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.

I don’t think anyone should get cash payments for disability. Need goods or services? The state should provide these. No one should just get a cash payment to spend on whatever they choose.

Does no harm to not be rude to people. I read all of her replies after I commented.

Yes keep those pesky disabled people begging eh

God if I had waited for the NHS to provide therapy I literally would have been dead years ago.

The new bloke in charge of the DWP, McFadden. wants to reduce the UC costs and reform disability payments. So I'd be wary of doing anything that would make life worse.

I will say, NHS therapies are limited and the wait lists can be very long. My childrens DLA is spent on private therapies to help better their lives and it is very costly. If we relied solely on the therapies NHS offered to us my children would suffer more than they already do.

If I ever do lose my hearing I can learn sign language. I can do all that other stuff with ease although others in my household might say otherwise.

It's not HTH

You don't,
Instead of being bitter and twisted about all the extra money you perceive disabled people get to fritter away
Why don't educate yourself about how it works rather than keep repeating the nonsense you have made up?

Well then you are unlikely to be eligible

Over £750 every four weeks if you were in receipt of enhanced daily living and mobility rates..

Not sure how that can be true when OP's SIL went to Turkey. On benefits. As do many other families on benefits.

Those posters were taking about OPs savings.

NHS provides therapy? Are you having a laugh. Some kids are on waiting lists to see CAMHS for years.

No one gets a handout for having ADHD. People get DLA/PIP based on their care needs. You don't even need a diagnosis. DLA/PIP is not a sympathy payment. You clearly have no idea what it really is, and are just regurgitating rubbish from the Daily Mail.
And they can spend that money how they want.

If you are saying that DLA/PIP spending should be monitored, then that would have to apply to all benefits, including child benefit and pensions.

Haven’t read the whole thread but why are PP advising the OP to claim benefits? We cannot afford this.

Surely rather than more people joining an unsustainable system, we should be writing to our MPs to demand changes to the whole benefits system to limit this unfairness.

There should be no scenario where a full time working mother of 2 has less for luxuries than a part time working mother of 4 on UC. Pensions which make up the majority of the welfare bill also need a massive overhaul.

I’m sick of every news item being about small boats when the focus should be on the economy, productivity and making the country work. This includes supporting business and fixing all of our broken systems including benefits and the NHS.

This just shows you have no idea what PIP really is.
People on full time wages in good jobs can also claim PIP. It is nothing to do with your income or work.
David Cameron claimed it for his disabled son.

Interesting that you think we should write our MPs about the benefits system and pensioners when the real issue of a single mum of 2 having less money is actually one for the employers. But yeah, let’s tackle to bottom of the pile, take from them. Let the companies and corporations rake it in.

This thread truly is wild.

If someone is eligible for help it is completely within their rights to claim it

Simple.

She didn't though did she?

Haven’t rtft but I’m surprised at the lifestyle and UC part. It sounds expensive for four dc

This in abundance
There are people who choose to not work /work less to facilitate maximum benefits. And there are several people who work full time and more to keep the boat afloat.
Of the people I know in the first category, they are able to afford holidays, drive cars and have appointments at hair salons and nail bars. This isn't about benefit bashing, it's the facts as I find them

If you are already entitled to benefits you can spend them on whatever you choose.
If you are not able to claim UC because you have over the threshold amount in savings, you can’t spend your savings on holidays to get you under the savings threshold to be able to claim. It’s classed as deprivation of capital and they will look into where the £0000’s of savings have gone when you first claim.
OP SIL could not have had over the savings threshold when she originally made a claim for UC to have been entitled to claim. How she chooses to spend her entitlement is up to her.

I wasn’t rude, I was factual.

Deprivation of assets would be deliberately spending money in order to claim. The OP is only marginally over the £16k limit.

There are plenty of day-to-day purchases and events that would require spending £2k. Our fridge freezer was £640 and that was 8 years ago. A washing machine can be similar. A £3k family holiday would be a reasonable amount to spend. What about a second hand car?

Deprivation of assets would be very hard to claim for such a small amount. It's not like the OP has £120k and is planning to buy a £110k Range Rover so that she can claim UC.

No you were rude for no reason.