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.

Valid point, she would need to let some time pass.

I'm just doing what other people are doing!

Coconutter24 how long would 18,000 last if I it's used it to to up wages and have a few treats. Couple of years maybe then she'll get several hundred a month top up when there's nothing left and then she'll have no emergency fund. I don't get the reasoning that someone needs to live of saving before getting any state help. Fair enough if you have 50,000 + but come on 18,000 is hardly a fortune and I say that as someone who has less then 3,000 in savings

Noted, thank you.

I just wouldn’t focus on what others have and what others are doing. Concentrate on yourself and kids. You’re doing far better than plenty (including some of those that work full time) by even being able to afford a caravan holiday

But this huge change of plans for your savings seems to have happened in the last half an hour or so and paints a very different picture from your op!

That makes sense because receive the middle rate care means the child’s got significant needs

So you’ve screwed yourself over? My aunt had an inheritance there’s some calculations UC do and keeping of receipts but other than that she kept her uc.

But what about your children’s future and not touching the money..? That’s quite a radical change of opinion…
dont forget to make an appointment at the posh salon!

Of course it is!
Try parent a child whom is neurodiverse
As others have said, burnout is common.

You really do have all you need in life. I have a severely disabled child. I get all the benefits for them. I would sooner work, but there is no childcare provision for severely disabled children. Check your privilege and be grateful for your health and the blessing of NT children. I would swap with you in a heartbeat if it meant my child wouldn't be dependent on me my entire life. I cant bare to think about what becomes of them when i'm not here to protect them anymore.

Never seen a thread unravel so quickly.

Look @Tiredandgrumpymum if your posts are genuine then I hope you make whatever changes are needed to make you happier. But comparison is truly the thief of joy. Lots of people believe inheritances like yours are unfair because it leads to an unequal society. So we can always find something to get bitter about if we tried.

UC is a top up,she's not burdening anyone.

Why not split it into children's savings accounts then if you don't want to touch it until they are 18. Then you can claim the top up too
Also your post is about wanting to reduce working hours and claim instead, but with those savings you wouldn't get any extra anyway

Awful thing to say when someone is struggling and going into debt for school shoes! OP as a higher rate tax payer I’d want my taxes to support women like you via UC and benefits. You never know when people fall on hard times. You didn’t expect to be raising your children on your own without sufficient support from the father. If you’re eligible apply it’s there for a reason.

Why would she not? Everyone else jumping on the Welfare gravy train. Hopefully when it gets up to 75% of people claiming benefits of some kind (on its way to that figure already), this useless government might actually realise that a minority can’t prop up the majority financially.

These stories just get more desperate each time

FFS, if SIL stuck her head in the oven, would you do it too?

FWIW, if you blow your savings and then work less to claim benefits, not only will you have increased your DC debt for going to university, and put further unnecessary burden on taxpayers, but you’ll end up with considerably less than SIL, unless you plan to lie about health issues too? Does DC father pay towards their keep?

Maybe they’ll then make employers pay a living wage

if you struggking why take the holiday
school uniforms and birthdays and Christmas can be budgeted for.
you should be getting child benefit each week
Definitely claim for benefits

It’s an ever increasing circle now though; if employers pay people more, they’ll charge more for their goods and services.

Oh bore off.

I doubt your sister in law being on UC paid for the holiday in Turkey. It was your brother's salary....how she gets UC if he has high enough salary for a Turkey holiday or is it again the scroungers tactics

Minimum wage is now over £12.00. Unfortunately many companies cannot afford to pay much more than that, hence the job market being so dire atm. I know hospitality is really struggling at the moment because a lot of their overheads have increased hugely, which means prices have to increase for the customer, which in turn during the current cost of living crisis means less footfall through their doors. It’s a vicious circle.