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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be angry about the benefits system

690 replies

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:23

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
SpeedyDrama · 07/04/2024 16:47

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:31

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.

Right. So are you actually annoyed that you didn’t know you could claim, or are you annoyed that you (and others) have an entitlement despite earning a good amount?

UC works for those who work (in general). Isn’t that what people wanted? No more ‘benefits lifestyle’, if you want ‘handouts’ then you should earn them? Well congratulations, the system works.

Nicetobenice67 · 07/04/2024 16:48

Babyroobs · 07/04/2024 16:44

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.

Edited
Show quote history

Phew because that sounds a lot and still entitled to UC wow …thanks for explaining but still seems a lot of money and can still get a top up …I’m single kids are grown so live alone I work 2 jobs and cannot get any help and I don’t even have half that much coming in

Original poster
Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:58

I appreciate this but so many people claim benefits and also don’t work.

I was brought up by my family to work, had a paper round age 11 and worked in a cafe at weekends from 15. From there I’ve never not worked apart from maternity leave however I was still employed.

I know acquaintances who ‘play’ the system, but generally don’t work although they could as have school aged children and no disabilities x

Because I am entitled to claim should I automatically claim?

We haven’t struggled but that’s due to budgeting, planning and saving.

We are looking to put a claim in now, as with increased nursery costs and other bills increasing we are now struggling if are to many Ian the same lifestyle so I guess without it now we would find it hard to stay in the green. Although our claim hasn’t yet been improved. It is complicated to set up, and my DH has to attend an appointment at the Job Centre to prove identity etc.

It appears that from the comments on this thread I am silly to not have tried to claim, I thought there would be more comments from people being shocked at the thought we could with our joint income being £4000.

Just did the calculator again on entitled to again and it’s more than I thought
total a month we are entitled to is £1,140 not
including the 85% childcare we can claim back)
£460 universal credit a month
£500 a month towards our mortgage loan
£42.55 (child benefit we already get this)

OP posts:
Original poster
Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:59

For context we have 2 children

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 07/04/2024 17:00

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:58

I appreciate this but so many people claim benefits and also don’t work.

I was brought up by my family to work, had a paper round age 11 and worked in a cafe at weekends from 15. From there I’ve never not worked apart from maternity leave however I was still employed.

I know acquaintances who ‘play’ the system, but generally don’t work although they could as have school aged children and no disabilities x

Because I am entitled to claim should I automatically claim?

We haven’t struggled but that’s due to budgeting, planning and saving.

We are looking to put a claim in now, as with increased nursery costs and other bills increasing we are now struggling if are to many Ian the same lifestyle so I guess without it now we would find it hard to stay in the green. Although our claim hasn’t yet been improved. It is complicated to set up, and my DH has to attend an appointment at the Job Centre to prove identity etc.

It appears that from the comments on this thread I am silly to not have tried to claim, I thought there would be more comments from people being shocked at the thought we could with our joint income being £4000.

Just did the calculator again on entitled to again and it’s more than I thought
total a month we are entitled to is £1,140 not
including the 85% childcare we can claim back)
£460 universal credit a month
£500 a month towards our mortgage loan
£42.55 (child benefit we already get this)

You will not get £500 towards your mortgage loan ! You've put something in wrongly. this could be support for mortgage interest for people who suddenly lose their jobs, but obviously you won't get that. Something has gone wrong with the calculation.

SpeedyDrama · 07/04/2024 17:00

I thought there would be more comments from people being shocked at the thought we could with our joint income being £4000.

Guess people aren’t taking the bait today…

YouveGotAFastCar · 07/04/2024 17:01

Entitled To is notoriously inaccurate for UC.

How are you getting money for your mortgage? UC don’t pay that. You can claim a loan from them to help you but they don’t pay housing if you have a mortgage; they increase your work allowance by a few hundred instead.

Babyroobs · 07/04/2024 17:03

Op I would double check with a different calculator. How many kids do you have, were any of them born before April 2017 and how much are your childcare costs? Your figures don't quite add up.

MoonWoman69 · 07/04/2024 17:03

Nicetobenice67 · 07/04/2024 16:39

Ffs £4000 though

I know! The OP seems to want a reduction in tax though, so as to not to have to pay benefits towards those who don't have this income. Baffling!

Bel43 · 07/04/2024 17:03

It gets on my nerves when people are always complaining about childcare costs as I know full well that many of more moderate incomes are entitled to the 85% rebate, just glad your friend highlighted this to you. Maybe you’re quite fortunate in terms of housing costs etc but sure someone who absolutely needed the money would have clued themselves up on this. I work with families and very unusual for those who are in poverty not to know about everything they are entitled to

TiredArse · 07/04/2024 17:05

You can’t claim UC and tax free childcare at the same time though. So your figures are probably quite a bit off.

Malarandras · 07/04/2024 17:05

Don’t assume things next time then. Or any time actually. Do you need a hand hold for everything in life?

Original poster
Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 17:06

maybe the online calculator I used is wrong then

I will try another calculator later just have to tend to my children now

OP posts:
Redpaisley · 07/04/2024 17:06

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:23

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.

I would say there shouldn't be benefits for those not needing it. tax money can be used on NHS or other public services.

Bel43 · 07/04/2024 17:07

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:58

I appreciate this but so many people claim benefits and also don’t work.

I was brought up by my family to work, had a paper round age 11 and worked in a cafe at weekends from 15. From there I’ve never not worked apart from maternity leave however I was still employed.

I know acquaintances who ‘play’ the system, but generally don’t work although they could as have school aged children and no disabilities x

Because I am entitled to claim should I automatically claim?

We haven’t struggled but that’s due to budgeting, planning and saving.

We are looking to put a claim in now, as with increased nursery costs and other bills increasing we are now struggling if are to many Ian the same lifestyle so I guess without it now we would find it hard to stay in the green. Although our claim hasn’t yet been improved. It is complicated to set up, and my DH has to attend an appointment at the Job Centre to prove identity etc.

It appears that from the comments on this thread I am silly to not have tried to claim, I thought there would be more comments from people being shocked at the thought we could with our joint income being £4000.

Just did the calculator again on entitled to again and it’s more than I thought
total a month we are entitled to is £1,140 not
including the 85% childcare we can claim back)
£460 universal credit a month
£500 a month towards our mortgage loan
£42.55 (child benefit we already get this)

You don’t get given money towards your mortgage under UC?? Are you confusing this with the loan??

Original poster
Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 17:07

I don’t need a handhold in life thank you

OP posts:
BarryKentPoet · 07/04/2024 17:08

Your calculations seem way off! You definitely do not get help with mortgage payments for a start.

Lougle · 07/04/2024 17:09

@Daffodilsinfebruary You wouldn't have been entitled to Universal Credit with an income of £4000 with just one child, even if you paid the maximum eligible childcare. So it's only since you've had your second child that you would have been eligible anyway.

The deduction for a homeowner with a £4000 income is £1852.95, so your childcare just tips you into entitlement.

Bellsandthistle · 07/04/2024 17:09

I’m angry that people bringing in £4000 a month are entitled to benefits at all.

Universalsnail · 07/04/2024 17:13

No point being angry about it. Just claim what you are entitled to now moving forward.

TiredArse · 07/04/2024 17:14

You also don’t usually get 85% of your childcare back.

They calculate 85% (up to a maximum monthly amount), but then that gets reduced by your wages.

Nicetobenice67 · 07/04/2024 17:14

Bellsandthistle · 07/04/2024 17:09

I’m angry that people bringing in £4000 a month are entitled to benefits at all.

💯 it’s I 🤬joke

Nicetobenice67 · 07/04/2024 17:16

You cannot get help with your mortgage loan not sure this thread is real now or just a wind up

vodkaredbullgirl · 07/04/2024 17:22

Only way to see if you get it, is apply.

WithACatLikeTread · 07/04/2024 17:24

We have two children with a mortgage and earn less than £2000 a month. The most we get is about £350. There is no way you are entitled to anything OP especially on that wage. If you had several children before 2017, disability and rent possibly you would but you have a mortgage.

Why are you putting the claim in if you are saying others shouldn't be doing it? Not sure this post is genuine.

£4,000!