Friend earns as much as me on benefits

[NattyFinch]

I felt really shocked and conflicted after a discussion with a friend recently that revealed that she receives over £2000 a month on benefits for 2 children while I work full time as a single parent with one child for a similar amount (once I’ve paid all my taxes, ni etc). It stemmed from her saying she was going for ivf treatment at 48 at a total cost of £8000. I’m supportive as a friend and try not to be a judgmental person but this just seems unjust when I’ve worked so hard to stay in employment and raise my son single-handedly for 12 years. She doesn’t want to move to England because if the ivf is successful she will get more money to stay in Scotland. AIBU to think this is all bonkers ?!

IVF at 48! Bonkers. It does seem unfair op I get it, but you have a pension etc and hopefully savings which benefits will never get you

Exactly this absolutely disgusting evil people, jealousy isn't a pretty thing

If you want the benefits so badly you take the disability.
Not every disability is visable.
How about you look after your own people, you know the 1s that fought, died to built UK.. Happy to give everything to migrants though aren't you?,

Oh don't get me started on this shit. I'm a single mother too and it's insane how unfair the benefits system is. I'm entitled to nothing, whereas a girl I know who has three different kids but three different dads doesn't work and has been given a brand new three bed house with 'playroom'! I've worked hard for 25 years and don't mind paying to help people that genuinely need it. But if you act like this and get this reward, why would you ever want to work?

Hi OP, yes, your friend definitely will be getting around £1772 a month (includes housing benefit) for sitting in her arse and doing fuck all why our taxes pay for her to save up thousands to get ivf.

I recommend you look at turn2us benefits calculator to check you can’t get a top up on your wages.

It really does pay to play the system. Disclaimer - not aimed at parents with children who either have physical or ND /SEN etc

Nasty
Woman really are evil today's each other, her age is irrelevant. If she wants children so what, nothing to do with anyone. You know nothing about her life and in fact bring in on, as the actual native British are dying off.1 child families if that.. Brainwashing to believe woman have had it past a certain age and more than 1 kid is horrific.

@CharityShopChic yeah exactly! I was taking home over £2k and had to pay for Everyrhing.

Such a thing as saving and saving hard or borrowing.. End day non of your or mine business

@876543A thanks for pointing this out. It's really important to remember this and not let bitterness take over (easier said than done) cxx

@XDownwiththissortofthingX Yes, I accept that could be the case re rents in some areas - that was my point re the benefits seeming artificially high, but after rent is taken off (which UC will only pay a certain amount and the rest needs topped up by the claimant out of their benefits), it's actually not a high standard of living at all.

I live in a sink estate around 30-40 mins outside Glasgow on public transport, in a flat with damp. Most people on MN would be horrified. My rent is still significantly higher than my sister's mortgage on a semi with a garden in an affluent area, also 30-40 mins outside Glasgow.

I don't get benefits anymore, but I actually count myself lucky because my rent is now not too bad compared to my wages, because I got into social housing.

People have no idea of how high rents are and how much of people's benefits they never see and which all go straight to landlords. So many people relying on foodbanks because the money they are supposed to get for eating goes directly to top up rents which aren't covered fully by UC. I've been there.

Just saying, maybe she doesn't want another child for money, just spiteful twisted people on here thinking they have a right, and know everything

Nasty comment, you should be supporting your own what the actual hell, has different father's got to do with anything
.
And so what if she has? You chose your life, you know nothing fully of hers. She and her forefathers built the system.

DWP aren’t completely stupid. The benefits system isn’t designed so that you get more income out of work than you can in work (with the exception of e.g. serious disability).

In your case you’re not comparing apples with apples - your friend has two children, you have one.

It might also be that you have entitlements that you aren’t claiming, so that’s worth checking.

The system isn’t designed so people can just choose to stay on benefits to work. Unless you are disabled or caring for someone then conditionality will kick in and you’ll get sanctioned if you can’t prove you’re looking for work.

Exactly people know nothing but think they do, the hate is unbelievable. Jealousy is horrid, but they have nothing to be jealous about.

My partners work contract ended and he couldn't find a new one for 7 months. I was quite suprised how he was entitled for so little. I always find these interesting cause some seem to get a lot and some basically nothing.

Exactly…..people who work also have rent

Exactly.. Everyone thinks people pretend to be disabled for money. They have no idea the reality and how many actually cannot get, who should and need, because it's so hard to claim.

Nobody should get more than a full-time minimum wage on benefits. It's beyond madness.

, This
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Perfect .

t stemmed from her saying she was going for ivf treatment at 48 at a total cost of £8000.

Has it ever occurred to you, OP, that maybe your friend just likes winding you up to see what you'll post on MN?

Would you give up a home you already own for benefits?

By the sounds of things to keep the same benefits rolling in possibly

Nobody should be allowed to do a first post on a forum, any forum, ever. Should be the law!!! Jeez...