To think too many people are happy to live off benefits forever?

[BritishQueue]

Okay, I know this is a touchy subject here on MN, but I need to ask, AIBU to think that too many people are just choosing to stay on universal credit rather than work?

Obviously, I’m not talking about people who genuinely can’t work - disabilities, carers, etc (even though a lot of those who claim to be unfit for work are perfectly capable, and I’ve seen “carers” for people who don’t actually need any care…). But I know multiple people who are completely able-bodied and yet have no intention of ever getting a job. They say things like “it’s not worth it” or “I’d be worse off working,” and honestly, I don’t get it. I work full-time, pay tax, and yet I see people getting rent paid, extra handouts, and still managing holidays and luxuries I can’t afford. Not to mention that a lot of women think the government should subsidise their SAHM lifestyle.

I just don’t understand how it’s fair? Surely benefits should be a safety net, not a lifestyle choice? AIBU?

Because I'm happy to call out continual benefit bashing.

So let’s change that and break that cycle. It should be people’s abilities that are focused on not disabilities and what they can’t do

Great strapline. Can you get employers to do that? Because the majority of people with disabilities know exactly what they can and cannot do, but oddly the problem isn't with them but with the assumptions employers make about them.

So that’s 4/5 years at home subsidised by the tax payers then while most working mums only get 6-12 months? UC should require claimants to look for work when the child is 12 months IMO.

Are you going to magic up the childcare which in many areas isn't very available? UC will be paying more for the childcare than the benefits if the child has a SAHM.

Also only three years before they start pushing you to work.

Then that is where the Government should be targeting their efforts to get people back to work, or they’ll never get off the merry go round of benefits!

Working parents have to? Why is it ok for some and not others? Where I live you get a free nursery place at 2 as a UC claimant but not until 3 as an employee - is that honestly reasonable to people?

I don't get a free place as a UC claimant. We are over the threshold.

It just smacks of "if I can't stay at home you can't stay at home either". There is a genuine lack of childcare at the moment. Good for you if you don't have that experience.

Not to mention that childcare isn't the best place for a 12 month old! Age 3 yes, when pre school education begins. Lots of working parents choose childcare for this age group but it definitely shouldn't be a condition of UC

Do you work and claim UC as well then? I thought the thread was about people who don’t work and claim UC instead but I apologise if I’ve picked it up wrong. I’ve no issues at all with people working and having the shit wages in this country topped up, although forcing employers to pay better wages would relieve the burden on the tax payer. Those people need the child care. I have a huge issue with what I see at my local nursery which is parents claiming a place for a 2 year old then audibly chatting about their day spent filming TikToks and getting their nails done. That 2 year old place could go to a working Mum struggling to feed their family despite working full time.

You are misinformed. Your income has to be extremely low to qualify for funded child places at 2. Most working families on UC won’t qualify. And if you resent a child from an extremely poor family being able to benefit from a few hours a week in nursery, then shame on you. It’s for the child’s benefit, not the parents.

But no one is talking about working families on UC? I’ve no issue with them receiving free childcare, they need it. If someone is on UC with no intention of working why should the taxpayer pay for childcare?

I do work but very part time around my husband as there isn't much in the way of after school childcare to pick up my child plus family.

Not keen on tiktok but isn't that classed as earning and providing for your family? That mum is working even if it isn't what I would do so why can't she have the space? To be fair before long no low income will get free funding because the nurseries will no longer be able to afford it.

It is well known that single people with no kids on UC get an absolute pittance. The only people who seems to get generous benefits are families with 2 kids and if someone in the family has a disability and another is their carer and they get housing benefit. I think the benefit cap doesn't apply to them. Otherwise there is a benefit cap for everyone else.

Yes and the childcare issues have got much worse over the years. When ds1 was 4 I enquired about him going to the local preschool and he was able to start the term after. Now the waiting list for the same preschool is 12-18 months.

Also I’m lucky to work for a family friendly employer who have been understanding when I’ve had to drop everything to pick up poorly children. People sometimes lose jobs if they frequently have to walk out of work to collect a child.

I thought RR is putting a stop to that in Spring statement.

Plus council tax paid , plus rent paid , plus
child tax credit (if there are children) plus free prescriptions and dentistry.
It add up to more than £100 per week.

And this is one of the reasons why uc is good - it actually shows how much state benefit someone is receiving rather than your outdated version of a pittance .

This is what happens when it becomes unaffordable to work in low-paid jobs. I know loads of people who would love to work in early years settings, but they simply cannot afford to.

Ditto care. I loved care work, but as a single-income household, I can't afford to work for NMW.

If we want childcare, someone is going to have to make it a living wage, and the people working in other NMW professions can't afford to do it, so the government needs to step in if they want more people working in these low-paid sectors.

But then you have more people on top-up benefits, and round and round it goes.

The system is broken.

It’s not just “free childcare”. It’s early education. Vulnerable children are better prepared for school and develop social/ language skills by being able to go to nursery. Early intervention helps level the playing field. This has a benefit for the child but also society.

Of course, forgive me. You can pay extortionate utilities, water bills and food costs with a council tax discount plus go on multiple holidays. What was I thinking...

I couldn’t agree more, @cadburyegg!

That’s 100% true. I just feel that everyone should benefit from this. Living in an high income home isn’t a guarantee of quality interaction and good development. Unfortunately we’ll never afford it in this country.