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.

Reported as spam. I haven’t clicked on the link but I wouldn’t advise anyone else to either!

This is just another benefits bashing thread and you don't get any help with a mortgage

Haven’t read all the comments but this isn’t a wind up.

This information is from the Entitled To which is the first one in the list that the Gov.uk website links to.

It misinformation though you arent entitled to those benefits I reckon you are on a windup

That makes more sense if it includes childcare, OP said it didn't in her post though so maybe she got mixed up.

So you’re angry you didn’t claim it, but angry because you didn’t need it and feel it’s a waste of money.
Ok.

I wasn’t replying to what the OP said she would get. If you read the post I was replying to a poster who said OP wouldn’t be entitled to anything. Which isn’t the case. The amount OP said she would receive is overestimated but that is not what my post was replying to.

Yes, I know? I was just commenting that it made sense, that's all!

I have put everything into the Entitled To calculator and this is what it came back telling me I am ‘entitled to’.

The only way to know is to apply. As it is not clear otherwise as so many factors.

I will try another calculator later and see what comes back.

I do not think I should be entitled to anything either as we get by and we aren’t in poverty.

Although if I am entitled I will claim as myself, DH and my family are all Tax-Payers and if the systems shows we can have something back then so be it.

This information is from the Entitled To which is the first one in the list that the Gov.uk website links to

No, it's not. You're clearly not understanding something and/or entering something incorrectly, as shown by the fact you've said you'll get money paid towards your mortgage - which is NOT the case. And nor does Entitled To tell you it is.

OP why not put all the details on here so people can do the sums? Be more accurate.

If you earn less than 40k you will be entitled to UC. If you earn less than 60k you are entitled to child benefit (think this is going up

It’s just a calculator though, you can make up any old crap figures to get you to this nice sum (that you aren’t entitled to) so that you can use it to benefit bash and start a goady thread.

Sorry, where you said OP said it didn’t include childcare I assumed you hadn’t noticed that I was replying to someone else who had posted someone on that income wouldn’t be entitled to anything.

Yet you moan about people milking and playing the system?

Support for Mortgage Interest Loan£503.50 / monthly
Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is a secured, interest accruing loan offering support for paying your mortgage interest. To be eligible, you must claim a means - tested benefit – even if the only help you get is the SMI loan. Payments are generally made direct to your lender and support is worked out using a rate of 2.65% and a loan limit of £200,000. There is no help with capital repayments. You will usually need to wait 3 assessment periods before the SMI loan starts but there is no time limit on how long you can get a SMI loan for. For more information see

Same here. We struggled on without being aware at all until an EP at school very gently asked if we were claiming anything, as she felt sure we would be entitled to this for our child. I was amazed, totally gobsmacked. I had always thought DLA was just for profoundly disabled children. As he got older, more and more needs were identified which were not in line with peers. I think there should be more public information about people's right to help when it is needed.

DLA has enabled us to help our child in innumerable ways since we understood the criteria, including addressing health and education needs that were being ignored or side lined such as speech therapy. Early help helps reduce longer term needs so it in the interest of the govt and society for families to be properly supported.

Not a comment on this particular OP but I do feel there should be as much focus on unclaimed benefits as there is on benefit fraud. But I am sure pigs will fly before this happens as it saves the government so much money - which Rishi needs to fund his jet setting.

You get help with mortgage interest in the form of a loan that has to be paid back!!!

£460 a month uc sounds a lot if earning £4k

Uc won't pay mortgage unless think no jobs and they pay the interest only for maybe a few Months

Def won't get £500 towards mortgage

You have to pay that back though? So if you don't need it, why claim it when you'd have to pay it back. Doesn't make sense to me.

I've never claimed benefits, no need to - but there's enough references on this site to help with childcare, links to benefit checkers, so no need to do so much as a google search.It's like the bloody waspi women - can't be arsed to keep up with current affairs that effect them, then expecting compensation for their ignorance.

Yes it’s a loan that you have to pay back… it’s not a benefit really is it

Maybe do the calculations again and take a screenshot of it and post

Op I think you make some good points. I can understand your frustration. However I really do not understand how a household earning £4000 monthly can be entitled to anything outside of child benefit?

You have a household income of £4000 and you're still entitled to benefits?? I lost my job whilst heavily pregnant so now I have a baby and don't currently work. I'm not entitled to anything except the standard child benefit because I have savings slightly over the max that I saved up to buy a house in the future.