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!

hence my point about employers not paying proper wages

She said earlier in the thread she is a band 4 so would be on less than a newly qualified nurse who would start on a band 5. I think she said she is a Nursing associate which would be a band 4. Lots of people refer to all grades as Nurses.

Over 2K a month in benefits plus a 30K a year salary. Absolutely shocking.

They are band 4 and doing a nursing apprenticeship to put them up to band 5. Nowhere did they say they have been a nurse for 20 years.

I did gasp when I calculated the figures.

I believe the OP wanted to express how generous the benefits system is.

I have every sympathy for coping with disabled children but to be earning a salary of circa 35K and then over 2K on top, something is not right there. Fair enough if as a parent you can't work but that supplement is ridiculous.

So you think people should be paid more….because they think they should be? No actual economic facts to back that up? And I say again, the stats don’t support the narrative that businesses don’t pay enough because hardly anyone claiming is working full time?

I'm intrigued to see how DWP churn these figures.

Now, I understand why some individuals choose not to work altogether. The perks are perking.

I'm failing to understand this, too.

😆 🤣 nice isn't it when it's other people footing the bill.

DLA isn't means tested and obviously getting it for 2 children, especially if medium/higher rates will up it quite a bit too.

It doesn’t say that anywhere but OBVIOUSLY the benefits are originally meant as safety net. If someone has enough money that the UC amount is used on holidays, then they don’t need safety net. Because a holiday is not a necessity.
the fact that recipients now think that it’s a bonus and should be a levelling tool for nice to have things is a problem

Well, it's no surprise the country is where it is today.

I echo your thoughts and raised the fact that perhaps the OP isn't cash-strapped.

So should it be means tested? I suppose its a difficult one when it's disability related and the pp mentioned one severely disabled adult child.

Some have more than two getting DLA , which, with other benefits will mean their income is way over what working people get.

I think holidays for disabled and carers should be provided by charities. Or gofundme. There are a lot of working people who are not on benefits who can’t afford a holiday. What about them?

this country can’t afford for benefits to provide same lifestyle as higher earners. They are supposed to be a safety net, not a tool of “let’s make life fair.”

The disability elements of Uc can add up to massive amounts if on higher rate DLA and then if more than one disabled child each parent can claim a carers element each even if both working which will add another £400+ onto the total Uc claim. then when there are kids on a claim around £700 of earnings( if they don't claim help with rent) is completely disregarded before the money is taken off for earnings and even then it is a very generous taper rate allegedly to make work pay. So you can see how people end up getting their wages and then significant amounts of Uc on top as well as the actual DLA which can be up to £750 per child every four weeks if on higher rates. I personally think there should be some kind of cap on the amount but it won't happen.

A go fund me 🤣🤣🤣 how the hell much do you think a disabled person gets on benefits. You think they get the same as a high earner. Pip is anywhere from £120 a month to £700 and something. If you're working full time and can't afford a holiday and someone on benefits who earns less then you can that says a lot about your spending habits. If i start a go fund me now for a holiday as its been over 10 years since I've been on one and I have a life limiting rare congenital condition how much will you donate for me?

They have disabled kids though. Some will need a high level of support for the rest of their life.

Maybe the working people who can't afford holidays should get them funded by charities or GoFundMe too.

Yep, for the sweet cash and "free" car.

I don't think it should. Caring for 2+ disabled children is hardly living the high life.