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.

We receive a tiny bit (less than £100) a month and we bring in less than your £4000 a month, so it's likely you wouldn't be eligible. If you have savings over £6,000 they would also start reducing your award. You sound bitter.

Yes it's ridiculous. There was a poster on here earned 60k and people were telling her she would get UC. Single parent but still it's a huge wage. Benefits should be for people who are on a low wage not more than double the average wage. I really don't understand it

Depending when you bought your house, savings over 16k would have made you ineligible anyway.

so do you bring home £4000 net income (after taxes etc)??

and you’re entitled to an extra £1333 from the government?

the total of £5333 is £70 short of what my husband and I both bring in - no child benefit payments and a higher tax rate on what the government deems a minimum household income to live on as you need the universal top up to a minimum living wage??!
for context, I work 30 hours so I can pick the kids up from school (start at 8!) and not have to pay wrap around care.
my husband works 9-5.30 - box standard hours but earns just above the child benefit threshold so we don’t even get that!

I’m so angry at the government benefit system . Apologies if there’s been further updates/context to the £4000 but I don’t understand why we work in (slightly!) higher than average paid jobs to get the same money as someone on benefits

i work long hours I’m single I get minimum wage don’t even bring in half of the 4000 and I cannot claim anything …some of the women with children work at my place 15hr a week but benefits make it up to 26 thousand a year she has 2 children …tbh I was better off on tax credit when my children were young

Yes because it's the child related elements and costs that get people the UC. And they get the work allowances too.
I don't know how people are still just working 15 hours unless they are still on tax credits. On Uc , a lone parent with a child over 3 will soon be expected to look for up to 30 hours of work a week. The conditions of claiming are getting stricter.

This thread has been a real eye-opener for me. Due to distress caused by DWP demanding swift repayment minor overpayments due to DWP error, a relative stopped claiming much-needed child allowance.
I pay £60k a year in tax and NI and had always thought that the U in UC was DWP irony. It looks like some relatives that I support are likely to be entitled to claim.

Although having seen this, perhaps I shall cool my heels:

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/jul/10/phd-student-hit-with-17000-bill-by-dwp-after-universal-credit-error

I havent rtft because it'd take forever. But wtf am I reading?? 4K a month AND you'd be getting UC??
can someone tell me how??

I didn't think you could get SMI if you worked. It may have changed but I went through a period of not been able to work many years ago. I had to go the Jobcentre periodically for them to show me the 'you're better off in work' calculation, even though the calculation showed I was better off not in work due to the SMI stopping the moment you started work.

Don’t know why people are giving OP a hard time, clearly many many people also don’t know. If you’ve not ever accessed any benefits you might not consider it. On the converse, when I was on a v v low income my friend encouraged me to access benefits, assuming I’d be able to. Reader, as a single adult with no kids I am entitled to absolutely nothing.

But that's what people are asking - how do you get UC when bringing in 4k a month??

Well I imagine, given the government are not known to give a crap about keeping people above the poverty line, that the massive lack of growth in our wages over the past 15 years, combined with huge cost of living rises means that OP is entitled to it due to specific circumstances.

I have to say too, as it’s relevant, the government seriously need to raise the tax threshold (personal allowance), probably to around 15k.

£4000 a month is not hard fucking done by. I earn £800 a month. That’s it. The health care system has utterly failed me by not being able to assess me and diagnose my health issues due to waiting times. So I just have to settle for working part time so I can actually manage the work I do. No diagnosis - no benefit entitlements. £4000 a month is more than I could dream of.

Please get your head out of your arse.

This is 100% your fault. Not the systems.

that being said, depending on your country you can ‘correct’ your taxes back so many years (Canada is seven) so you could still get that 16k.

I’m confused as to why you’d be entitled to £14k in benefits if you bring home £4k a month?
child benefit for more than one child?
tax free childcare?
funded hours for over 3 year olds?

Tbh I don't I understand about tax credits and uc

I know all are swapping to uc

But why such a diff for you in amount

From nearly £100 a week to £60 ish a week

@Queijo
”But I had to do all the research myself, there was no ‘oh your brain is fucked here’s what you need to do’ leaflet!”

I think this is why so much goes unclaimed. Not because of people not knowing they can claim, but because of people with disabilities that affect their brain/cognition not getting any help to claim. It is awful that you had to figure it out in your own, while having so many seizures.

It would be there if they hadn’t frozen it. The extra taxes that has caused is more than the money back from the NI cuts. It’s equivalent to a CF taking £20, flipping a £2 coin back and pretending you are £2 better off.

It was very generous hence why some could get second homes and significant savings.

I can't seem to find that second home post now. 🤔

I can't see what being angry about it will achieve, it's annoying you didn't know about it before but just start claiming now and appreciate the extra income I guess.

The difference is:

• Your £5363 is permanent. The PP's wage + UC is temporary.
• Your £5363 is building your future pension. The PP only has £4000 building their pension.
• The PP has a huge childcare bill, you don't have a childcare bill.
• You're working part time, the PP is working full time.

These high rates of UC aren't forever. They are a helping hand while raising children.

We have 3 children with SN. One of them is now an adult and will never be independent. When she transfers to UC in her own right, we will lose the child element for her, and the disability element. I will still be expected to care for her, and much of her UC will go to pay for any social care she receives. Day services charge £80-£200 per day. She will be expected to contribute. There is a formula, which allows for living expenses, then SS take 95% of the remainder.

So don't be jealous.

I am on £2000 a month and do not claim benefits of any kind. I have children and I’m a single parent with a mortgage. If I had £4000 a month I’d be laughing!

Applying for UC is an absolute ballache. We had to claim when Tax Credits ended. I’m disabled and get enhanced rate PIP but I still need to jump through hoops to ‘prove’ that I can only work part-time.