To find this universal credit situation unfair

[happypickle]

Myself and DH have 1 child and pay the equivalent of a 2nd mortgage on nursery. We are talking about having a 2nd child but we have to wait to be at a point where our first would be on their way into school as we could not afford to pay for 2 nursery places.

In laws who are in universal credit, have no such constraints and are in a position to try and conceive before us as SIL does not work and is a SAHM to 6 month old. They get a fortune in UC and have their rent paid and actually have more disposable income than us in professional jobs.

Don't know what I want from this post but just feel it's so unfair that we are constrained by finances but those on benefits are free to plan their family exactly as they want and they will have the ideal 2 years age gap which we would have loved to have done.

I am crital thinking even if I had a husband at home why would I go to work full time if I wasn't better off? If the system allows this perhaps its you that needs to adjust your way of thinking. You need to make it make sense! People do what's best for them... don't be too upset with others choices. As a "professional".

Please do not underestimate the value of a pension which SIL will not be getting. I cannot see a scenario in which the state pension will be enough to live on in 20./30 years time. There are simply not the future taxpayers to pay for this.
So working and contributing to a pension is basically a no regrets scenario which means that as you get older you have options.

Now is hard, I get it. It will get easier

Sorry I can't quote a quote on the app @Headfirstintothewild

Sure she said she can earn 693? Before then losing 55p as she has a mortgage

@Blondeshavemorefun claimants only get a work allowance (£673 for those without the housing element, £404 for those with the housing element) if they have DC on their claim or have LCW/LCWRA.

Then I haven't a clue - just going on what dh and I got told by them

Who knows

This really.

If people spent more time looking at how to improve their own situation rather that resenting those who are actually far worse off the country would be a much better place.

Only the person who has the child can claim. They can't both claim.

I am pointing out that the system is unsustainable. Because high earners are getting worn out from paying for this system. You would want your UC to continue, right? Then it is in your interests to wish there were enough taxpayers willing and able to fund it.

You don’t need to have a child to claim UC. They can both claim UC, but only one can claim the child element. For many working single claimants who are only eligible for the standard element it means their earnings wipe out the award, but there are other working single claimants who are eligible e.g. where they have LCW/LCWRA, a housing element &/or work part-time.

Second this - with two children at nursery you may be entitled

Yes, but presuming they are fit and healthy (the poster hasn't said otherwise) then the threshold for claiming is very low, most single people wouldn't be entitled to any UC, if they're working part time they'd be expected to find full time work unless they had a disability meaning they can't.

Yes, but presuming they are fit and healthy (the poster hasn't said otherwise) then the threshold for claiming is very low, most single people wouldn't be entitled to any UC, if they're working part time they'd be expected to find full time work unless they had a disability meaning they can't.

If you read that poster’s posts, the friend is getting the work allowance, therefore if they don’t have a child on the claim they must have LCW or LCWRA on their claim. Hence still receiving some UC.

I was watching a documentary about life in Germany, and they find it strange that British mothers prefer to go straight back to work, and they are helped by the government to stay at home with children. They also use credit cards less and have better pensions later. I suppose we're too much like the USA, with our economy is closely linked to USA banks, where people are encouraged to be greedy and in debt, and think they should own a home with a lifetime mortgage and renting is expensive.

Even if your child is in school you’ll still likely have to spend on wrap around care. So it’s not like you’ll have the same/ similar childcare expenses once kid is in school