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!

@Holdonforsummer I totally understand. Its rubbish that senior nurses are not paid far more.

But thats ok because once her kids are old enough THEY can work and make up the loss instead of her trying to earn more… 🙄

Why do you have your own company if you can't afford staff wages? Would you not be better getting a job?

No there wouldn’t - the ex could pay 10K a month and the OP would still get UC. The system is so flawed

@Holdonforsummer I'm currently working as aband 4 but doing the nursing apprenticeship to go to band 5

Subject to tax free childcare scheme? So what, 20% off? It costs 25£ a day per child minimum for wraparound care. Would you have a spare £400 a month kicking around as a single parent on 31 grand a year?

I'm from here, whilst there are a lot of unemployed people (a lot by choice) your suggestion that jobs are not the norm is absolutely ridiculous.
Maybe you live amongst these people so have the idea that's it's normal but everyone I know works, a lot are on 35k and over, have nice homes, work in professional roles etc.

£800 a month? So £9600 a year?! What sort of caravan parks are you looking at that that won’t stretch to???

@Jk987 he has them to stay 2/3 times a week and pays a little towards them. I pay the lions share as I receive the.child benefit

If that's your only debt you generally live within your means.

As for generosity which of us here pays £800 a month in tax?

@Raccoonsmacaroons I really dont understand. That money is to help me raise my children out of poverty. Not a piggy bank for a blowout holiday

@MsGreying me! Sometime i see al.ost the same amount of money coming out of my wages as I get back. (I understand that the money out does not go there and there)

If the UC added to her income is enabling her to have a holiday then it is funded by the UC!

Right better spend some time with the kids before I get a bashing for that!! (Only joking)

£31k plus child benefit and maintenance is hardly poverty.
Also if you’re now renting I’m guessing ExH is in the marital home - can that not be sold so you could buy somewhere

Amazing! Good luck!

I'm one of them. Happy to help fund the OP.

The average salary in Redcar and Cleveland is £28,630, so I don't believe you know lots of people living in that area who are on over £35k, in that area.

The average household income in Middlesbrough is £20,700.

https://ukareastats.co.uk/area/redcar-and-cleveland/

Edit: That was an older link, the latest data suggests the average household income in Boro is now £23k p/a, which is still a far cry from lots of people earning £35k p/a. Jobs paying that in the Teesside/Redcar and Cleveland area are rare. They exist, but they are not the norm.

@MoonBaby1 Happy for you OP! I think UC is great because it's means based. What doesn't sit fine with me is DLA and PIP not being means based or atleast based on factual needs. If there is a cost involved it should be supported ofcourse but in many cases there aren't.

Me, I pay £1k in month in tax and no I’m not rich. I shop in Aldi out of necessity, drive a 10 year old. I’m definitely not rolling in it.

What! You are joking surely?
So your ex could be a high earner and actually want to provide for his children so give your say £3k a month and you can still claim UC?
The world’s gone mad.

It’s because parents (fathers let’s be honest) often stop paying with no warning.
Wind your neck in.

This.

And lots of fathers use CM as a tool to control and abuse women, which is why it is not counted in UC calculations.

I think it's mad you're getting £800 of taxpayers money EVERY MONTH when you're earning £31k. It's lunacy.

Surely not?