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.

i know nothing because you’ve added nothing of value. You’ve sought to undermine every poster you disagree with but not actually set out any arguments or reasoning.

I think you're confused - nobody referred to earnings as a privilege.

But you’re not getting it @SameOldMe some people including myself can’t take the financial hit… I used all my savings to get on the property ladder and due to my age I have no time left to save. I will just have to work. Otherwise our mortgage doesn’t get paid and we lose our house.

Thetes a lot of assumptions being made about those of us not in receipt of UC. People seem to think we are rolling in it. Many of my friends are in the same position. We spent all our money either buying a house or privately renting, we have no other choice but to work and have children.

I've added plenty of value. You just didn't like it. You've also made false assertions about me, simply because I csn empathise with those who are struggling. The thread has achieved it's aims - as predicted. 🫣

then why have you said the OP is privileged? All she has said is she has children and earns a wage.

You made choices which led you to where you are, just like everyone else.

Um, because she is - only a privileged person would speak in a way which has no understanding or empathy for the struggles some of these UC claimants/their children currently live or have lived.

So is it choice or privilege because your last post totally contradicts everything else you’ve said?

Privilege allows access to choice. I'd have thought that obvious. 🫣

Erm… what about those who had no money and had children but are propped up by the tax payer? Seems you only have empathy for those who claim benefits but no understanding for any of the rest of us.

As stated, everyone makes a choice to have children. You could argue that Sally down the road with her 6 kids is quite privileged too because she was able to have children and she has been propped up by benefits to do so too

Yes I agree

There's very few people who make children a lifestyle choice - some media sources would like us to think it's a lot more! I still have empathy for the children caught* *up in that though - they have no less right to prosper than your child(ren) or mine, even though neither of us claim benefits and their parents do.

But nooo, poor Sally, and poor Sally’s children too. No empathy for those of us who have to return to work and spend extortionate money on childcare. No empathy for those of us who have sacrificed child rearing so we can go to university and work jobs that support this country, oh no… we are the evil ones for experiencing any negative emotion or thought!!

How is that any different to the single mum UC claimant choosing to eat or pay rent when the benefit cap kicks in? With no partner to support her. She could also lose her home. The system used to be generous but it certainly isn't anymore.

Exactly, someone on UC has privilege as they are being supported by the govt.

I don’t feel privileged that I can only afford one child.

you are asking everyone to show empathy for those on uc but not accepting that life isn’t rosy for those who work

There are very few real life Sally figures, but it's not the fault of the children they are born into that.

Maybe she should have considered that before having children like the rest of us? According to @Morgenrot25 ”we all made choices” simple!!

Anyone can access benefits if their income is low enough though.

Hmm, we will have to agree to disagree. Come along to the area I live in, and you’ll be proven very wrong I’m afraid. Statistics will also back that up unfortunately as well.

Again, there are very few Sally's, making children a lifestyle. Even so, should the children suffer?

Rightio.
You have no idea how 'Sally' got where she was, or where her kids will contribute.
Nobody is shaming working mothers for working.
Some folk are shaming UC claimants, some of whom are working mothers.

Exactly this.

And shaming us for somehow being privileged in the process. It’s almost like shutting us down or dismissing us. Won’t work with me I’m afraid. Privilege is subjective.

Working mothers get a very bad hand.

There are plenty of sallys on Mumsnet!

And that makes it ok?

Yet someone such as myself you have no empathy or understanding for how hard I have to work in order to have a family and support one? No? Not one little bit? No.., sorry… what was that? Oh I’m privileged?!