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.

So you are pleased that people with kids end up much worse-off financially than those without?

Financial penalties on those with children are significant and widespread:

The impact on the career of the main child-carer, not being able to climb the ladder because of the additional responsibilities at home, breaks in earnings leading to lower pension, having to buy bigger cars and more fuel, more food, clothes and higher household bills. Oh and bigger houses whether rented or bought and they need heating either way. Plus of course, holidays needing to be taken in the high season.

It simply does not stop - never mind nursery childcare bills and work days lost to caring for sick children.

People who choose to be child free have it much easier financially. Of course not everyone wants to have children - and, environmentally it is probably better that people don't.

However, in my view it's quite right that state benefits help close the wealth gap, even if it's just a drop in the ocean, as it is children - raised at great cost to the parents - who will be the nurses and doctors when you are old. And they will be paying for pensions and health care for the generation before them.

My children are adults now and we didn't get any help with child care fees. But I do not in any way begrudge it to the parents of today, especially with the cost of living rocketing.

It's a great benefit for those with children/need. But if you are sick like my husband and cannot work you are not entitled to anything as he doesn't meet the 'criteria'. Appreciate that's another post but the benefit system is so unfair.

Not unreasonable to feel miffed. About 25 years ago, as a single parent of three under-12s, I was amazed to learn that my high-earning niece, also a single parent of three, was getting a decent amount in tax credits. I applied and was awarded them too, and it made a huge difference over the years. I had no idea that a working home-owner could get anything more than child benefit.

Hmm, I'm not sure this is right.

The calculators aren't accurate. Much better to do this manually.

Also, if you don't need the mortgage support, don't use it, as the repayment terms are awful.

I'm a single parent and my net income is 2.5k. I only JUST scrape UC entitlement and that is with two children, one is disabled so I get a disabled child element and a carer element. I work full time so there's also wrap around childcare. Once all elements (me, two children, disabled child, carer, childcare) are added together and then income deduction is made, I get under £200. So I really doubt your calculation.

I've probably seen too many benefits bashing type posts in different places, and the sceptical side of me felt like this wasn't true and was just being said to illustrate the benefits system is wrong.

UC is notoriously stringent and I don't know many couples who get any, even those with more than 2 kids.

You don't have to claim of course. But if you want to, it is there for a reason. Also, while I appreciate people have much lower household incomes, 4k really isn't a lot. Once you take off mortgage, utilities, travel and car costs, food, childcare, any credit payments, there isn't usually much left.

I don’t know we’re you have read that you would get nothing at all when my partner who gets paid twice once a year which is 3.000 odd because it’s two payments and we get nil once a year in uc I can’t see you getting a thing tbh I don’t think you should ether wanting benefits when you get 4k is insane lol

If you don't need it then that's greed not need!!!!

Includes child benefit.

Have you looked at whether you can claim universal credit yourself ? highly likely you would be eligible unless of course you have savings or capital over 16k.

It's your own fault you have missed out. It's been well known widely that working families can claim and better to apply and be refused than not apply at all

Holy crap, I wish I had 4k per month, or even half of that to live on each month!!!

What I find unreasonable, and the main reason this country is in the state it's in, is the overuse of the word "entitled". Used in the same post as the statement "4000 monthly", it's even more unreasonable. What you're clearly saying is that, because someone else at nursery gets a benefit, you feel you ought to as well, regardless of need. Meanwhile, there are people with real needs not being met. Grrrr....

People seriously are going to claim something if they can though aren't they ?I work in a job helping elderly people to claim benefits. Many literally have 100k in the bank and still want to claim Attendance allowance which is non means tested because they can. Many don't need it and don't even spend it on what it's intended for but still carry on just getting £110 a week extra money that they don't need. Often both of a couple claim it so £220 a week extra and in my experience it's pretty easy to get with a couple of health issues on your GP record !

The government save far far more in unclaimed benefits than it loses by people claiming when they shouldn’t. Which is why o don’t get overly incensed by ‘scroungers’ 🙄 the way many people do.

Yes, I helped a couple today who have been missing out on £600 of Universal credit a month just because they never thought to claim. that is with one of the couple disabled and unable to work. I think they thought that because the disabled one got £700 a month of PIP they just couldn't claim anything else. the healthy one of the couple was working two jobs , all hours and caring for disabled one not realizing they could claim. It makes me sad. i wish more people in this situation would check. Lots of people just don't understand how things work. There is a lot of help available through means tested and non means tested benefits, especially if disabled or too ill to work.

If you don't need it, it's annoying that you're entitled to it. I absolutely need it. I have 2 school age DC, work part-time on minimum wage bc that's all that's available and DH recently died. I absolutely need the money.

Yes, you're right, if people can, some people will. And that's why the country is knackered. Greed and entitlement.

Isn't Attendance Allowance essentially DLA/PIP for people of pension age?

DLA/PIP is not means tested either.

You should be angry that the government choose not to inform people of their entitlements so much so that they have a surplus of millions in unclaimed benefits every year.

YABU to blame the benefits system per se..

@TheLovelinessOfDemons you are the exactly the sort of person who deserves more. The scroungers, tax dodgers and those fiddling the system are depriving people like you. There would be more for those in dire need if half the people I've met actually declared their taxes properly or companies like Boots and Amazon etc paid tax properly!

The benefit system in this country is a trap. We fell on hard times in 2012 and claimed housing and council tax benefit, whilst both working full time I’d like to add.

Every single time my partner or I had a change in circumstances or income we immediately declared it.

By 2022 we in a position where we no longer needed to claim. Instantly hit with over payment bills. We’re still paying it back.

If you have got this far not needing that extra 16k to house, feed and clothe your family it is 100% not worth it.

Yes I said in my post that it was non means tested. my point was that people will claim what they can regardless of whether they need it or not. And of course they are completely entitled to do so.

This is why UC is in some ways a much better system, it recognizes wage increases immediately and adjusts benefits accordingly so it's harder to be overpaid.

There is a lot of help available through means tested and non means tested benefits, especially if disabled or too ill to work

This could not be further from the truth in my experience. The maximum amount a single adult who isn’t fit for work can claim is £140 ESA per week. Half the state pension (which is the MN standard for poverty and starvation). Yes there’s PIP but hardly any claims get granted first time and the govt famously rejects claims made by the terminally ill, so what chance does anyone else have?

The benefit system is appalling for those who are disabled. It really, really upsets me.

curious as to how you’d be entitled to that - we are in an almost identical position earnings wise and pay for childcare etc and are entitled to nothing except the child benefit we already receive.

There is plenty of information out there. The Gov.uk site is full of all kinds of benefits people can claim and some of the online benefit calculators are very easy to use. Short of doing an individual benefit check on everybody I'm not sure what more the government could do. Organizations like CAB and Age Uk are overwhelmed with people asking for benefit checks and form filling. Anyone can ask CAB for a benefit check if they are not sure or not confident to do it themselves. they may have to wait a couple of weeks but they will get it. people like martin lewis are constantly encouraging people to check, reminding people about all sorts of benefits they can claim, highlighting when there's a last date to claim by to get cost of living payments etc. Seriously what more do people want ?