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!

This thread isn’t going to go well for you, OP.

I don't know if anyone can advise better as I've never done it but what about the sun newspaper holiday thing.

if its more capitalist then its back to the victorian era,

basically universial basic income system and or a new economic system or patched up version of the current system.

overall if companies don't pay proper wages then how can people then use part of their wages to spend at other companies ?

Also this is from google :

The core paradox you’ve identified that low wages destroy the consumer base for other businesses is a major reason why many economists and futurists now view Universal Basic Income (UBI) not just as welfare, but as an economic lifeline. Without a foundational income, a highly un-regulated, "hyper-capitalist" system risks devolving into severe wealth inequality similar to the Victorian era.

Even if the father is contributing the OP would still get the same amount of UC

A tapered minimum wage based on profit margins. If you're a small company, the company itself can claim tax credits towards paying a living wage. If you're Amazon and you put your hand out for top-ups, you can get to fuck (and also start paying your taxes).

Benefits are not for holidays?

But if that's what you're entitled to then get it I say.
But if you're skirting on being in debt, I'd say put the money away for the next unexpected bill that comes along as they always do when least afford it! Maybe have a holiday later when have a bit of a cushion.

Oh yes, that too.
I knew a family that went on a caravan holiday in Cornwall for £9 using the Sun vouchers.

Never going to happen.

i know someone who gets £1000 a month from the dad, £800 in UC and works part time. They have much more disposal income than me who works full time.

My ex is not in receipt of any uc and he does pay towards his children. He is on about the same wage as me but has never claimed uc.

thats the fault of modern businesses for paying crap wages

My friend books our holidays relatively cheaply. She uses Seaside Travel and Caledonian, depending on whether we're going to the UK or abroad.

We've just booked 5 days in Mallorca, all-inclusive for £480 pp; however, we don't have school-aged children.

To whomever said that people shouldn't have families if they're not earning enough.. we spent the last 12 years raising children very modestly but not recieving uc. I became.single and claimed and recived. I did not poorly pla. Anything. Life happens be that break ups, disabilities, deaths and illness.

Maintenance isn't taken into account when calculating UC.

I get very little from their Dad due to him also being a low earner.

BTW thanks f9r all the caravan holiday advice!

I think I am missing something - you are posting that British tax payers are funding your holiday and that’s a postive spin on universal credit?

You’re entitled to it, so you can do what you like with it.

A lot of people who have to claim don’t want to, of course you get the people who take the piss.

Don’t feel bad for spending it on a holiday it’s your money. I think people forget it’s capped at around 40K I think for a single income household with kids, likewise you can have savings but that’s another debate where people will say ‘if you can save you don’t need UC’

If you earnt more you wouldn’t need it, if you had a second income you wouldn’t need it, but you do.. so you do with that money what you want, you work full time and still deserve to have a bit more freedom regardless!

it puts the money back into the economy

I do understand what you are saying op i was working full time then got covid really bad (hospitalised for weeks) and it triggered my rare congenital disorder that had been stable for years. I was off work for months and had to reduce my hours to part time and claim benefits in that period of time we didn't have enough money to cover the mortgage, bills, food etc then when we finally started receiving benefits it was such a difference not that we where suddenly rich or even well off but it meant we could actually afford to live again have the heating on eat a decent meal and buy new shoes and everything else we had been putting off for months. That little bit extra is completely life changing when you've been unexpectedly left in a situation due to health, breakdown of a relationship or an unexpected death.

So your total income is around £3k per month, after tax and rent is a third of income which is a good metric. On those figures I can see why you feel you are able to live reasonably well.

I'm pleased that you working is giving you a decent lifestyle..remember you are also paying into a pension which will be a great asset when you are older.

Only potential is that UC will reduce when children reach 18

I'm pretty sure OP has just realised the holiday is not quite as affordable as she first believed.

Also, her idea of having a generous amount of benefits seems to be that she can live without being in debt to the school and can afford to clothe her children. Those things should not be seen as unaffordable luxuries for someone working full-time. They should not be seen as unaffordable for anyone living in a developed nation in 2026. The fact that they are is depressing.

I blame Tony Blair for bringing in "in work benefits" in the first place & not seeing the knock on consequences. Need at the time because there were children in working families living in poverty, but I bet you could nicely chart the rise of working families in receipt of benefits with the UK's productivity slump. No incentives for companies to invest in finding more effective ways of working so they can pay higher wages, when they can cheaply employ people and the low salary isn't a turn off because the state will top it up.

Sorry mumsnetHQ Why is my post on spending up on food, rent, afterschool care etc been hidden?

sometimes its key words that auto gets blanked i think its like an ai thingy