To wonder on the future of generous welfare in the UK

[happybug1234]

It seems increasingly obvious that many middle-income families are becoming frustrated at how squeezed they are financially, while at the same time seeing people on universal credit receive a growing range of subsidies and support — £1 attraction tickets on days out, a 6% rise in benefits this financial year, childcare costs reclaimable through Universal Credit, housing benefit, and so on. I see thread after thread on this on this site and also increasing momentum in the media on this issue (income cliff edges etc)

In my own extended family, 1 unemployed parent with the other on min wage, in social housing appear to have more holidays and more disposable income than we do, despite us both working full time with a household income of around £95k. Once childcare, mortgage, insurances, commuting and tax are taken into account, we 100% have a lower level of disposable income than they do as they do not have any of these work related costs and their rent is paid. They have recently gone on a 2 week holiday whilst the most we can ever afford is 1 week.

Quite a few teachers in my friendship circle are declining promotion opportunities or TLR because the extra pay often doesn’t feel worth the additional stress once tax, pension contributions and childcare costs are factored in. Instead, some are putting more effort into private tutoring, which is tax free cash in hand.

What is stopping the government from addressing this as people seek to be responding accordingly in their behaviour!

It would actually be an interesting thread to see who thinks they will still have a job in 10 years time.

Its 30hrs or earn so much a month.

She is if she’s funding it herself but not if the taxpayer is paying. I don’t care what the “rules” are. However, the poster that I was responding to said that 16 hours wasn’t a requirement anymore.

Yes I’m sure of this

is think they also buy property here and sublet their council flats so getting a helping hand which I wish the government would crack down on

And what’ll happen if benefits are cut further?

We’re still in ‘austerity’ when it comes to social security. Numerous austerity measures (like household benefit cap) are still in place and housing element of UC for private renters is already frozen.

There’s record family homelessness, which means the bill for temporary accommodation is £2.8bn a year - predominantly paid to private companies who charge whatever they like. They are the ones hugely benefiting from the system. Not the poor families who can’t afford a home.

Much more efficient to unfreeze local housing allowance than pay for temporary accommodation. The alternative is families with kids on the streets.

Though maybe some people are all for that?

Im getting money that im entitled too.

You fund her to stay at home, or you fund her childcare.
She is a single mum. Either way, you will be funding her. What is it to be?
Personally, I would rather a mum spent time with her baby.

It’s hard to find full detail of comparable policies but this is HSBC from 10 years ago. Scroll to the bottom. 60% of salary income protection and health insurance as standard. employeebenefits.co.uk/group-risk/hsbc-implements-new-all-employee-benefits-strategy/116978.article

Hello. Scrounger here.

I left my abusive ex, with my very small DC.
I worked, and got a UC top up. Even working just under FT hours and with UC, my total income was less than £1900. But I did want to work, despite it not really being worth it.

I then got made redundant, and alongside became chronically ill. So now I’m claiming everything I can, until I can have surgery to fix my health concern. I don’t know how people survive on this, or have holidays in it. I can assure you, they must know something I don’t because how £1500 a month total including housing allowance can stretch to that is beyond me!
maybe they have income from elsewhere!

Childcare. We should have universal low cost childcare (as most of the rest of Europe does) rather than UC.

Yes. I worry for the next generation who want to work hard, train and afford a decent life.

But we don't. So the PP is doing nothing wrong.

For sure.

Many more people will soon be finding out how ungenerous welfare is: when they’re replaced by AI.

I’m starting to think that pp is just shit stirring for kicks. In one post she says she works 16 hrs, in another that she’s on mat leave, then she says she has enough savings to support herself but somehow still claiming uc, All while apparently living in a nice house bought for her by her parents 🙄

All major retail banks, pharma companies, oil companies, legal firms, accountancy firms, financial services, insurance companies offer group income protection (as it’s known) to employees. A hell of a lot of the private sector. Standard to get a multiple of your salary if you die in service, you can opt to pay insurance for for a lump sum if diagnosed with critical illness, standard to get private healthcare (again, pre-existing conditions covered, pay extra for spouse and kids) private GP - and a really shite pension.

Death in service is still pretty standard & exists in the public sector too but income protection & private healthcare isn’t available to all employees often depends on seniority.

Pensions & benefits are less generous than they used to be

KPMG benefits. Again includes group income protection. www.kpmgcareers.co.uk/people-culture/reward-and-recognition/

Also, can you please let me know what the £1 days out thing is about because I’ve never seen this but while I’m at it scrounging the system completely unavoidably, I’d like to cash in. Thanks

And there you have it, “entitled”. Says it all. Fingers crossed that the gravy train will end soon for people like you.

I really think if you are unable to work due to an illness disability that CAN be treated you should absolutely go to the top of the queue. Ridiculous that you ought to have to wait.

One is Chester Zoo. £1 for two weeks over xmas. A time where no one goes anyway, and the animals are hiding because it is too cold.

Yes but governments will be reactive and cut what’s in front of them. Forward planning isn’t their forte. And it’s certainly not the case in the public sector where I work. Immediate cuts rather then long term planning all the way.

PP is a single mum.
When did MN turn into a place that hated them so much?

Nothing wrong under the “rules” but morally is another matter. My dad actually went back to work in a low income job after redundancy when I was a child even though we were worse off because he no longer got things like free dentistry and prescriptions. He did it for self respect and pride. Too many people want to leech off others nowadays.

Did he get a medal?

Exactly.

Also, children can’t go to childcare when they’re unwell. Or in hospital. Lots of families claiming social security have very sick or disabled children who they’re with while in and out of hospital or need looking after at home. As people find out if it happens to their child and they need financial support to pay their rent and bills.

Lots of privilege talking on this thread. People can be quite mean until it happens them their children or grandchildren. There but for the grace….