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Universal credit. Joke!

211 replies

Mo3gic · 28/11/2019 18:53

So my partner works, we have 3 girls and receive universal credit. I can not believe how much of a joke this system is. “We make it easier to work” is their crap logo. They don’t! My partner works 24hours per week, if he goes over this they deduct it from UC. My partners wages literally pay for the car finance, and car expenses. He’s left with £50 to go towards any bills or shopping. So all the bills get paid from UC. This month is our last payment before Xmas. Once we have paid our rent bills. We are left with £14! That’s right. £14! To buy gas and electric for the month as we are on prepayment metres. To pay for my bus fare to take girls to school. And to buy shopping for a month for 5 people. Then let’s not forget Xmas is around the corner. We can’t even afford to buy the girls presents. I could say to my partner go work as many hours as you can, but then they will deduct it all from UC, which you think well he’s earned it back anyway. No because then work tax him so he loses quite a bit. But then UC decide oh no he’s earned too much this month so we will close your account down as your not entitled to it. So then we get nothing of them, and what my partner has earned isn’t even to cover the rent. Just frustrated with the crap system. I’m trying desperately to get job, I get interviews but then don’t succeed in securing the job. Then childcare is an issue as there isn’t really any childminders at the school and the schools childcare doesn’t have spaces. Is this just me or is anyone else in the same boat? I real feel like I’m losing the will to carry on, just everyday scrimping and scraping, trying to pay bills and put food on the table. We have never used a food bank but it’s really getting to the point we’re going to have to.

OP posts:
ChloeDecker · 29/11/2019 14:57

The thought that I would never get to see my child's nativity because work work work..
Using a child’s nativity play (not all schools have them by the way) as an excuse not to work is just daft. And the wide eyed ‘shock’ about parents getting time off work (yes, you can just book an hour or two off work as annual leave or TOIL etc) or arranging alternatives if annual leave not possible, such as teachers, is what most people do.

You are a walking/talking example of exactly what TheRightHonerable is talking about. Providing non existent issues as excuses to justify not working for a living.

LoopyLuck · 29/11/2019 15:05

Using a child’s nativity play (not all schools have them by the way) as an excuse not to work is just daft. And the wide eyed ‘shock’ about parents getting time off work (yes, you can just book an hour or two off work as annual leave or TOIL etc)

Genuinely was shocked, all I ever seem to hear as I said is working parents moaning they can't get time off to do XYZ for their kid to do with school, so you know excuse me for being shocked that that's not the case when everyone acts like it's so bloody hard

Where did I say a nativity play was an excuse not to work? Just commenting on how difficult it is to do all those types of things and still work full time, even if it means missing out on walking to and from school with LO or whatever. Not everyone values the same thing, walking to school with a parent is emotionally important to some

LoopyLuck · 29/11/2019 15:06

You are a walking/talking example of exactly what TheRightHonerable is talking about. Providing non existent issues as excuses to justify not working for a living.

How so? I don't work but my partner does, I'm a student.

changeforprivacy · 29/11/2019 15:08

all I ever seem to hear as I said is working parents moaning they can't get time off to do XYZ for their kid to do with school, so you know excuse me for being shocked that that's not the case when everyone acts like it's so bloody hard

That's because people don't post 'oh I got the time off' or 'ooo I took a days leave'

You only see the complaints.

I have never posted 'i managed to attended a school event this week because I work on Sunday's so I get a weekday off' or 'I swapped shift with Sandra so I could go to the nativity'

It happened many many times thanks Sandra but people don't post about boring shit, they just post the moans.

LoopyLuck · 29/11/2019 15:10

Well that's great to know then, I wasn't aware! I'm not trying to justify not working for a living, I'm just saying that I don't think both parents working themselves into the ground full time is ideal either, even if it means you have money it can be at the expense of other things which is sad.

Stegosaurus1990 · 29/11/2019 15:16

There’s a world of difference between working yourself into the ground and atleast one parent working FT... I don’t think OP or her partner are in any danger of working themselves into the ground given the work ethic OP has described...

helpmum2003 · 29/11/2019 15:27

The OP must be a joke NB surely? If not no sympathy.

LoopyLuck · 29/11/2019 15:29

There’s a world of difference between working yourself into the ground and atleast one parent working FT... I don’t think OP or her partner are in any danger of working themselves into the ground given the work ethic OP has described...*

I haven't said one shouldnt work full time or one FT and the other PT, my comments about both parents full time working and the difficulties that can bring were general

Stegosaurus1990 · 29/11/2019 16:19

Life is a difficult balance full stop. That doesn’t mean the state should support you.

Chattybum · 29/11/2019 16:36

Life for human beings had always been a difficult balance, as it it for pretty much every living thing on this planet! I honestly don't understand when we decided it wasn't or shouldn't be the case? Yes it's lovely that we live in a society that supports the most vulnerable and I'm happy that we are prosperous enough to do this. But it isn't a silver bullet and it relies on us all pulling together and contributing for us to be able to provide even a basic safety net. If the balance tips too far and more people take than give, the whole system gets put a risk. I'm still amazed that almost half the working population pay no income tax at all. No wonder the system is creaking under the strain.

ChloeDecker · 29/11/2019 17:53

You are a walking/talking example of exactly what TheRightHonerable is talking about. Providing non existent issues as excuses to justify not working for a living.

How so? I don't work but my partner does, I'm a student.

Students work too you know? Completely proving the above point. Using issues like ‘not getting the time off’ to justify not working, as per everything you have written so far, is the general point being made. The pithy ‘oh isn’t it so sad not to spend the time with your children’ when it would be much more honest to say, ‘I don’t work’ and stop there. Nothing bad about not working if your family can manage but it is unreasonable to use imaginary excuses to justify it, especially if a family is struggling as a result, is the point being made (and some of your comments highlighted this)

ivykaty44 · 29/11/2019 18:40

Surely you would be financially better of if you both worked part time opposite each other in terms of hours?

That way you could both look after the children without the need for child care and you’d make full use of your tax allowence if 12.500 each / so 25000 tax free earnings

Booboosweet · 29/11/2019 22:24

I can't afford not to work full time. I don't feel I miss out on anything. When you're child is 18 they won't mind about who walked them home etc..., they will want to know if you can pay for college and if you've saved for them. That's what you're supposed to do as a parent. Providing for children's material needs come first.

heartsonacake · 29/11/2019 22:35

Universal Credit is not a joke, and it’s not the issue here. Your poor lifestyle choices have caused the mess you are in.

You shouldn’t have had children you can’t afford, you don’t need a car on finance or sky tv, and you should both be working full time.

Benefits are a top up, not to be lived on.

Pinkstrawberryjam · 30/11/2019 06:52

Yes I agree with BooBoosweet about your children not missing out when you are are working parent.

We have managed to go to most school events, shared between dh and I, sometimes we can both go. Mine walk home with me from after school care anyway, just an hour later after having a nice play with their friends. I don’t see them missing out at all and we have less financial strain which is better for dc.

Dontdisturbmenow · 30/11/2019 07:04

OP, I would greatly advised that you don't think of your situation as it is presenting now but also the future. It is so easy to make choices that make your life easier and more enjoyable at the present time and ignoring the future.

The future will come much quicker than you think though. Working is not just about bringing as much money right now so you can get nice cars, entertainement, holidays etc..., it's also about an investment to a better life in the future. If you work FT on a low income, you have a much much better chance to see yourself in a much better paying role in 10 or 20 years time, of course assuming you show dedication to your job and constantly look at opportunities to get promotions, internally and externally.

The way you are considering your life, you are maximising your current income, but each year your OH is working minimum hours and you are not working, you are loosing quite a few thousands of opportunity income for your future.

I became a single mum of two toddlers in the early 2000s. It was quite a good time to be a mum on benefits then when you owned your hours, interests for the house paid, and no need to look for a job until the youngest was 12, and tax credits that were quite generous. A number of single friends I became friends with opted for this option and yes, it was tempting at times when I spent so little time with my kids and I was always stressed and exhausted, but I didn't.

It's now 18 years later and I am so grateful. I have a very good job, that pays very well. I moved up 4 salary bands since then. I have been able to offer many things that have helped my kids, activities, driving lessons, travelling to visits uni so they could make the right choice for them etc...

I am now in a comfortable situation, a nice house, nice cars, lovely holidays, can treat myself to more or less what I want, and support my kids through Uni. I have a good pension so I know I will be ok after retirement. I have no financial worries.

My friends who opted to be single mums are now the ones wishing they'd made different choices. The minute their kids left home, went tax credits and maintenance and they found themselves with very little income. They have had to go from not working, to working pt, to working FT and the adjustments have been very tough on them. They find working FT much harder than me because I don't know any different. Their lifestyle has taken a deep dive and they are having to budget for everything. Worse, they have nothing to hold on to to make the future brighter except for trying to meet a good man with a good income.

This is the safest aspect of this opting to live on benefits lifestyle. Families are only able to afford a decent life on them because of their kids. The moment the kids go and everything goes with it. It is such a risky choice of life, after all, there will likely be more years to come without kids than there are with them.

flirtygirl · 30/11/2019 12:53

It depends on the job, the level etc as to whether your children miss out or not.

Some people have flexible jobs, low paid or not but flexible.

Others may be senior and still have no flexibility. Others work all hours and have no flexibility.

So in some situations working is detrimental for the children but so is being homeless and having no food.

Stegosaurus1990 · 30/11/2019 13:19

Living in poverty can surely not be compared to parents missing out on school plays Hmm

Both my parents worked FT and I went to a childminder. As do many working families. I’m not scared for life.

PlatoAteMySnozcumber · 30/11/2019 14:20

Jesus, a poster can’t possibly fathom how someone might arrange some time off work to attend an event... seriously?! Is work really that foreign a concept to some people?

Personally, I think it is a huge benefit to your children to have a pretty good understanding of how life and systems operate so you can help them navigate the world. It’s our job to educate our children so it helps if we have some knowledge, experiences and have achieved things ourselves. Child rearing extends far beyond looking after toddlers before they go to school and IMO the latter years benefit from some world experience.

Drabarni · 30/11/2019 14:25

There is nothing wrong with what you are doing OP, there are a lot of conservatives on here, who have no idea what it's like not to be bloody rich, they should just fuck off.

I know where you are coming from and it is like being trapped, work enough hours and you can't afford to live when you take into consideration childcare.
It's ok for these to say they both work ft , but this is a choice for many, not necessity. Yet, they get on their high horse about benefits and how their way is best.
If employers were made to pay a decent wage, not the crap living wage we wouldn't need top ups.
Hoping it gets better soon OP,

MaButterface · 30/11/2019 14:49

Drabarni, you are full of shit. It is advise like yours that will make people like OP be stuck in a vicious benefit cycle that they can't get out of. If I had chosen to live on the dole a few years ago I'd still be on it today. Instead I wore my big girls pants and got a job and it has worked out well. And if everyone follows your advise, who will pay for it? The people you despise for being successful and pay high tax for people like you and OP?

Drabarni · 30/11/2019 14:57

I rest my case.
Do you understand tc and UC. I guess not from your post.
So DFOD and take your big girl pants with you.

heartsonacake · 30/11/2019 15:07

If employers were made to pay a decent wage

Drabarni Stop passing on the responsibility to someone else. OP is in this situation because she isn’t living within her means (car on finance, sky tv, more children than she can afford etc. etc.). This isn’t due to her employers, not least because she doesn’t even have any, or anyone else.

It is down to OPs poor lifestyle choices.

Ylvamoon · 30/11/2019 15:17

Drabarni - wow i just wish woking FT was a choice for DH and me. Oh yes it is! One just works 24 hours and the other is a SAHP. We can safely claim UC.
I get free food from the food bank and moan on MN that I can't afford DC Christmas, Birthdays and School Trips. I than tell everyone that going on holiday is a luxury and days out are a walk around the corner to the local park.
Obviously my home will be spotless and I can see my children every day. I play old fashioned board games as we can only afford electric on a weekend....

Ylvamoon · 30/11/2019 15:17

(Sorry if i offended anyone who is genuinely on benefits, but this thread called for some sarcasm.)

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