AIBU to claim UC with a 'high' income

[Loriclimbs]

I am very conflicted about lifting the two-child cap. I know many would benefit from it but it would lead us back to more abuse of the system. I, however, have three children myself. I have gratefully received UC in the past but as my income has grown I am currently no longer eligible.

With the addition of my youngest child, I will now be eligible for approximately £200 per month. I an a higher rate tax payer abd Icurrently pay over £1200 in income tax alone per month. I have to repay the majority of the child benefit I receive.

AIBU to claim what I am entitled to?

Why? PIP isn't taken away just because a young person is able to move into the workplace.

Some will absolutely be able to work but some won't.

I'm not sure exactly what the future holds for my son but do think it's unlikely that he'll be fully independent in the future. I'm not saying that because I want the PIP he's going to get anyway, I'm saying that because it's reality and I know my son's needs better than anyone.

You do have to start looking for work from your child's 1st birthday hence why they've bought in childcare for those over 9 months.

Do you know how? I ‘migrated’ to uc from tax credits, not by choice I might add 🤣😭

Yep you can't save enough to buy a decent second hand car even if your disabled and really need one. The motability scheme is too expensive for many people.

Its 3.

Before that, you are expected to 'prepare' to look for work but not actually do it.

Don't go blowing your savings either as they won't pay out if they believe you have deliberately made yourself poor enough for benefits, its the 'deprivation of capital' rules.

The system often feels unfair but I can understand their reasons most of the time.

According to the government website you have to start looking and attending appointments after baby turns 1 but you are not actually required to be in actual work until they're 3.

Sorry my error, it's very late and I got it a bit muddled. At age 1 they will start being called in for meetings at the jobcentre.

^
This

So you would claim UC just because you can...still cant see how you qualify.
Just make sure that your children work as you did from age 15 becuase the debt burden being created by people like you will leave this country with nothing in the future.

Wrong. You don't have to actively apply for jobs until three. Before that is just getting ready.

I have 3 children and am completely against the cap removal. Especially after reading of the lady who is currently pregnant with 4th or 5th child, husband is off work with MH issues but can now afford Xmas!!!! Oh and she's set up a go fund me.
Look, if youre paying tax and paying into our system then you have every right to take what you are due. Because you've been paying into the pot prob all of your working life - so thank you xxx

If you're entitled to it, then yes, do it. It's up to them to make the rules that they think are appropriate. I'm not entitled because I'm self-employed, I could only get 12 months which helped while I built the business, but their rules are all a bit of a confusing mess so I would take it if they say yes.

If you can afford not to then don't.
Because the Government say you can doesn't mean you should.
The whole system makes people dependent on so much. With little incentive to not be so.

DS1 will never be independent. In any shape or form. All professionals involved, and there are numerous, believe the same. That wouldn’t change even if you removed benefits. He has a complex mix of physical, medical, developmental and psychological disabilities. His needs would still be there. He has EOTAS because school/college is, legally, inappropriate. The provision in this package is 2:1 at all times. His needs are so complex he is in receipt of continuing care funding. Again 2:1. He requires care with all aspects of life. He can’t wash himself. He can’t even get himself in the bath. He can’t dress himself. He isn’t toilet trained. A week ago, he broke DH's nose when dysregulated.

DS3 will never be fully independent. Again, that is the opinion of all professionals involved. It isn’t just me saying it. Again, that wouldn’t change even if benefits were removed. He also has EOTIS with 2:1, and he is in receipt of social care support.

Wow where has it said this. I’ve a 13 and 16 year old at school. Get UC but earn too much for free meals. Oldest now gets the post 16 bursary so school do credit their account but still paying for meals for youngest. This would potentially make the school eligible for claiming pupil premium for them too?? Would also mean I’d get music lessons free as those on free meals get trips and extra curricular free as well.

I’m completely confused by this. After reading some of these comments I’ve just rerun a benefits calculator for our own circumstances.

I’ve run it in the past out of curiosity and it’s always said we aren’t entitled to any UC. I’ve just rerun it for our current situation and it’s saying we are entitled to a small amount of UC??!

I’m completely baffled by this. We do have more than 2 children but I used the entitled to calculator and that doesn’t appear to yet take into account the changes to the two children rules as it told me
in multiple places that these rules would apply to me.

Are these calculators not that accurate or something?

It was a few months ago. I am not sure if they would get pupil premium or free music lessons but all pupils whose parents claim UC will get free school dinners from September next year (in England). This will save me about £50 a month.

If being eligible means you can have £150 off your heating bill like I have why wouldn't you?

Another hypocrite claims UC.

Me too. I too up £15 a week on lunch account.

I’ll keep an ear out re the pupil premium link. My bursary child got handed a new Chromebook this term, gets music lessons free and I don’t have to pay for the same trip her sister is going on which is costing me £10 for non bursary.

I found the whole post 16 bursary a minefield. At college she was given it based on my income not including UC. At school they said I earned too much with income and UC however she qualified under a different category for being on DLA. Bursary is probably an incentive for those kids not to leave and get a job/apprenticship.

The primary head teacher used to hassle me to apply for free school meals as she assumed me being a single parent on tax credits at the time would automatically mean I got free meals. I didn’t as earn more than the £7400 threshold at the moment. They wanted the pupil premium!! lol.

If I could afford not to I wouldn't. I consider benefits should be for those who cannot afford to manage. If I can afford things then I don't need to have it.

The money doesn't start until April so how that makes a difference for this Christmas I don't know. The Benefit Cap affects all those out of work unless someone there has a disability or cares for someone with a disability. Disability isn't easy to claim, so anyone with an active claim has had to provide significant evidence.

The change doesn't start until April, I believe it's worth checking 'entitled to' every April if you aren't already claiming everything you could.

They are accurate as long as you input all your details correctly. Even a slight error can hugely throw off the results. This is why you hear people often say they're inaccurate. Either that or they misunderstand them tbh.