There surely isn’t any truth in this - UC and carers allowance related

Triflepup · 2025-02-20T18:52:41+00:00

I currently receive CA for one dc and therefore have no work commitments on UC. Had a ‘friend’ round today who knows our situation but just kept going on how hard it’s been for her finding holiday childcare and how I should be worried as she’s heard that soon being in receipt of carers allowance wont mean no work commitments?? She actually said to me ‘well you have to admit you have all day everyday when he’s at school and every evening and weekend your dh is here!’ She has no idea but it’s got me worried surely that wouldn’t happen?

Beenworkingwith · 20/02/2025 18:55

Not sure but I really wouldn't be surprised.

Farellyo · 20/02/2025 18:55

Nothing has been reported to say the current rules are changing. She doesn't sound like a very nice friend though.

Original poster

Triflepup · 20/02/2025 18:55

I almost felt like I had to justify myself and list off all the medical appts, therapy appts and explain what the nights are like but I stopped myself

OP posts:

Original poster

Triflepup · 20/02/2025 18:57

Farellyo · 20/02/2025 18:55

Nothing has been reported to say the current rules are changing. She doesn't sound like a very nice friend though.

She’s usually very nice but seemed stressed out and ranting about half term childcare. She had asked if I’d have her ds a couple of the days but I’d not been able to as we had scheduled appts in and she seemed a bit put out by that

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LittleRedRidingHoody · 20/02/2025 18:59

Sounds like scaremongering tbh. Happy to be corrected but if you need to be caring for 35h to even claim it, I can't see them 'forcing' people to work more.

It's just shitty behaviour to make this crap up from people who don't 'get it' and think your life is easy. I currently care over the 35h and have to keep working alongside (bc £70ish a week wouldn't touch my bills and luckily it's a short term situation) and I'm run bloody ragged. I think I do more on annual leave/when I'm NOT working than when I am and it's saving the government an absolute fortune on not having to pay actual carers for those who can't afford them.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 20/02/2025 19:02

@Triflepup just read your update. Can't comprehend asking a parent who need to claim CA for free childcare at all tbh. Let alone making sly digs if you say no!

BalalaikaBalaclavaBaklava · 20/02/2025 19:04

I have read a few reports this week that Labour are looking at changing UC and PIP as there are millions of people not in work who aren't obliged to look for work. I think I read that it's just something they're looking at, as they want to get the welfare bill down - no decisions have been made as yet. I can't remember more than this from what I read or even where I read it but it was probably in one of the many publications & email updates I receive in my job.

Original poster

Triflepup · 20/02/2025 19:06

LittleRedRidingHoody · 20/02/2025 19:02

@Triflepup just read your update. Can't comprehend asking a parent who need to claim CA for free childcare at all tbh. Let alone making sly digs if you say no!

She said to me last week ‘oh you’re at home anyway’ when she asked. Tbh if we hadn’t had appts I would have done it happily but I’d scheduled as much as I could to half term so ds misses less school . Today was the only day I was free and was her day off it was meant to be nice but started off with little things like ‘oh it looks so clean and tidy here but you have time to do these things’ and saying how tired she was which I get it she works hard but then saying about CA/UC I just think she was trying to stress me out !!

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scanni · 20/02/2025 19:07

She actually said to me ‘well you have to admit you have all day everyday when he’s at school and every evening and weekend your dh is here!’

Basically what she meant was she thinks you should be working

funinthesun19 · 20/02/2025 19:11

Triflepup · 20/02/2025 19:06

She said to me last week ‘oh you’re at home anyway’ when she asked. Tbh if we hadn’t had appts I would have done it happily but I’d scheduled as much as I could to half term so ds misses less school . Today was the only day I was free and was her day off it was meant to be nice but started off with little things like ‘oh it looks so clean and tidy here but you have time to do these things’ and saying how tired she was which I get it she works hard but then saying about CA/UC I just think she was trying to stress me out !!

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Even if you didn’t have appointments I don’t think you should provide any childcare for her anyway.

Why should she get to benefit from your circumstances?

UndermyShoeJoe · 20/02/2025 19:13

I mean they are looking to shake up the system for those who have currently no commitment to look for work so it is possible but I’ve seen no headlines.

What she does mean however is she thinks your a CF lazy sod who gets paid to sit on your arse when your child’s at school while she has to work.

Not much of a friend especially to voice it to you 😬

Original poster

Triflepup · 20/02/2025 19:14

scanni · 20/02/2025 19:07

She actually said to me ‘well you have to admit you have all day everyday when he’s at school and every evening and weekend your dh is here!’

Basically what she meant was she thinks you should be working

Yes I think so and I was so close to starting to justify myself and give a breakdown of my time etc and I just thought no I’m not going to bother . It’s made me feel a bit shit though just wasn’t expecting judgement when I though it was going to be tea biscuits a normal chat and the kids play 😭

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ValentinesGranny · 20/02/2025 19:16

She isn't nice. Who the fuck says that to a mum of a disabled DC? Seriously, who? I guarantee you'd hand the £70 CA a week back in exchange for a healthy DC.

CornishTiger · 20/02/2025 19:16

No heard of any changes and they’d be foolish to go after carers as overall the government know they get a bloody good deal out of what unpaid carers do!

This person isn’t a friend. Please see that.

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/02/2025 19:17

LittleRedRidingHoody · 20/02/2025 19:02

@Triflepup just read your update. Can't comprehend asking a parent who need to claim CA for free childcare at all tbh. Let alone making sly digs if you say no!

This

my friend gets ca - she’s can be up every night with her child. Yes at times they sleep but it’s rare she ever gets a full night sleep and her dd is now 10yrs old

10yrs of sleepless nights - she deserves every penny !

elephant20478 · 20/02/2025 19:25

Sadly I don’t think it’s unlikely that carers will be expected to look for work, even if it’s a low number of hours per week. The government seem set on reducing the benefits bill and targeting people with no work commitments.

amylou8 · 20/02/2025 19:27

You 'friend' is getting muddled. They were talking about people who are long term sick, and how many could work in some capacity.

whatonearthisgoingonnow · 20/02/2025 19:28

BalalaikaBalaclavaBaklava · 20/02/2025 19:04

I have read a few reports this week that Labour are looking at changing UC and PIP as there are millions of people not in work who aren't obliged to look for work. I think I read that it's just something they're looking at, as they want to get the welfare bill down - no decisions have been made as yet. I can't remember more than this from what I read or even where I read it but it was probably in one of the many publications & email updates I receive in my job.

wish they would try a bit harder to get the pensions bill down instead - it's the biggest part of the welfare budget and a bit odd how carers, people with disabilities and dependents are supposed to live on less money than a single elderly person.

KingTutting · 20/02/2025 19:31

im not on UC but I am on CA for DD. I’d love to work. However she’s on a partial timetable, and there’s never a guarantee she will go in. So I’d need to find a job for the 2/3/4 hours I have here and there and they would have to be okay with me not turning up frequently. And it would need to be term time only…

in theory I could work from home, but I need to go out frequently, get interrupted all the time.

TomatoSandwiches · 20/02/2025 19:34

People don't seem to understand that carers of children at school tend to use those hours as sleeping hours because of frequent night wakings, or appointment time for the child in question or even appointment for us as a carer because the roll has taken such a toll on us our physical and mental health is severely affected.
My caring hours are far beyond 35hrs per week, I don't claim UC but I will fight for carers like myself and op if the government put this change in place.

Glitchymn1 · 20/02/2025 19:34

We’ve not heard anything, I work in fraud but closely with benefits /DWP also.

TomatoSandwiches · 20/02/2025 19:35

And your friend is most certainly not a friend, I'd not have her over again.

TomatoSandwiches · 20/02/2025 19:40

elephant20478 · 20/02/2025 19:25

Sadly I don’t think it’s unlikely that carers will be expected to look for work, even if it’s a low number of hours per week. The government seem set on reducing the benefits bill and targeting people with no work commitments.

Carers are already working! We care for someone often more than 35hrs a week for a measly £81.90 per week.
If I handed over my son to SS the costs of his care for 2:1 care day and night would be over £2500 per week.

I don't get contributions towards my pension, dental or health care, no expenses paid, no holiday accrued.

I already fucking work.

Gruttenberg · 20/02/2025 19:45

whatonearthisgoingonnow · 20/02/2025 19:28

wish they would try a bit harder to get the pensions bill down instead - it's the biggest part of the welfare budget and a bit odd how carers, people with disabilities and dependents are supposed to live on less money than a single elderly person.

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Nice. It's not a race to the bottom you know. The only way to reduce the pensions bill is to kill pensioners off. Hope you volunteer your parents and grandparents first.

@Triflepup your friend is awful to have said that to you. I'd say it's very unlikely they'd go for carers, and anyone who thinks they should is an idiot.

SnoopySantaPaws · 20/02/2025 19:46

@Triflepup

she's no friend!!

I know it can be hard to make friends when you have caring responsibilities, but this woman is no friend to you!!

She's being horrible to you as well as wanting to use you, I put good money on her tapping you up for childcare in the Easter holidays. You have enough on your plate without doing childcare for someone anyone but especially for someone who is judging you and isn't a friend.!!

I'm probably not in any position to comment on what she actually said, as I've no reason to have heard it or not, but I bloody well hope she's either made it up or misunderstood!!