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.

Spending so much time with your son who’s in school? 😂😂😂

Well I do work part time. People shouldn't have a problem with it. The system allows me claim too

Ahh hun go to bed and be up early for work. I don't envy you at all

Jaw dropping comment and sums up what is wrong with the system

No career? No fully funded pension? University fund ready for your DS? Savings? Example to set to your DS?

🍿🫢

I love this discussion

Why?

I'm sat eating popcorn while I'm in the middle of all this hahaha
Love it

If uc is that great quit Ur job leave it partner and live solely on UC u well be so much better off obviously

Sarcastic and unnecessary response

And that’s the thing. People on UC haven’t retained a job or any career progression/ retention. They have to start from scratch with a massive gap on their CV.

Because people like to blame people instead of the system.
Go and vent your anger to downing street

Okay hun

I don’t know if you realise that thousands of taxpayers could read your comments, and that it tips people towards whatever party promises to cut benefits to people like you?

DH and I worked full time since Uni, brought up DT’s - private school and Uni degrees - we were able to ensure they had no debt on graduation . Thanks to our pensions we were able to retire a couple of years ago whilst in our mid 50’s.
Never entered our heads to claim any benefits when we were physically and mentally able to support ourselves and our family. Proud of our achievements

You must appreciate that doing all this is substantially harder for people born even twenty years after you?

Unless you have inherited wealth or are on 200k+, it’s virtually impossible to afford that lifestyle now. That’s the problem. Work doesn’t pay.

Oh no I'm scared! I claim rightfully what's mine. You actually can't cheat the system as I put in what I earn and they calculate what I can get each month

Work always pays - benefits should be a last resort for those who are ill or disabled.

Feel so sorry for you

Completely unsustainable, and I don’t wish to fund people who choose to have children but don’t fund them themselves 👍

Not my problem really

Why? We have two amazing children, both in graduate roles with great career opportunities, a lovely home and a holiday home in a gorgeous location. Enough money to retire early and travel extensively.

That is my point, the system allows people to work part-time whilst others work ft to support their families ( overtime too). I am semi retired now and count myself very fortunate that I can work part-time now, wasn't an option for me previously.
So it all comes down to mindsets.
Wishing you and your son well

DH and I have professional jobs (GP and dentist) and we work part-time to avoid the 100k+ tax trap. FTE for us with 15% pension would be about £120k each. We have two pre-schoolers so we work part-time to avoid losing significant help with childcare.

I can’t and don’t judge anyone for making individual choices than benefit themselves. It’s the system that’s completely wrong.