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!

Primary get paid the same as secondary in Scotland.

You’re right, it isn’t. DH and I earn about this so between us 120k. Tax is eye watering each month then we have student loans on top plus all the usual costs. We’re not eligible for any benefits, including child benefit. It’s rough. I’d be better off as a single parent claiming UC, at least I’d get FSM for DC and all the other niceties.

Not my experience. I live in the north. Went to a comprehensive school. All my friends have jobs, and the majority (in our late 30s/early 40s) earn more than £30k. Exceptions might be those who have chosen a lower paying easier job to fit around kids or have gone very part time.

My partner and I used to qualify for universal credit and we put it aside to pay for our skiing holidays.

TY taxpayers...

You and dh earn 120k and you think you would be better on uc because you would get fsm. How about you give me your wages il give you about £500 a month which is what uc would be and il pay for your kids packed lunch

You are so out of touch

I have the same point of view as her and I’m not a claimant.

So if you lose your job or become disabled or your child does then what. Life happens you can't control it

You tell me.

Council tax too.

Yeah. Right.

What about people with public sector pensions? Should they be allowed holidays while the taxpayer is forking out a similar amount each month to prop them up?

Either he paid tax or he didn't, it's not a grey area.

And it's well documented that he paid billions in tax.

It should be counted. It should be paid to the RP by the government, then reclaimed from the NRP. Not hard to understand. It wouldn’t work in a minority of cases, and there will be genuinely single parents, such as adopters, widows etc., to whom it couldn’t apply.

My husband thinks we get too much. Look at the separate elements on your award it does add up

As a single parent on a low wage, tax credits and UC have been a life line for my family after the children’s dad left us. He didn’t pay regular maintenance and it’s wrong better systems aren’t in place for getting the absent parent to pay.

UC is set to end next August when my youngest leaves education and after that I will be trying to run the house on just my single wage (under 26k) and probably still supporting my youngest for a while since they don’t magically have full time work the day they leave college.

This is why nursery workers are leaving the profession in droves - the wages in this industry are too low to live on. For many of my colleagues with partners theirs is just a top up wage to their higher earning partner.

We are now recieving over a £1,000 more in UC and other benefits now my child has DLA. I am focusing on building savings and reducing debt for a while. Why not do the same OP? We now at least have some breathing space for a while.

Be careful with building savings there is a limit. Op only has £60 of debt to pay off for after school club. Op is only talking a few nights in a caravan she's not going to the Bahamas

Yes, everyone does pay tax. If you look up benefits, majority of them are taxed before given to the claimant. For instance Carers Allowance is taxable.

Yeah I know. Being careful! We are going for a week's holiday in a caravan on the Isle of Wight. £500 still feels expensive!

🤣 As if!

I take it you’re not in a caring profession?

Its a lot but life raising a child with a disability can be unpredictable make the most of family time while you can.

I believe her i claim uc and saved it up and bought a helicopter just so I had something to park on my helipad of my new mansion it was just a waste of space otherwise

I saved my furlough pay to fund a successful round of IVF. That is actually true.