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!

In someone's sick mind is only how that works. I don't believe I have read anything that reflects that.

Comments about how families of disabled children get more in benefits than a working family and how unfair it is.
For starters, they are not the same and should not be compared. A working family with no disabilities will be getting more than a non-working family with no disabilities. It is disingenuous to compare a working family with a non-working family with disabilities, because they are not on the same level.
But people compare apples and oranges, and focus on just the money.
A parent with a severely disabled child that is not working, wont be building up a career, a pension, possibly live a life where they have don't have any respite or friends. They are also at risk of burnout from caring... there is a shocking statistic about how many parents of disabled children have contemplated suicide. You sometimes see news articles about parents who have killed their child and then tried to take their own life.
They worry what is going to happen to their kid when they themselves are older/dead, and not there to care for them.
They would swap their kid's DLA in a heartbeat of it meant their kid was not in need of it to begin with.

But yeah... they should have their money stopped because working family that does not have to deal with the stuff I mentioned can't budget for a holiday.

Or me.

I’m also puzzled as to why there are so many families with only one parent being responsible for supporting the children, unless there are lots of widows and single adopters. I’m sorry but the system really seems to penalise moderate earning couples who live together to bring up their children. Comparing families with no disabled adults or children, like for like.

I think when in a situation of being single parent it can seem generous but when you do the maths its not making you rich. Its helping you and the children.
Paying bills/mortgage/rent on own is a lot. My bills are huge and no longer eligible for UC as I bought last year and it doesn't cover mortgage
Also look at the benefits of being on UC..As its not just the payment
Good luck

Well, quite. I have friends with a severely disabled child/teen who needs 24/7 care. I'm sure they are in receipt of bemefits of some sort, though I have never enquired. Going anywhere is a logistical feat, let alone on holiday (I think the most that extends to is going to stay with family). I really don't think people with severely disabled children going on too many holidays is really something to be worried about...

We are rewarding absent parents- it's crazy. It's win win for them.

The whole benefits system needs overhauling,to make it fairer , but I can’t see it happening, it’s too complex

Where has ANYONE commented on families with disabled children? Perhaps they have and I’ve missed it, but I certainly haven’t. And I never would. But, questioning the economic state of the country, asking how and why taxes are allocated is a key feature of democracy. Why wouldn’t people want to know how taxes in their own country are spent? If this thread shows anything it’s that most people, me included, don’t really know! I do not fully understand our current benefit and tax system and I will always question it, smart people do. But that has literally zero to do with “wishing” I had a disabled child or being “jealous” of people that do. That is a vile and baseless accusation.

I have recently applied and have just started receiving U C to top up my wages as I do not earn enough to cover all my bills and rent.I recently split up with my husband, i have 2 adult children at home,1 is disabled.I love my job,I work hard and also try to balance that with being home as much as possible to look after,guide and support my children. For every bit of overtime and any annual work bonuses I lose a certain amount of help from UC and make up the shortfall / go without/ adjust spending etc,it definitely should not be used for luxurious spends! Im grateful for the help im receiving and terrified i will lose it .

What a crass statement.

Who is jealous?

No one has said they wished for their child to have disabilities.

What in the world?

Wishing they had the money... but that money does come with conditions such as disabled kids.

I echo this.

An intelligent person will naturally be inquisitive and ask questions, especially given the context of the thread.

To insinuate that anyone would wish to have a disabled child is beyond the pale.

Who has specified they wish to have the money? Given the nature of the thread, many of us are naturally curious.

And is your husband’s contribution towards housing, feeding and clothing his children as much as yours? As much as when you lived together? If every couple on moderate incomes separated to bring up their children, think of the men with little financial penalties and the rise in benefits. Even if he is still earning the same, he will not be expected to support his children to the same level as previously. There is something really wrong with the system.

I am assuming your net take home is around £2,100 p/m, plus your £800 UC, plus £200 child benefit and then if the children’s father is paying at a guess £200 p/m, that’s equivalent of around £50k annual salary (gross). I think you need to quit your rage baiting.

We are not talking about how much a disabled person earns, stop trying to manipulate what I’m talking about. First of all I wasn’t even talking about disabled people, I was talking about the OP.
however if people are framing the question - do I think that benefits for carers and disabled people should allow them to go on holiday- I’m answering that no, I don’t think so. Holidays are nice to have but not a necessity.

Well, quite. They certainly shouldn’t be getting benefits to fund their holidays.

Yes - absolutely.

Given the fact that the OP is cash-strapped with a stingy ex-husband, perhaps she would save the money or put it towards enhancing her kids' futures.

Benefits are not for holidays. What is so hard to comprehend?

As I have said before, if someone on benefits can budget and afford a holiday then fair play to them.

No my husband is not contributing a penny as they are adults and is pleading his struggling financially even though he has chosen to move and rent privately in a much pricer area than where we had lived for over 26 years! He hasn't given me 1 penny and says he doesn't have to,we are in the cooling off period of divorce and im getting nowhere with him about finance etc,I agree the system is broken and needs changing but am grateful for the help and I will continue to work,pay tax ,not everyone on U C are lazy ,unfit etc Some of us have unfortunately gone through or are going through situations no fault of their own.I didn't ever think id be in this position over 50,working as much as I can ,marriage ending and bringing up 2 adult sons by myself, 1 having complex needs medically and learning difficulties.

Last time I checked though, DLA is disability living allowance not disability basics allowance. It can also be more expensive to go on holiday with some disabilities so I'm not against using it towards holidays.

What a trash ex-husband.

The system needs to clamp down on men like this.

Her kids are adults though. CMS would never force him to pay anything as they are not children.

But if they budget efficiently and not waste money then I wouldn’t begrudge them a holiday. If their money goes on stuff like booze, smoking, expensive food, subscriptions, then obviously there won’t be any money left over for holidays.