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 think 50 years ago OPs children would have been put in an institution with nurses, canteen etc, and that would be more expensive and the outcomes for the children are probably worse.

although paying mahoosive amounts of money in benefits seems crazy, it’s cheaper and easier to do for the government than to run tonnes of children’s homes.

But you can’t just do that in isolation. The sen system in schools is so bad at the minute, there’s thread after thread about issues in mainstream schools, it’s extremely difficult and time consuming to get an ehcp even if child has obvious needs, and a lack of special school places. A lot of parents of disabled children I know have had to give up work as there child has ended up with no school place for an extended period or for ones in an unsuitable school the school ring and expect parents to collect at drop of a hat if there are issues and most jobs just won’t be that flexible. Then there’s the issue of childcare for school age disabled children which is virtually non existent, an sen specialist holiday club near us charges around £150 a day, the la will provide 5 days a year in summer but it’s expensive for a working parent to pay, and it’s not like nursery where it’s a few years only this will often be for the entire length of childhood. I’m lucky as I do still work full time but it’s only because we have one disabled child to juggle, my dh and me work opposite ends of schools day and i do have my dm who helps out in holiday. However I am right on the edge of managing, I’ve asked things on mn before about various things and people have commented my situation sounds precarious and I don’t have a back up plan which is true, our situation was to change then I wouldn’t be able to work at all

If you discount rent and benefits that are for the children, op is only getting £292 per month plus £700 wages.

It’s interesting that those who have their hands in the governments pocket to subsidise their families are the same who bleat on about ‘private school parents who can afford the vat’. Both topics create a very polarised debate. One group, however, self funds at every twist and turn and is roundly hated by society, the other expects heavy subsidies and sympathy. What a shambolic and disgusting mess.

Perhaps if one can’t cover the costs of child rearing - they shouldn’t become a parent at all?

That’s fine until you have a child with disabilities and find there’s no school place suitable for them, no childcare provision they can attend. After age 12 there’s minimal childcare available and many disabled children need childcare into their teens because they can’t safely be left at home - so again working full time can be challenging if not impossible.

At one point my DD had 7 different health specialisms working with her with associated appointments across 4 hospitals and three health boards - so nothing was coordinated. In terms of working life that’s a very different prospect to having a child that can access mainstream nursery, school and wrap around provision that most people rely on to work.

And that’s before you consider the sheer amount of paperwork, admin and advocacy to get the smallest amount of support for your child, not to mention the constant adjustments you need to make for caring for a child with complex needs.

I don’t think disabled child always means being unable to work but it does take a lot of coordination and for the stars to align just so to make the pieces all fit. It’s a completely different prospect to having a child with no disability in terms of time and cost.

You are receiving what you are entitled to. It must be extremely difficult raising children with serious disabilities and your benefits reflect that. That is exactly what they are for.

The problem is too many people are choosing benefits over working. My friend works a low paid part-time job despite being an experienced qualified teacher. She could easily do supply teaching on her days off to make up the short-fall but would rather receive UC instead and have the time to herself (she shares custody 50:50).

I do think our benefit system needs looking at but don’t think you are the problem!

Some people can get wheelchairs but not all it’s assessed, not everyone thst needs a wheel chair will he getting one, especially children

Agree 💯 this is what am trying to say but you've explained it better than me 😁

The real scandal is the amount of tax payers money lining private landlords pockets. I will never understand why we’ve allowed it to go on the way it has. Of course you shouldn’t feel bad. You wouldn’t claim less than you’re entitled to would you?

Slightly off topic. Benefits are measly unless you get the disability top ups. The system was designed at a time when disability looked very different to what is recognised now. A serious conversation does need to be had about how we work it going forwards. But that absolutely should not involve punitive measures, making sick people who can’t access treatment feel it’s their fault, and refusing to ever challenge one size fits all workplaces.

UC never solved the benefits issue.

One major difference now is anyone with savings is made to use that to live on or benefits are tapered because of it. You can still save into a pension, children's isa and help2save.

Another difference is rent cap and benefit cap.

The system was never going to be fixed first try. It would lose far too many votes from people on benefits and the people sticking up for the perceived injustices in society.

LL's over the years have been hammered. It was a knee jerk re-action to slum/rogue landlords with no thought given to effect on housing stock. Again partially fueled by public pressure and vote chasing.

You cannot keep raising MNW and taxing the wealthy. It may be a vote winner , its not good economics.

Nothing wrong with using the system as it stands. When its changes the haters will just direct there hate somewhere else lol

The rent is the issue. A private landlord is laughing all the way to the bank with nearly £17.5k of taxpayers’ money every year. I don’t understand how that can happen.

I don’t think the op has done anything wrong. She is in a difficult position with 2 disabled dc on her own and she even manages to work. Yes she needs state help. I just can’t understand how that ends up with nearly £17.5k per year in a private landlord’s pocket.

Yes it's a lot of money @AnotherNameChange1233 but you have a high rent amount and also 2 disabled children to factor into the mix. As soon as someone says disabled child the price of things skyrockets. I know this may not be your children's need op but my family member has to use nappies for their oldest and Nappies for disabled children are expensive and you are restricted in the number prescribed (equates to 5 a day so screwed if accidents occur) so if buying more it's £££. A Sen buggy is an absolute fortune but needed to get out and about, sensory toys are also expensive. It's like children and indeed adults are penalised for being disabled.
So please do not feel bad about claiming what you are entitled to claim. If you weren't entitled to it you wouldnt have it

Do you not get dla? We both work full time so aren’t entitled to means tested benefits but we get dla of about £400 every 4 weeks on middle rate care and lower rate mobility if your child is severely disabled you’d get a higher rate

Tax disincentivises at the top end too. You get taxed to fuck if you earn £100k-£125k. So the consultants would rather not take shifts that push them into that bracket so they and sit in the garden or play golf rather than work more just to hand it right back to the government. And I don’t blame them. Slow hand clap there.

You can't choose benefits over working unless your child is under the age of 3. It's now a requirement for single parents to work 30 hours a week minimum if your child is over 3.

Oh for god sakes!!!!! I wish people would read posts and apply common sense when reading them. Am NOT saying OP is lucky for having disabled children 🙄 am trying to say (thou not very well probably) is that she is lucky to be in the UK and receive the benefits she gets......not sure other countries provide the same support.

It happens because there isn't enough social housing, the Tories sold it off but didn't replace the housing stock. So councils have to pay private landlords to house people. It's not the landlords' fault either that rents are so high – that's down to economic and market forces over the past few decades that have sent house prices spiralling and made mortgages cost more. The only solution is building more affordable housing. Where I live in London, developers get planning permission for flats on the proviso that so many units will be social housing. Then the flats go up and lo and behold, the % of social housing has shrunk to a bare minimum and the council doesn't do anything about it. It's a total racket.

OPs children have disabilities! That’s why the amount is higher.

Im in a two-parent household with DH working full-time, myself working part-time. I receive about £850 a month tax-free for DLA/CA because we have an autistic child.

If we didn’t have an autistic child we wouldn’t receive any kind of benefit at all.

My DN's wheelchair is 4 figures to buy as is his specialised bed. He will need a new wheelchair soon as he has grown. There are some grants available but most of the cost is covered by my dsis. This is what her UC and his DLA cover when needed

The reason that can happen is because Thatcher introduced the Right to Buy your council property. Since then successive governments have failed to replace and increase council housing so now, demand massively exceeds supply and the only ones with any supply are private landlords. It's easy to demonise but most are ok and it is not a situation of their making imho.

Child disability payments are calculated based on their needs and care needs compared to children the same age. It doesn’t matter about ‘specific equipment’.

you, and others in your position have no incentive now to change it until you absolutely have to, you are on an amazing salary for doing nothing whatsoever.

Doing nothing whatsoever? She works part time and cares for TWO disabled children on her own. How is that doing nothing whatsoever, would you like that life? Shel be a carer for at least one of her children for the rest of her life. She won't get a proper retirement as her "work" will never end. Stop being absolutely ridiculous.

Life isn’t linear, it’s your job to plan for the unexpected and to save and budget accordingly. Children remain the responsibility of their parents, a relationship breaking down should not mean the cost of the child/parenting is defrayed by the state. Sorry to be disagreeable, but what you’re suggesting is highly flawed.

You shouldn’t feel bad, but that amount makes me feel sick, had no idea that’s what could be claimed and shows the system is broken. That’s not on you though!

No, I dont feel bad...... I feel extremely lucky

I'm not working at the minute due to a numerous amount of health issues, both my children are ND and the money we receive means my children can live a nice normal life, it means we dont live in poverty

We get 2k a month and our rent is 600 so we have a nice amount left over to pay everything else. We dont have any savings ( I'm a single mum, we is me and my children ) but I can treat them to days out a few times a month

I'm so worried about the potential benefit change. It would really affect my kids lives and they didnt ask to be born with additional needs. I dont even claim for their support, I get pip and LCWRA, but that extra income has changed my kids lives

Prior to LCWRA and PIP we got 1200 a month, after rent we had 600 left for the month, but after gas,electric, water, council, groceries we had barely anything left.

I feel very lucky and hope things dont change yet so my kids can continue to enjoy their childhoods