Do some mums just not like working?

[Dragontooth]

I know this sounds awful, and judgey but I'm trying to understand. I am not a benefit basher and I used to be on benefits, also a single parent.
I'm on a lot of 'being skint' forums, I was on UC but now I have quite a lot of experience in various things so I like to try to help.
There are a number of mums who were previously on legacy benefits who are terrified by UC and the work search appointments. Lots who are unemployed and some who do very part time jobs, 10 hours or less.
I don't understand why they are so resistant to finding work or better paid work. Having been on benefits, it is a horrible existence. I was paid £850 per month. Clearly it would only take a MW part time job to make me so much better off. And they pay for childcare/ holiday club.
It literally changes your life. You can pay for things to have a better, easier life like driving lessons. Not only that but you are back in the work place so it's not such a shock when your children leave home.
I feel these women are so anxious, they can't see how their lives could look with more money/ options. Not only that but a lot of them have their heads in the sand about retirement, will we even get a state pension? Then there's the fact that it's so much harder getting back into employment after five or ten years out, I think that's what UC wants to avoid. I'm not saying it's a kind or person centred system but in reality is taking years out of the workplace really in these women's best interests either?
Disability/ disabled children obviously excluded.

I don’t like working…if I didn’t have to, I wouldn’t 🤷🏻‍♀️
Worked since I was 15, through college, Uni, full time teaching and extra weekends tutoring for years & years. Had my Dd and stayed at home until she went to Pre school at 4, then started back part time.
Haven’t ever been on benefits etc, I just really really didn’t want to leave my Dd, we cut right back on everything, only Dd got everything she needed, no more holidays, clothes etc, it was a struggle, but we were happy. If I could not work, I definitely wouldn’t..but I would do a masters or study extra and find lots of interesting, enjoyable things to do.

Yeah if your husband earns enough they leave you alone. Not sure how long this rule will last though!

A quick calculation shows this WFH role pays £25 an hour which equates to almost £50k FT.

My mind is boggled that one can work 15 hours a week and have more money than someone working full time.

The rules are that you can claim benefits until your youngest child is 1 year old, if you have a low enough income (no maternity pay) to be eligible.

After your child is 1, you have to find work.

There are different rules for different circumstances for couples, depending on the family income, but there's no provision for someone to choose not to work at all.

Parents who are disabled can be exempt from having to find work, but usually only if their disability limits their ability to do a lot of tasks, which would make parenting very difficult also — so these parents will usually have social services or other involvement.

On uc if you're part of a couple as long as one of you is meeting the AET then there are no work requirements for the other person

This is wrong and both should have an individual AET

I know plenty of couples where only 1 is working and the other isn't. Yes they have children but old enough for them to work.

No they cannot. You have to look for part time work when your youngest is 3.

I think a couples AET is a good idea it gives flexibility to those who need one parent at home and you could argue cost the taxpayer less as if both work they get childcare paid too which is more ££££ on a UC award.

Some parents are waiting for dla awards and need a parent at home till
they can be allowed to not work due to being a carer.

I also think it’s unfair that if you’re self employed it doesnt count towards the AET

Wrong. You may have meetings to ask what your plans are but you don't have to get a job until they are three.

If they are a single parent. If in a couple and he earns enough then I doubt they will pester you much. Obviously might change!

Any AET should always be transferable within a couple it seems petty to make each do an amount even if overall their contribution would be the same. I know people will
say you can’t have one economically inactive but if a family needs that flexibility for whatever reason the option needs to be there so hopefully they have the sense not to change it to force both out

It works well for me. I can only work one shift during term time but school holidays my husband looks after the kids. He earns over the AET. I agree. I do hope they don't change it.

The people i refer to have no children on dla.They choose not to work as uc tops them up.

The aet for individuals allows for flexibility. The hours you are expected to work vary with the age of a child.

A single parent with children would be expected to work whereas someone in a couple wouldn't be.

Childcare costs also reduce as your child gets older.

No one is doing the government a favour by not claiming childcare costs whilst getting topped up by uc. The 15/30 hours free childcare is there to be used

Yes, that's true and unfair to single parents imo.

I agree that should be looked at

In general a couple should be expected to work more hours between them than a single parent (if claiming) I think. Couples have more flexibility to work around each other for childcare.

I thought they changed it to 30 hours when the youngest child is 1?

It should be a set amount for couples and half that for a single parent surely that’s the only fair way?

Yes, I agree

No, it's 3.

Exactly. It's incredibly difficult if you don't have a support network and is likely to be counterproductive long -term if you're heading dor a mental breakdown due to the stress and exhaustion. There needs to be flexibility and support to help single parents work.

I have invisible health issues and probably look totally fine to most people, I work 12 hours a week maximum whilst being a mum to an 8yr old.

I couldn't give the shiniest shit what society thinks, I doubt anyone thinks anything anyway.

This, I hope this gets addressed (bet it doesn’t)

I don't see why it matters really as long as it is met? I would put the single parent AET as exactly half of that of the couple one though

Self employed earnings should count as well as often it’s something that again offers families flexibility if one / both are SE

Because it means that for couples, if the AET is met, one of the couple can sit at home all day even if the kids are teens. Something that a single person with kids on a single person’s claim can’t.