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.

Maybe she’s getting a lot more maintenance than you are.

A 2 week all inclusive holiday to Turkey with 4 kids must cost at least £6000 or so? Wow.

I worked 3 days and got UC top up for 10yrs due to ill health. When a major surgery improved things I went back full time and came off UC altogether. I then got a promotion and now a higher rate tax payer. Whilst she may get a large amount as she has a disabled child, it’s true that working is better in the long term.

I will have a very generous civil service pension with over 40yrs service when I retire which I wouldn’t have if I was on UC solely. I like working too. It’s part of my identity and whilst it can be stressful when kids are younger, now they are flying the nest i’m glad that I have something for me.

As others have said, you should be getting UC top ups anyway. Keep on working.

Check out your circumstances on Turn To Us. You may well find that working full time on minimum wage still makes you eligible. In fact I’d be willing to get a months salary that you will be if you rent.

That will potentially impact her claim & so yours will not necessarily be the same.

Same as is she rents & you don’t etc.

On your salary with 2 kids, you are already entitled to UC. Why aren’t you claiming?

She is, she saved up £500 a month out of her benefits to pay for it.

Do you rent or own op?

If she is renting & getting the housing element of UC, while you pay a mortgage, she will wind up with more than you in terms of disposable income but she will be screwed as her kids grow up

It’s so odd for a single parent of two children, only earning min wage, to have never attempted to claim universal credit.

Agree! also wondering this

Do you and your SIL rent or own a home?

Have you made a claim for UC and not qualified? Or never applied?
If you are working FT on minimum wage with 2 dependent children you will qualify for some UC.
Make a claim here, it will take you ten minutes and could improve your circumstances significantly.

www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

Why do you keep ignoring the question of why you aren’t claiming?

You might think you want the same amount of UC as she gets but I bet you wouldn’t want her life if she’s struggling with adhd in herself and her child. That holiday was probably the rest she desperately needed. To be honest she’s doing well working PT as parents of disabled dc actually have no work commitments so she’s doing exceptionally well, as are you with your own circumstances. Have a look on an online benefits calculator you’re probably eligible too.

I have a similar circumstance to you, earn about the same, get only £200 per month from ex h and get about £500 UC. You definitely need to claim, don’t know how you’re surviving. Do you rent or have a mortgage?

Why did you ignore the part of that post, and every other post, telling you that you’re already entitled and should be claiming?

“The rest she desperately needed”

Funded by tax payers who can’t afford to go on holiday

Do you realise the cost to the taxpayer if a parent of a disabled child gets burnt out and that child has to go into care ? Respite is hugely important, these parents are doing an immensely hard job and do need breaks. I wouldn’t begrudge anyone that.

Do your DC have additional needs?

Wait until you see the cost to the taxpayer when a single parent of disabled children burns out.

No they don't.

ADHD is not a disability, for God's sake. She would/ should not be getting extra because of it

OP as a single parent with a disabled child I got DLA for him with a UC top up to my salary.

I certainly was not having any luxury holidays on this . Your SIL is getting additional money somewhere. Either from child maintenance or other means.

Calculating the least amount you can work for the maximum amount in benefits sounds a great wheeze…. Until you realise later in life that you’re screwed with a shit or non existent occupational pension and may not even have paid enough NI contributions for a full state pension. And who’d want to live on just the state pension anyway?