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!

Particularly in London and similar areas is the important factor.

I live in a deprived traditional working class town in the North where people wouldn't choose to live. I moved from private housing to social housing at the beginning of last year and the rent was exactly the same because housing isn't in demand here so landlords don't inflate their rent as they can do in London and similar because the demand isn't there.

If you don't live somewhere desirable, it is unlikely to transform your finances and you may even find yourself paying exactly the same.

That make you feel better?

That's right. Because we're all born with exactly the same intelligence levels, ability levels, and opportunity to access higher education, and there are enough graduate-level jobs going for everybody to have one(!) Simples, eh? 🙄

Calling people who disagree with you thick? Lovely.

Yep, thanks for asking 👌

Read the sentence again. I said 'Anyone who genuinely thinks bona fide benefit claimants have it better' is thick as far as I am concerned, and I stand by that.

Such a cop out. Just another way of dodging personal responsibility

Did you read my post further upthread by any chance? My family would be entitled to over £5,000 pcm UC if myself or dh did not work.
Do you consider a salary of £61k living in poverty? I'm interested.

Well some do. It’s appalling that you accuse people of ‘dumping’ their child at nursery so they can work. How did you juggle working and babies out of interest?

If you are offended by that language then you clearly have not seen the personal attacks on claimants on here.

you’re clearly not if you don’t work.

Clearly hasnt seen them.

Oh so it’s a race to the bottom for you then? I have not insulted anyone and don’t intend to. Two wrongs don’t make a right etc.

And you didn’t answer my question. Have you ever had to juggle work and kids?

Btw do you think doctors, CEOs, MPs and judges should all be male? If you think women should be allowed to do the roles, should they be allowed to access childcare whilst they train?

You can work and not have a career.

It’s not relevant to my point. That poster said working women ‘dump’ their kids at nursery. I am challenging that. Nothing to do with other people being insulting.

Why are you after my personal information? It is nothing to do with the thread.

Because you don’t seem to understand the challenges working mothers face, so context would be useful. You don’t need to answer any of my questions if they make you uncomfortable and that’s fine.

I posted in support of benefits claimants before, so I am not sure why you are behaving this way but as young folk say, ‘you do you’.

@XenoBitch Really does seem to contradict themselves. They are very defensive when it comes to single mums and benefits. I can only assume they are a single mum themselves. The people I feel sorry for are working mothers and families who are ever stretched and have no other option than to use nursery and breakfast clubs in order to go to work.

Most of the benefit calculators are inaccurate. The only way to know for sure is to make a claim.

I doubt theyd get 5k

It’s quite simple their post is simply to support the people who do the least among us, and justify it, whatever shape that takes. And anyone who works is snottily looked down upon as merely a provider who should shut up and continue to provide for the not at all ‘vulnerable’.

Funny how the ‘vulnerable’ among us here seem to be the most vociferous and eloquent debaters, more than capable of strong advocating for themselves while being almost bullying to others. Manipulative.

Yep, I just tried it and it was not accurate at all.

Why?
This is what happens. I input my details into the benefits calculator (the one that people are always advised to use) and when I get the result, I am told either I am lying or it's wrong.
It's almost as if n one wants to admit that in certain circumstances, benefits are very generous indeed.

I am on benefits, and the benefit calculator was wrong. Said I was entitled to more than I actually get.

The only real way to know is to actually apply.

So how wrong was it? The difference between £61k pa and poverty?