Working expectations for parents on UC

[BlackCatGreyWhiskers]

AIBU to find this really frustrating? Basically there is no expectation for parents to work until their child is age 3. So if a family has more than one child that could be several years.

Whereas maternity leave is only 9-12months.

Especially as universal credit claimants can actually get help towards childcare expenses.

I don’t understand why there is a mismatch between the employed and unemployed?

When I went back after maternity, my pay was around £1500 and my childcare £800, then after I went back with my second my childcare went up to £1200. So I earnt next to nothing for 5 years before the eldest started school.

Who do you think is speaking in the 3rd person here exactly?

How? Those jobs don’t exist!

I’m saying I’d like the length of leave (paid or unpaid, I haven’t specified, but presumably unpaid) to be equal or similar to the length of time people are expected or are supported to not work when they’re claiming UC.

No it's not backed by policy, but it is a choice nonetheless.

Now, if you were arguing for families to be taxed on a household basis rather than individually, and for there to be stricter requirements around child maintenance payments, I'd be with you!

I can't believe anyone would resent the very poor.

Because it must be such a thrill to see your kids cold and hungry and missing out 🙄

Thats another thread, but yes, I agree those are also relevant issues.

Oh I see. Yes it would be great if there was a policy that enable all mums to stay at home until age 3 with job protection and funding.

But that has nothing to do with claiming UC.

if you think UC is so great as you are not forced to work until children are age 3 leave your DH and come join us 😉 high rents, food banks, no money for transport or activities, it’s amazing! And when your child is 3 and you go back to work, if you can find a job, you are still in a bit of a shifty situation, still a single parent and scraping by and doing it all by yourself!

No, I started asking you to clarify what you thought was beneficial about the German system but you couldn't.

Instead of ranting and looking for someone to blame, you could start a different kind of thread - ''how can we design a fairer system''.

If theyre cold and hungry go to work - everyone’s said you can.

Don’t forget you’ll need to leave your husband or your partner so you’ll have absolutely no support living in your household otherwise they’ll deduct that person salary from what you think you are entitled to the Princely sum of £900 a month

The ability to take a longer period of leave whilst retaining your job. I’ve said it several times. Do you need to update your browser or are your reading skills actually so poor?

Excuse me?
Your mask is well and truly off now.

I mean you’ve said yourself you were above the threshold for entitlement. The people who claim UC clearly are not. Under 3’s aren’t eligible for childcare hours, the most a parent can do is claim back 85 percent of costs. I doubt anyone on UC already can afford to pay the upfront fees and wait the month to see if they can get the 85% back. I’ll bet it’s a struggle even when they can get free hours, nobody on benefits is living a life of luxury, nobody on minimum wage is even doing that! The system is not designed to benefit the poorer people of society they are kept poor! You may say it’s marginal but there was still a benefit to you working. My own benefit is marginal but I still have more to spend than someone in my position on benefits because I work

but why can working parents only get 20% towards childcare and not 85% ..

@Morgenrot25 I didn’t miss any point.

How if you're a full time carer 24/7 for example?

It hasn't even entered your head that many cannot work has it?

You've not clarified anything specific about the German system though - you've based your view on one anecdote.

If anyone could think of a way for me to go back to work with a one year old and an 8 year old, with no nursery for babies near my 8 year olds school, local childminders In walking distance are full and I can’t afford a car on UC please let me know! I would love a better situation but at the moment need to wait for DS to reach 3 so he can go to the school preschool.

I wish I wasn’t in this situation but DH left me for someone else and we had to sell our home which hardly had any equity. And I can’t afford to fix the car the engine has burnt out.

No and nor do I intend to for your benefit.

Working parents can get 85% as long as they’re under the earnings threshold.

You did. I wasn't looking for info. I needed OP to explain how she'd formed her view.
Cheers though. Maybe OP can read actual info now.

That's exactly the point how many times on here do we hear about nursery costs? It's actually cheaper to stay at home on UC

also if they are having multiple children there is usually a man around which will lesson the award anyway and only one parent can stay at home not both

So you want 3 years off work op! Finally we get to it. But you want your job held open and to go back on the same salary.

In that case, you want more than people on UC have. You don't want to have comparable treatment, you just want extended maternity leave. Fine! Not sure why it took 16 pages to get there. Or what it has to do with UC. Or "thick" people. Or Germany.