To think I should work less and claim Universal Credit?

[Tiredandgrumpymum]

After a difficult divorce I find myself supporting my 2 children on my own. Ex-husband pays the bare minimum.

I work full time on about minimum wage, all my shopping is done at Asda usually yellow-stickered where ever possible. This year managed to take my 2 kids away for a weeks break by the seaside in a caravan. We had a lovely time but did it as cheaply as possible. Bought ice cream and put in the freezer in the caravan so when kids asked for an ice cream out I said wait till we get home.

No eating out except for takeaway chips etc. No expensive days out.

Just bought all the school uniforms as cheaply as possible from the supermarket and the school shoes which I've had to put on my credit card.

My SIL popped round for a coffee earlier on her way back from the hairdressers having treated herself to a new cut and colour at a posh salon and she was just on the way to get her nails done. She's just returned from a 2 week all inclusive in Turkey with her 4 kids. Her kids get the best school uniforms and school shoes and she pays for them to do various activities I can only dream about. All this and she works 3 mornings a week and gets topped up on UC. She goes to the gym everyday as she can afford it and has the time to so looks fabulous.
I'm sorry I sound so bitter but I really am.

Yeah sounds like a great idea. Maybe we should all ditch working and have more money....what could go wrong.

Sorry I know this isn’t the point of your thread. But could you gift this to your children. Put it into their ISA and then you would be eligible for universal credits?

You forgot the goat. And the Turkey teeth.

I had to quit a career I'd worked hard for in order to care for two severely disabled children. Most of the income is actually money for disabilities. My partner works full time.

I'd swap it all for children who were able to have a normal life, who didn't have life limiting disabilities but go ahead and be jealous about the fact I don't work I guess?

I've paid in a lot of money into the system myself, but your post makes it sound like you're better than me because I've had to stop working due to having autistic children with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. Look it up. You won't be bloody jealous anymore. Absolutely disgusting response.

My daughter has a diagnosis of ADHD. Her CAHMS psychiatrist told her very strictly that it is a learning difficulty and that she should not refer to it as a disability as it was not.

I think that single Mums who get UC can be at risk of being broke once the children hit 18 as payments stop. There is also a disparity between those who get payments from the ex & those who don’t as it’s not taken into account. I can see why you would want to work less and claim UC.

I don’t understand why people are now getting DLA for ADHD tbh. What are they spending the money on?

Because everyone else does !!!!!!

Many of the responses on this thread seem to think being a taxpayer is the same as being a net contributor. The number of net contributors is now less than 50% of taxpayers.

He had not right to give his opinion there, because that’s all it is, his opinion.

Are you saying that thise who contribute, but whi do not meet the noble standard of net contributor, are simply riding in yhe coat-tails of thise whi are net contributors? Are their contributions worthless?

Think you will find it is!
I have ADHd and trust me is it a disability.
So ignorant!

• Hidden disability:
• ADHD is considered a hidden disability, meaning it is not always outwardly apparent, but its impact on daily functioning is still significant.

Definitely look into it. Have a look online and see what you can claim with less hours. UC is to help people through hard times, and there’s exactly what you are going through currently. I’m sure when the children are older you can go back to work full time. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Time with your children is also very valuable

Are you entitled to home help? It must be very tough for you. I think social services can help arrangeit so you can spend a day or two doing your own thing.

Bevause I’m more than happy for a bull to be passed saying anyone who doesn’t earn enough to be a net contributor doesnt have to pay any at all. Seeing as it’s nothing more than an insult anyway

No it's not.
That's called self respect

Is it self respect to continue to not claim and fall into debt that results in homelessness? If you call that ‘self respect’ I call your approach abusive

No, self respect is to stand on your own two feet, not to work less in order to claim more benefits.

Claiming what you are entitled to is one thing, and no-one should be ashamed of doing that. Deliberately milking the system is quite another.

If this money is for the children why can’t you claim uc? I would look into Nsi bonds buy in the kids name then it’s technically not your money. It is frustrating seeing people better off working pt when you work ft and are better off. The people saying people can’t afford holidays on uc certainly can but everyone’s situation is different and how they spend their money is different.

I am a single parent and switched jobs last year from term time only which fitted perfectly to working all year round.
I upped my hours in feb to 41 hrs a week rather than having a friday off, my theory was earn more money, claim less from UC.
Its hard work. I have barely any support from anyone else and am now wanting a day off a week but my work dont have cover for me so I am stuck. I get texed so much now, its ridiculous.

Invest the money in junior accounts asap.
Reduce your hours next year, if it is beneficial to your family.
I hope things get easier for you.
I can imagine that things are unaffordable working on a single income with two children, life can be very difficult.

I was told by a psychiatrist that bipolar does not exist so... 🙃

Nobody is better off working less on UC.
Its tapered so that doesn’t happen.
Op will be better off by claiming what she would be entitled to as a full time worker and single parent if she moves the savings into trust for the kids.
18k is a lot of money, it would change my life for a while but it’s not a massive amount.

I didn't claim for ages as I was brought up to believe that claiming benefits was something to be ashamed of. I had zero money coming in and got into horrendous debt and very ill too.
I was dragged by my CPN to the Job Centre to claim, and it took such a huge load off. My work coach was lovely.
I can better deal with my disabilities now and pace properly, and not have to worry about food on the table and bills getting paid.

Well he sounds dangerous frankly!

Take out a Junior ISA for each of your kids. Put some of your savings there and they can have the money at 18.

Fix your appliances by getting new ones which will bring down your savings. And it will reduce your energy bills.

You're doing brilliantly.

Also your kids will be eligible for university grants for living costs because of your circumstances.

You don't have to pay their university fees because these are taken from future earnings if they earn enough. It is a false economy to save for their fees when you have more immediate needs now.

See Money Saving Expert on why it's a bad idea. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/should-i-get-student-loan

Also, this is Plan 5 student fees so the loans have changed five times in 20 years. They will change again.

Spend some savings on helping yourself now. It will reap rewards for the future, and you'll be eligible for additional funds from UC.