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.

SiL has had 2 weeks of AI in Turkey for 5 people and is getting manicures - that's luxury in my book. As in not an average/norm for the majority of people.

I agree. I have ADHD and I'm not alone in that and we are just expected to effin get on with things.

It's beyond ridiculous now

Might be a high amount if she rents and needs an additional bedroom for example. Bet nobody will criticise greedy private landlords though pocketing UC housing elements!

Makes me cross too.
One of our team leaders puts everything he can in his pension as his partner doesnt work so it doesnt effect her benefits. Apparently since he got the promotion he makes it so he's still on general Operator money take home. Crys poverty all the time too. Asks work to take anything he can for free, even asked if he could bring his kids for free ice cream when we were having a treat day. They recently got a good pay rise, over 20%, we got 2.3% and he was telling us he's not making more because its going in his pension and he wants to retire early. Like we want to work until we're dead. Boils my blood.

Of course she has…

OP, unless you have significant savings, why don’t you put your figures into a benefits calculator and see what you are/ not entitled to?

The only way she's getting anywhere near thst is if she has disabled children or high rent.

Maybe she has parents who help her out financially or a credit card ?

As you know it affects everyone differently and it's classed as a disability

Nigel, surprised to see you on here, thought you would be busy slagging off the UK for your foreign cash...

Hmm... that's what the SIL said, according to the OP? If the OP is a lie then this whole conversation needs not be happening.

Bollocks she did.

I had pupils whose parent obtained some kind of benefit for them because of an ADHD diagnosis. The kids used to discuss it...

I think you will find it is
However disability benefits go off need not diagnosis.

Because that’s not the point of the thread. It’s another benefit bashing thread designed to have everyone jumping up and down because sil is claiming universal credit and having luxury holidays and getting hair done in a ‘posh’ salon.
The op works incredibly hard, had a weekend in a caravan and probably cuts her own hair with a rusty pen knife…

No it is not. Not as a blanket rule. ADHD is a neurodiversity condition which affects different people's lifestyle very differently. The majority do not require financial support for living with ADHD.

In the cases that I'm aware of, the parents had to prove that the child had severe support needs - help required with personal care.

No they didn't the claimed it becsuse of how the ADHD impacted the child it goes off need not diagnosis.

I'm unclear how you are agreeing with my post when we have each said the opposite?

I don’t think people realise you can’t just call up DLA and say ‘my child has x this is my account number please start payments’!!!

You have to fill in an incredibly long form. You have to have supporting professionals who they contact. They also ask the school for a report on the child’s needs and how they are functioning etc. it can take months ! It’s not an easy process and the decision isn’t made on the parents say so alone.

Exactly.

If the sil gets middle rate DLA, she will get extra premiums added to UC claim.

And she would have no work commitments yet she works so as far as I’m concerned she’s trying really really hard.