To think my universal credit feels generous.

[MoonBaby1]

I got to my early 40s without ever needing to claim but circumstances find me single and paying the lions share of child related outgoings.

I work full time on£31,000 and have found out this year thanks to applying that I get on average about £800 from UC. It has been an absolute life changer and will hopefully be able to afford a modest uk holiday actually during the summer holidays and pay the school back some debt im in for after school care.

So many benefits bashing threads so I just wanted to present another side that as a cash strapped mum of two who works full time, UC is making a positive difference to our life. I didn't even think id qualify!

Easy to think "work doesn't pay" due to the media-You are earning less than the national average/median wage hence eligibility. The amount you receive to then will depend upon your housing situation, and number of children living with you. So someone renting a 2 bed in a city centre will receive a different amount to someone renting elsewhere. But yes it makes a great difference to children in single income households. I hope you enjoy your holiday! It is important for children to see the actual benefits of working! To anyone who is confused about this- our earnings are subsidised by the govt to enable employers to keep wages low. To anyone saying oh you won't get it when your children leave education - that's not a problem! Support not needed then! You are surprised because this is such a long standing theme in the media - that only people who are feckless and out of work receive benefits. Total myth

I have two children, I don’t know if number of children makes a difference

YABU OP - you deserve it for the kids, stop beating yourself up! 🌺

Did you mean to say that women "churn out kids"?

Is that true? I was aware of people getting top up years ago without kids but I don’t know how it works now

Um hi. Fuck off.

The point I was badly making is that the north (the north east especially) has large pockets of extreme deprivation, if OP, or anyone else living in one of those areas managed to bring home £30k p/a obviously they would feel well off, but an average family living outside of those areas would struggle on that income.

And yes, there are some massive employers in the north and the NE. Nissan springs to mind in the NE, but there is also a lack of public transport, meaning people cannot always get to the places where there are opportunities unless they can afford to run a car.

To get to Nissan from where I live is a 2-hour (assuming the buses come on time or at all) trek involving a train and 2 buses. It is just not practical for someone who doesn't drive, particularly as the first bus would get you there after the typical day shift starting time.

Sorry, just seen that you have already told another poster that you haven't a clue.

Shouldn't you be earning more than what my early 20s DS makes in his grad job? Should UC be used for holiday?

According to who? There is no rule saying you need to be earning a certain amount by a certain age.
Some people never do anything more than NMW work, and that is ok because those jobs need doing.

I think it is way too generous, sorry.
The system has gone mad.

I do have a clue. Who subsidised council houses?

People can use their money for whatever they choose. And yes, it is their money.

I don't have a clue about some agency in England because I don't live there? Why WOULD i have a clue?

That poster is always on about her grad son, she appears to live in a bubble.

Currently looking at the VAST amount of money I have accrued to pay my taxes and fucking WISHING it was still my money. And it is my money, I earned it. But the government take it and……poof, it’s gone.

I wonder what she was earning in her early 20s then. I bet it was not £31k.

You're always on about this. What does he earn?

God forbid the children being taken to make memories instead! Wasteful underclass eh.

Doubtful.

Everyone pays taxes though...

It always confuses me how people bleat on and on about taxes, as if they are the only one paying them! We have all paid them since day dot.

people are free to leave and go somewhere with zero welfare system and much lower taxation.

so much moaning

I

I agree. They also chastise those in the lowest socio-economic positions for needing benefits. How many people chastise the multi millionaires or billionaires who pay NO tax in this country?? It’s classic scapegoating.

100% this. Savings for a raining day

Earned money you get from working (voluntarily transaction) is different to welfare which is forcibly taken against the payers will to give to others.