Do you feel bad for receiving a ‘high amount’ of UC?

[AnotherNameChange1233]

Last week I went to my local Children’s Centre and attended a Citizen’s Advice group that runs once a week.

As long as you’re registered to the Children Centre, you can turn up for any advice needed. Some people want privacy so they go into a side room with the advisor and some parents may help other parents if they’ve been in a similar situation/can offer the correct advice. It’s also like a social group for parents, hopefully you get the jist of it.

On the table I was sitting on, one parent was trying to get her head around UC as she didn’t quite understand LHA rates, how DLA impacts UC and what elements she would be entitled too. Anyway, I started speaking about my experience with DLA, UC and offered to log into my UC account if it was easier for her to look at the breakdown visually (instead of me talking and complicating things). I also got her postcode to explain how the LHA rates work and etc.

Another parent suddenly spoke up and said, ‘don’t you feel bad for claiming that much money?’ She wasn’t argumentative or anything and we had an interesting conversation but it made me think, are people like me supposed to feel bad when receiving a certain amount?

She also said something like (I’m paraphrasing here as I can’t remember it exactly word for word) if people can’t afford their rent then they should move to a more affordable area. I raised the point of Landlords purchasing properties as part of the Right to Buy scheme, charging extortionate rent which taxpayers then pay through UC. Surely, it’s more a problem that there isn’t affordable rental properties in many areas.

For full transparency, I’m going to mention all of my UC amounts and wonder if people that claim similar, feel bad?

• 292 single person allowance
• 1450 private rent
• 539 for 2 children
• 293 for 2 disabled children
• 589 childcare costs
• 189 carer

£216 is deducted from my entitlement due to my wages. That means my UC amount is £3133. My wages is £771. I receive two amounts of MRC through DLA which is £580 all together.

Now that I’ve written it down, it seems like a whole lot of money but the costs that come with raising one of my disabled children (the other still costs a lot, but not as much as the other) is through the roof due to their issues

I haven’t dodged the question. I have very clear said that I will not be answering the question at all. It truly has nothing to do with my original post. This is the last time I’ll even acknowledge this

Thank you, I didn't realise that's what this was. Bit perplexed by the system to be honest. Sounds like a right old mess.

I don't understand how you can possibly say this. I had a friend when I was younger with Down's syndrome. She married a guy also with learning disabilities and they have lived a happy life together in their own flat with support. Op may always have to provide some level of support but there are lots of supported living schemes around which enable people with learning difficulties to live semi independent lives away from parents.

@Babyroobs you understand disabilities can affect each individual differently right?

Like two people could have the same thing but one could live pretty independently and live a relatively normal life whereas the other may require constant care and will never live independently..

There are 4 Children Centre’s in my borough. There are also 3 One O’Clock Clubs. These places are very much booked and busy everytime I go so I have no clue why you think they no longer exist. If you think the thread is to wind people up then that’s on you. Feel free to report the post to MN

539 for 2 children; 293 for 2 disabled children; 589 childcare costs; 189 carer

All those quoted payments are for your children, not you. They only go into your bank account because children can't make their own spending decisions.

I would be one of those people, and quite thankful to be able to. I know that OP is not the reason that I'm not as "affluent" as folk in my wee bracket now appear entitled to be.

Also really thankful that life has not jaded me and turned me into the kind of unfeeling person who upon reading:

P/T working single mum of two disabled kids faced with ever increasing rent payments...

immediately jumps to thinking...well, isn't her life idyllic.

I don't envy anybody with two disabled children and I can't imagine how difficult your life is and the fact that this wasn't what you thought you signed up for when you had children. But I really believe in the US system where "deadbeat" dads can go to prison for a not insubstantial time.

and?? so ????
That's how the system works.

@Creamandtan when she had a seizure in public (and generally lost control of her bladder too) people would look at her like she was a piece of dirt.

Treat her with scorn and disdain. Be disgusted by her. Assume she was drunk or on drugs.

Stepped over, ignored, not offered first aid.

At least with asthma people are likely to have an idea of what's wrong with you and try and help. Not cross the road to avoid you.

You must be in a really, really bad place if you wish to have epilepsy for an extra £800 a month. Perhaps you should talk to someone IRL?

I've lived without my mum for almost 40 years. No amount of money is a replacement for her.

I’d be on more than that. As I said, I had a very good career in Logistics was was close to promotion. You also forgot to remove the £580 from DLA

I guess if anyone wants to take on your 2 kids and their disabilities, and appointments, and let you go back to work full time, then they should form a disorderly q to the left. Having 2 kids with additional needs and all that comes with that, is not a life anyone would choose for themselves or their kiddies. The benefits system is geared not to be great, so I have no doubt you are not milking the system and you are getting legally and fairly all you are permitted to get. I truly think you are amazing and wish you and your kids well. There is no jealously or money envy here, you have lost something money cant buy, your life, your freedom, the lives your kids should have had and watching them grow up to be adults flying the nest and having lives of their own in the way most children will. 🌻

Not all learning difficulties are the same. There will be people with the same diagnosis who present with mild learning disability or with severe learning disability. In the case of Down's, some may have considerable associated health issues, while some may be physically robust.

This is why DLA and PIP are assessed on needs, rather than blanket diagnosis.

@AnotherNameChange1233 because the government closed 100% of Surestart children's centres down. There is no such thing as a children's centre in my area anymore. Hence I wonder if you're just making this all up.

Yes of course but the poster I was replying to was assuming that op would always be caring for her kids. no one can say that without knowing the extent of the disability.

It's hardly the same if you have disabled children and can't work.

Tbh they are saving the Government a fortune being a carer.

MMmmm She will probably have the option for auto enrolment AND could be be putting in additional AVC to pension with NO EFFECT to UC...Even increasing UC amount. Perfectly within the rules

Are your kids disabled though?

If not there is no comparison is there.

Because where would her disabled children to leave? Who will feed and clothe them and provide the care they need if not?

Why begrudge it? Would you want to sacrifice your life to care for
2 disabled children? I imagine it would be soul destroying and very very hard.

The money is provide for the children, are you begrudging disabled children this?

Well maybe you're not as professional as you think, particularly as your brain doesn't seem to stretch to the nuances involved.

Where did I moan? I had absolutely no clue that I was an the incorrect tax code until a few posters pointed that out to me. Do you really think I’ll carry on incorrectly paying tax so that spuddy4 approves of my decision? This is my thread so you’ve stepped into the room, I don’t need to ‘read the room.’ If you don’t understand the point of the thread then you’re not in a position to answer my very clear question

The government could force deadbeat dads to pay for their kids for a start.

This is not only worth repeating, it's worth repeating in big letters. Take it out of the feckless scrotes' pay cheques directly if they won't pay.

Would you rather have disabled children?

Some goady Conservative Home arsehole is behind the original post which, as at least one previous poster has pointed out, doesn't ring true. The amount the OP claims to be getting in benefits has to be either an anomaly or a cynical dogwhistle in the run-up to elections. Desperate Tories shitting themselves about the massive losses they'll suffer tomorrow and in the General Election. (Couldn't happen to a better party.) Divide and rule, their nasty little motto, and far too many reactionary voters still willing to vote for them based on the kind of uninformed resentment stoked here. This thread is pathetic.

She's not got much of a workplace pension on that wage though, has she?