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 was above the threshold for UC, actually. I would have been better off to earn less.

It's madness. Working families in the middle are squeeze to fuck to pay for all the tax dodgers and the work dodgers...

Ok, so it looks like everyone is berating OP because she's so much better off then a poverty stricken parent on UC. Therefore if life as a working parent is so much more comfortable, we should encourage parents on UC to go to work when the child is 1, same as a working parent, no? Seems logical to me.

@SoSoLong yes. Precisely my point - there is no expectation for them to work. It’s not the same as a prohibition. Crack on if it’s so great.

Until the late 1990s (or later?) the relevant age was 18, no need to look for work at all for a lone parent on benefit.

But why work when you get paid to stay at home with your kids... most of us would love to have spent 3 years with each kid.... and not paid towards nursery.

Course you can, you could choose not to work just the same way those women can.

Shouldn't be an option

Fantastic that you were able to make those choices for yourself and your family.

What specifically do you think is 'wrong' exactly? 🫣

If you were taking home £1500 and paying £800 in childcare as a single parent you were entitled to £200ish per week UC.

Don't do it then.

Yes they can. They can leave and claim UC themselves. But funnily enough they wouldn't do that because they would be taking a huge hit to their finances to do so. Also, just because they don't have to work until baby is 3, doesn't mean that they all stay at home until they are 3. Many would try and get employment because as a pp said you'd be much better off financially if you were working with the UC top up if you didn't earn a lot

@Morgenrot25 what is wrong is literally in the thread subject.

It's up to employers to make full time work pay, is the point I was making.

At the moment the taxpayer is subsidising employers to not pay people properly so they require in work benefits to get by.

I seem to recall the UC threshold was 30k and I earnt £35k.

What else is it? Also, there's no such thing as 'they' here. 🫣

You'll be in a much better position in a few years. I understand that you are frustrated, working for nothing.
It will stand out for you in the future.
Afaik the parents who don't work have very little to live on, on benefits.

This is what people like the OP should be focusing on. As usual they attack the wrong people.

On the flip side my brother has a profound genetic disability. He cannot and will not every be able to work. He is 'transitioning' to UC and the burocracy around it has been ridiculous. We have had to show three forms of ID and the list has to include bills with his name on. He lives with my parents. When we rang up to explain they suggested a credit card bill! We had to go in person to prove his existence, and he has to communicate via a web portal and receive important information via there. if he doesn't log on every four weeks his account will be disabled and he may lose his benefits. He cant read or write. My brother has my parents and me, but what about people who dont. It shouldn't be this hard for people who will never be able to work.

As a single parent I have always taken pride in working and providing for my children. And I did that in receipt of tax credits. I had a disabled child, to be clear, claimed DLA as well. Without tax credits, I couldnhave paid my bulls and childcare. The CMS didn't get a penny out of my ex in 16 years. What would you have had me do?!

Indeed, including for all the employers not paying people enough to get by so they have to claim benefits while working full time.

It’s not fantastic for society though, is it? Less tax into the coffers and less availability of core staff.

The whole benefits and taxation system in this country is screwed. As I said, nothing against benefit claimants or people making the system work for them (as we do), but the system itself is dreadful. Why disincentivise working? At both ends of the spectrum?

It’s the administrative cost that would be involved in working out how many days somebody works vs the days in holiday clubs etc. You’d have to pay somebody to do that. Also, free holiday clubs are not offered to everyone on UC - only those who are earning very little. They are also limited in the hours and days they can offer, at least in my area.

The free clubs is usually a way to provide free meals during the school holidays. At least that's what I see where we are. They are a half day of sports activities and an included lunch, so are a health initiative too.