits for years are up in arms that they won't receive UC after the 12 month transitional protection runs out because they own second homes. I find this absolutely dreadful that taxpayers money is being used to pay benefits to people with second homes, yet many of these low earning tax payers ( especially single people) who are paying for this won't be eligible for any benefits themselves and will likely never own one property let alone two. Personally I feel really angry about this but it's been going on for years. The system is a mess.

Your ignorance is not the benefit system/governments fault.

Many people earning 4k a month would not be eligible for Uc unless they either have multiple kids born before the two child threshold came into play, or they have rent and/ or childcare costs or a number of disabled children on the claim. A couple with a mortgage and one child and little childcare costs would not be eligible.