Can we all take a moment to pray for Thea, living life on the brink of poverty at £6k a month (£3.2k of which is UC).

[BananaramaDefence]

In a good month when UC gives full entitlement, Thea has a total of £6,142.00, from £2,800 in take-home pay and £3,342 in universal credit plus child benefit. Her monthly expenses such as childcare, rent, council tax, energy and food etc are usually around £6000. She says: "So it’s living very much on the edge."

And now the cap is removed she will get more!!

From this: Pregnant mum-of-four: 'Budget benefit change saved our Christmas' - The Mirror https://share.google/QGbNeuIKPAmg1qNG5

No wonder people get pissed of with welfare in this country. I work 40 hours plus a week, have children, have to pay a mortgage, childcare and I earn way less than this!!!

No child should live in poverty but at the same time no family should get this muxh in benefits.

Before people say, yes but it's to pay rent and collate, I also have to pay all that and my mortgage is half my wage!!

OT but I think these people show extraordinarily poor decision-making by having their articles published in the newspapers. Of course other people are going to be upset and angry as everyone is exhausted and working hard and many resent these extra top-ups. I don’t think they are particularly good parents for appearing in the paper for their 15 minutes of fame as no doubt they and their kids will then get abuse in real life as well as online. Fools.

I agree 100%

They may have been paid £100s for their story but as you said it won't make up for the abuse they'll get in the street. Not to mention possibly having their windows put in and people posting dog poo through their letterbox.

So not on £6k a month then.

You are focusing your anger on the wrong people.

None of the UK’s top 10 richest people are in the UK’s top 10 highest tax payers. That is our problem.

She does, yes. I read the article and she rents. That is why the UC top up is so large to cover the cost of her rent. Not read the whole thread but I’m assuming she rents from a private landlord? That’s where all the money is going. Private rentals. Lining the pockets of the landlords. If we built more social housing we could cut this part of the ridiculous benefit bill.

Sure, none of us know the exact cocktail of luck, choices, and consequences that put her in this position. It could be misfortune, it could be bad decisions. It’s probably a mix.

But the fact remains: other people are keeping her afloat. That’s the reality, and pretending it doesn’t matter is just dishonest. When you’re the one funding the safety net, you’re allowed to feel aggrieved about how that responsibility is distributed.

Recognising that doesn’t mean you lack compassion, it means you can tell the difference between helping someone and pretending choices never play a role.

Your defensiveness reads like someone who benefits from the exact system you are suggesting shouldn’t be questioned.

Different person.

There are two families in the article.

The press know what they are doing. They know people will skim through, get the numbers mixed up and then froth over an unemployed family with 4 kids getting 6k a month for nothing. Thats clearly not the case, but it gets the clicks and gets people talking.

There are multiple case studies. Op is referencing the 2nd one. Yes they are.

There is already a comment saying this so why did you say the same thing?

Struggling but decide to have another baby. That is what I can’t get my head round.

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Accidents happen.

If you read the other thread you'll see the circumstances.

As a pp said, It's going into the pockets of landlords! That's the real scandal. If rent wasn't completely out of control in this country the taxpayer wouldn't have to subsidise top ups to this level.

Yet here you are posting on mumsnet about a woman who works full time misrepresenting her. Priorities eh?

Do tell darling. Let’s all hate on working single mums. The nasty working class why should they receive help for their nasty working class children. Shame on them. They should not even be allowed to breathe let alone work and get UC or benefits

Not in 21st century Britain. Choices were made.

Thea is a nasty single mum paying rent to her landlord and paying childcare fees. How very dare she.

Single mums can also be high earners. Paying huge amounts of tax and not even getting CB and being told it's their own fault when they are struggling - even though the single mum next door has a higher net income than them thanks to benefits . That's a disgusting mess of system

How very dare she choose more children than you very sensible people. Nasty single mums who made choices. She should have chosen the Right Noble Way of choosing to have no nasty children of nasty single mums unless in wedded matrimony with a wonderful man.

Well, yeah. She should have.
3 kids in a one bedroom flat, payed for by taxpayers is a series of shit choices. She's an educated American - she lives like that, off of our money on purpose. She's not a victim, she's a grifter.

They will get benefit capped. They are a bit thick.

Hear hear darling Cheesels. I say though - Where is the “ imprudent and distasteful “ Daddy who made “ voluntary actions” to have children and then leave them with nasty working class Thea.? I imagine he’s making more “voluntary actions “ with his new family. Jolly Well done him I say.

Dad isn't all over the media. We have no idea how involved he or how much he pays towards his kids. Luckily for Ms Thea, his contributions aren't taken into account.

But she is working, full time. Surely the issue is that wages aren’t covering the costs of living and have to be topped up.