Families on UC

[happypickle]

Off the back off another thread and doing a few searches of the benefits calculator, it seems the sweet spot for a lot of families will be to be renting, have a low/medium earning (typically) husband and an unemployed mother who stays at home. This seems to yield the highest return for UC, no childcare expenses and a happy mum who gets to stay at home and be there for her children.

It doesn't seem to be fair that UC system supports this whilst middle earners will be expected to both work full time in order to pay their mortgage and pay extortionate child care fees to probably be in a worse financial position than those on UC.

I know the theory is that long term, the working couple will be better off as they will have better pensions and career progression. But is that really the case?

Off the back off another thread and doing a few searches of the benefits calculator, it seems the sweet spot for a lot of families will be to be renting, have a low/medium earning (typically) husband and an unemployed mother who stays at home. This seems to yield the highest return for UC, no childcare expenses and a happy mum who gets to stay at home and be there for her children

I think this is roughly true. Although the SAHM will begin to get some hassle from the jobcentre when the youngest child reaches 3.

Tbf A lot of people (on benefits or not) do seek to minimise childcare costs in the early years.

When both parents work full time they often find that childcare is equal to one whole wage, effectively meaning that one parent is working for nothing.

You get a lot of threads from people in that situation and they generally comfort themselves with the idea that things will get easier when the kids are at school and that avoiding a career break will benefit their trajectory overall.

Back when mine were little I played about with benefit calculator ls in a similar way and found that my disposable income would be the same whether I worked full or part time. While my benefits entitlement would be higher if I worked full time. This was because tax credits would pay 85% of the considerable childcare costs I would incur. I negotiated a job share, got to spend time with my kids and saved the exchequer some money.
Although who knows- perhaps the effect of my childminders potentially higher income circulating around the economy would have done the nation more good overall. (I'm being facetious of course, In real life people do not make personal decisions based on their effect on the economy.)

Surely the problem is wages not keeping up with living costs. Look at that, not the individuals claiming, many of whom are in work. Rental prices are extortionate and the government should legislate to get them down - that would help in reducing the UC 'bill'.

Please check that you have the carers element on your claim as this is added although carers allowance is deducted as an overlapping benefit you should still be up overall.

The government are getting an amazing deal paying families with disabled dc what they do on UC to stay home and be carers - imagine the cost if it was professional care. These families are saving the economy. They are doing more for the countries finances than all the taxpayers who resent them.

Someone has to pay for it though. If no one works who funds this lifestyle for those thar want to live off UC?

This was my first thought.

Is that directed to parents of disabled children?

Hmm..just after yesterday's elections too.

Sounds like Eugenics.

Not to mention that many disabilities aren’t diagnosed in the first few years. My daughter had a birth injury. We were told it would be a year AT MINIMUM before we found out if she had cerebral palsy. In the end she didn’t but is only just being assessed for ASD at 11 after me banging that drum for 4 years.

How do you work that out ,people havec to.be looking for work once their child reaches a certain age ,they are not allowed to just languish on benefits forever more .

That’s such an odd mindset. Do you feel guilty every time you use a library or ask your MP for advice or use a road which was very expensive to build? Do you feel guilty if you need an expensive operation?
We are a country that believes in a baseline for all and redistribution of wealth is an aspect of every single modern democracy. In fact our redistribution is much, much less than many others recently.

Wow, you must be insane. I'm sad for you.

We get UC top with a mortgage. My husband works five days a week and I work one unless during school holidays. This enables me to do the school run and avoid childcare fees as I look after my youngest. Hopefully coming off UC at some point. Maybe if people were paid better and childcare was cheaper we wouldn't have to do this? Not sure the ones on UC are the ones who should get the criticism?

I'm a lone parent who works full time in a reasonable job. I struggled for 4 years not claiming anything (I didn't think I was entitled) and I was far too proud to claim. Then I saw all my friends claiming, working part time and having much more disposable income then me. I applied and I'm getting a ridiculous amount of UC top up. I have a really good job too, I don't understand. But while it's offered, I'm going to take it because everyone else is.

The fact that so many low income families are in privately rented, often poorly maintained homes that are £1000s per month is the much more worrying thing from a tax payer perspective. You and I are are paying for slum landlords to get rich at the expense of poorer families. The UC receiptent and the tax payer would be better off with more council houses.

I worked full time when DS was born.

I nearly killed myself during the first 5 years of his life trying to juggle his disabilities (physical and neurodivergent) while working. By the time he was 6 i was at breaking point and something had to give. I had to stop working.

he is 14 now and things are stable enough I have been able to work part time (term time only) thanks to having a good support network at home. If I was reliant on external childcare to work it would be impossible as it doesn’t exist for disabled 14 year olds.

I feel no guilt at all for having to claim benefits/top up wages with benefits. The hours of care I provide would cost the state a hell of a lot more if they had to properly fund it!

Paid £30k in tax this year so far so…no I don’t feel guilty using public services

whats it with all these disability/benefit bashing threads lately? Try a bit harder

I am sure all these who say work harder, work more would apply for UC if they were entitled.

then sell up and rent and put the feet up. Sorted. You say it's easy. Then do it!

Social housing?

You shouldn’t take it because everyone else is. You should take it because your child will have a better life if you do.

I don’t know what your opinion is of a reasonable salary and a ridiculous amount of top up - it’s all subjective but I certainly still struggled as a lone parent when I earned 32k which was the amount when I stopped receiving Tax Credits. The amount I received to top up before that was about £100 a month which I was thankful for but obviously didn’t even cover half my wraparound care for 3 days a week.

That’s taking into account cost of living of course. Even 5 years ago I’d have been really comfortable on 32k

They don't help with mortgages but you are allowed to earn more before it is deducted.