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.

Could have adhd and then she'd claim various add ons

It’s actually funny because it’s genuinely true, my father in law has tried to get one because he cannot walk! And they won’t give him one. No on my life they genuinely have a 25 plate car and their kid is absolutely fine and so are they! They play the system so much

How do you know they are all absolutely fine?

Because I see them multiple times a day? They literally tell me to my face that they make stuff up, why is it so hard to except? I understand some people are genuinely ill and genuinely need a car (not a brand new 25 plate) but people fiddle the system and they do it well!

Yeah right 🙄🙄

My sons mobility car is 25 plate they give you them brand new, you keep them for three years .

Loads of people make stuff up do you really think DLA/PIP just accept whst people tell them ?

It's amazing how so many people not only know others who apparently commit benefit fraud but also openly tell them that they are doing it too.

As someone who has actually claimed DLA for my son, it is hard to accept because I know how DLA works and how difficult it is to get high rate care and high rate mobility because that is exactly what my son receives. You need evidence and a lot of it to back up every single thing that is said in forms.

Motability cars are all new cars, that's how it works.

Agreed.

I’m not going to comment anymore because it’s actually infuriating and embarrassing that you’re all getting worked up over my comments. It’s true, hand on heart, they have never ever worked, they are absolutely fine, their kid is absolutely fine, they fiddle the system. They have a brand new house, brand new car and eat out every single day. Even the rest of my family are annoyed at them because of how they live and how to gloat about it.

People who genuinely need help can’t get the help like I’ve said my fil and mil are currently going through it, and that’s what aggravating too because the people who genuinely need it can’t get it. And the people who don’t need it can fiddle it. People stop telling me there must be something wrong because there isn’t, they openly admit it. They laugh about it!

Can’t believe you lot are getting worked up over the truth!

I know how hard it is to claim HRM so I know it's no the truth and you ate just making stuff up..

Yup already had it all of them, I understand it doesn’t sound true but it really is! And that’s the problem with our country! but people are so blind to it, I don’t no weather to laugh or cry!

I’m really not 😂 I’m actually baffled

Understand OP. It’s unpleasant to be repeatedly accused of lying.

There is also the issue of the increase in claims being directly due to Labour forcing millions on ESA to UC.

They aren't getting worked up over the truth, they just think you are full of shit.

I agree. The process is brutal and you have to have some way of proving what you’re saying. You could have no arms and they’d still want your medical records.

And what disability do your in laws have that they're attempting to claim PIP for?

My kids can burn off the same amount of energy at the local pool than they could at a Turkish water park at an all-inclusive resort.

Of course they have a brand new house too. 🙄

Again, having actually had experience as to the evidence I needed to prove our housing situation and how it wasn't suitable due to our disabled son to be able to move into social housing, I highly doubt it.

I'm not getting worked up over the truth because knowing how the system works from personal experience, I know for a fact that someone just isn't handed a house or a car without plenty of evidence. You can't just rock up, say you are disabled and be handed a house and a car. It doesn't work like that no matter what you claim.

I don't believe a word of that. No way a single mum of 4DC can accord such a lifestyle on UC. it's just one of the many benefit bashing threads on MN based on some wild fiction to trigger a response.

I would guess she can afford nicer things due to spousal/child maintenance from her ex, both of which are disregarded for UC.

"Because I see them multiple times a day? They literally tell me to my face that they make stuff up, why is it so hard to except?"

How do you manage to see them multiple times a day when you work full time?

What the hell?? 2.5k a month?? She has to be bullshitting you.

I take home £1700 and UC contributes towards my rent.

What's your total take-home amount and how much do you pay in rent?

A while ago I input a family of four into entitled.to:

Private rented accommodation in London (£1600 p/m which is 'cheap').
One adult working 40 hours per week for minimum wage.
Two boys at primary school.

It resulted in a take-home income equivalent to earning £60k on PAYE.