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!

Yes

That’s fine! That’s totally fine. That’s a great use of benefits by keeping someone productive and in the habit of work.

Thank you. Its hard being a single parent.

It’s hard being a working parent. 16 hours as a single parent is not hard.

She is working though, and is intending to increase her hours once her youngest is older.

Attraction subsidies for the ‘poor’ are funded in various ways:

“Low-income households in the UK receiving Universal Credit (UC) and other benefits can access major attractions like the Tower of London and London Zoo for as little as £1–£4 per ticket, with over 80 venues offering such reductions.

These heavily discounted, so-called "Universal Credit Days Out" aim to provide accessible culture to lower-income families.

Who Pays for the Discounts?
The burden for these discounts often falls on a mix of sources:
Full-Fee Payers: According to financial reports, many attractions, such as the Historic Royal Palaces(which includes the Tower of London), have adjusted their pricing, causing those buying full-price tickets to pay more to cover the lost income.
Charities & Non-Profit Venues: Many participating sites, such as museums and zoos, are charities that operate under their own charitable subsidisation models.
Local Authorities/Taxpayers: Some subsidised sites (like leisure centers) are funded directly through council budgets.”

Yep. No CV gaps, a service filled, continuous employment. I wonder how many of these ‘I’ll get a job when they’re 3’ people just transition to unemployment benefits.

Game, player... you are getting them mixed up.
Stop the attacks.

Try being a single parent.

16 hours isn’t working, it’s having a hobby.

Personal responsibility.

The ‘game’ allows me to do lots of things that I choose not to do.

I could walk past a drowning person and not help them with no consequences. The Game allows that. Should I do it?

You seem to just think benefits are a human right and make absolutely zero connection with the work people do to pay them via taxation. It’s ridiculous and speaks of somebody who has lost all sense of reality when it comes to work.

Im currently on maternity leave with a job to go back to

I doubt there are many care homes run by charities. Most are run by businesses.
I will take a look.
And am very aware of what is provided by care homes ! All too aware.

16hrs is working.

I don’t think the children of those in receipt of UC should suffer, therefore £1 attraction tickets, for example, I can’t see as being a problem at all.

It is not the fault of those in UC that life feels squeezed for those in the middle and it is certainly not the fault of their children.

I pay higher rate tax and it doesn’t occur to me to resent those in more difficult circumstances or to begrudge what they have.

I do, however, get quite pissed off that people earning a LOT more than me pay a similar rate of tax and that the very wealthiest pay very little tax (compared to, say, in Margaret Thatcher’s time when taxation was more progressive than it is now :( )

I would start reporting them now. They are like a dog with a bone.

MN seems to hate single mums, which I find ever so sad.

Zero problems with single mums, I was raised by one. I do have a problem with laziness and 16 hours to keep the benefits coming in is lazy. Sorry.

Barely!

No, it is still work.

Ill still get the same benefits when i do 30

And im doing 16hrs so i can spend time with my kids.

So you think kids should be deprived of culture, educational visits and history because their parents are poor or disabled?
And where will that leave us all in the future?

They aren't, but some people like to make stuff up and then post about it as if it's accepted truth.

Yes, you can get Universal Credit if you have a mortgage, as owning your home does not disqualify you. While UC does not pay for mortgage capital repayments, it can help via a Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan, which covers interest payments on up to (\pounds200,000) of your loan. The property you live in is not treated as capital. 1, 2, 3] Cut and pasted from Govt website

And the people who aren’t getting time with their kids because they’re working and paying your benefits..?

That must have been tough. No matter how we plan, our health can let us down. Just as well your mortgage is paid off, as means tested benefits are more helpful to renters.