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Change in benefits for Lone Parents

225 replies

MsPontipine · 04/03/2008 14:09

I went to my annual LP advisor meeting at the JobCentre today - was rather stunned by the proposed but very likely changes.

It was a bit much to take in but basically by 2010 I think lone parents with youngest child 12 or older will no longer be able to claim Income Support on LP grounds and will be required to sign on and claim Jobseekers Allowance and look for work.

Another couple of years and that age will be reduced to 7.

There are various incentives, grants etc but that appears to be the long and short of it.

I was pretty stunned - mostly I think because this is the first I've heard of this. I am not an avid news watcher but I'm not a complete ostrich.

Food for thought. . . . . .

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KerryMum · 23/03/2008 14:50

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nappyaddict · 23/03/2008 14:57

Yes I do. Do you know it? I find it fine. I normally drop him off at 4:30 so he has his tea , plays for a bit then goes to bed. I either collect him first thing in the morning in his pjs (about 7am) or after work (11pm)

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 14:58

Is it a nursery or childminder nappy ??

Not sure i'd find one willing to take 3 kids overnight. Kids wouldn't be impressed either.

nappyaddict · 23/03/2008 14:59

childminder - didn't know there were night nurseries!

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 15:01

A nursery round here did start doing nights, but i don't think they got enough custom so stopped again.

pucca · 23/03/2008 15:05

I just think there are too many choices now a days, years ago, for example when my nan and grandad had my dad...there was NO help! no housing benefit, no income support, if no one worked no one had food. Old fashioned maybe, but thats how it was!

As i said earlier, my dh works...i don't, and i personally cannot wait to go back to work to feel like me again and be earning money, its about independence too, and self pride.

hercules1 · 23/03/2008 15:07

Finding before and after school care, holiday care etc is a reality of working today I'm afraid. I expect it would be incredibly hard to find work if you weren't prepared to use them like so many others do.

pucca · 23/03/2008 15:07

Oh and no, i am not a single mother, and hopefully never will be, but if i was, i would do my hardest to work, to not be a stereotype.

CrackerOfNuts · 23/03/2008 15:07
KerryMum · 23/03/2008 15:08

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jellybeans · 23/03/2008 16:33

Nutty don't listen to them. People love to sit and judge to feel better about their own situations (which they may not be totally sure of/happy with deep down). I am not a lone parent but can see the point about not wanting kids in after school clubs etc, I wouldn't want that for my kids, it should NOT be a luxury to pick your own kids up from school! Nor should someone be valued by their paid work status! It won't be long till the government insist that we should all work 50 hours a week while sticking our kids in nursery all day, there are 24 hr nurseries where I live.

TheAntiFlounce · 23/03/2008 17:03

yeah, see Pucca I said exactly all that 3 years ago. I would try to dig out my old posts but frankly I'm too ashamed of them.

TheAntiFlounce · 23/03/2008 17:03

Sod it, let's have a look

TheAntiFlounce · 23/03/2008 17:10

Nope, I'm not linking it, it's too embarrassing. I'm ashamed of my self for my lack of empathy.

Judy1234 · 23/03/2008 20:21

KM, of course I would. My sister cleaned. It's not beneath any of us. What's wrong with knocking on doors looking for work? I spend my life selling myself to keep my children. It's a constant marketing process. It's very hard work and often not fun. As for not quite liking children in after school clubs = only the idle poor have that luxury. The rest of us have to lump it whether we think it's good for children or not and no government will ever put any teeth into this so those on benefits really have nothing to worry about at all. They'll l just have to turn up to some pathetic meetings and pretending to be looking for work.

You can always get childcare because other mothers are looking for work (and men). You just advertise. Build up a relationship with that person, pick the best candidate etc. It's not that hard. But there's little incentive under the current system so I don't blame anyone who doesn't exploit the system.

KerryMum · 23/03/2008 20:39

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Judy1234 · 23/03/2008 20:42

If I had to I would have to. People's lives aren't always at the same level. People fall on hard times.

In a sense I do go door to door soliciting. It's the only way I eat. I'm not employed. Every day of my life I have to think of clever ways to solicit some business and if I fail we starve (except of course for the benefits option)

LBA · 23/03/2008 21:06

Ouch!

KerryMum · 23/03/2008 22:12

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Judy1234 · 23/03/2008 22:51

I'm not agains the welfare state. I think people would appreciate it more if they had to work more directly for it even if only in a token way however. People appreciate better what they work for. If I was in a wheelchair that would not stop me doing what I am doing. My father has lost his physical and mental capacity but he isn't really being helped by the state except in a fairly nominal way because he made provision for himself which doesn't seem very fair.

littlewoman · 27/03/2008 02:26

Slavery used to be 'the way it is' as well, but luckily people realised that was crap too. The welfare state is a humane and ethically correct idea. Unforunately people abuse it. This doesn't make it a bad idea.

piratecat · 27/03/2008 12:22

oh my fucking god.

I am so very glad that my 'working friends' who HAVE partners or dh's, are not so bloody narrow minded.

This is a LONE parents board. Where on w regular basis most of the women on here are battling to get a fucking tenner a week out of their ex's. These are men who 'done one' and left them in a complete mess.

These women often have noone to ask for help, and can't even go out to the shops, or to a bloody cafe for a coffee and have no time for themselves, let alone money.

Don't you think its rather harsh to be so judgemental. What about if you live in the back of beyong, in a run down area, are in social housing suddenly (like me, whereas I used to own a home in london)

How dare you generalise, you narrow minded women. Most of us are bloody battling with near poverty, and with kids who are emotionally and mentally tainted by lack of visitation, or concern from thier fathers.

£175 a week, was mentioned. If you are lucky enough to have cheaper housing, then maybe you could manage on that. Yet most single mums are struggling in over priced accomadation, and having to pay out of our measly allowance, food and utilites allowance towards out rent.

You know what, not ONE person on here went and had a baby with a man they loved for an easy life, for some sort of a laugh.

littlewoman · 01/04/2008 01:52

Hear hear Piratecat! ('Done one' - pissing myself laughing. It's just like being at home).

littlewoman · 01/04/2008 01:54

I meant the language was funny - not that 'doing one' was a funny thing to do. Don't slate me!

wooga · 01/04/2008 10:05

Well said Piratecat!

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