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How can we manage financially as Universal Credit support reduces?

1000 replies

elliejjtiny · 26/05/2026 12:19

We have 5 dc aged between 19 and 11 all with disabilities. Dh was a manager up until youngest was born, then he became unwell and had to take a massive pay cut. I'm a Sahm and get carers allowance. We get UC. Dc1 in his first year at uni, dc2 about to start in September.

We are just about managing at the moment but barely. In September we are going to lose the child element of universal credit for dc2 and I'm worried how we are going to manage. When the dc were younger I thought I would be working by now but I'm only getting 4 hours sleep a night and my 11 year old needs constant supervision when not at school so I don't know how I could fit work in. Dh has to work away about 15 weekends a year (from friday morning until late Sunday night) which leaves me completely exhausted each time. We spend 9 weekends a year picking up/dropping off/visiting dc1 and I imagine spending the same amount of time with dc2. There is no childcare for children my dc age with SN and they have to be picked up and dropped off at school. The dc have appointments about once a week on average and dc4 stays in hospital about 1 night a year when I don't get any sleep at all.

Realistically I can't think of any employer who would employ me with the amount of time off I would need and on so little sleep. At the moment I spend the time dc are at school doing the housework, cooking the dinner and trying to catch up on a bit of sleep.

I'm trying to think of anywhere we could save money but I can't think of anything. Dc1 doesn't cost any less money while he is at uni.

OP posts:
ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:17

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:09

Well why would you think I am not aware of council working. I am well aware of it and have a lot of colleagues who work part time hours, compressed days, flexible hours etc.

Right.

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:19

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ChunkyMonkey36 · 26/05/2026 23:20

Diamond7272 · 26/05/2026 22:56

I've got kids. I have a husband. It's not hard, dear. It's called organisation. A rota.

Good grief, ear plugs are 5p....

Your child sounds interesting. Wonder where the anger comes from at night. One to get checked out.

Edited

His disability, it’s actually completely uninteresting.

Diamond7272 · 26/05/2026 23:20

I just look forward to a day when benefits are massively cut which were handed out due to people's terrible decisions and choices.

It may happen politically.

It may happen when there just is no money left in the pot to hand out any more. The government can't give what it doesn't have.

But, it will happen. The NHS is on its knees, the roads are knackered, pension ages are being raised all the time. There are fewer working and paying taxes than those economically inactive. The benefits Bill is at record levels. The money to pay for the OP, her husband and her children, will just not be there one day... And that day is getting ever closer.

What would the OP do if the benefits assessor said "sorry... We just haven't got any money. Come back next Friday.."

She and her husband would bash their heads, be adults, and realise they need to get more work.

The next government will have very tough decisions. Until now it's been cuts to things, soon it will be the end of things, especially endless benefits for decades. Thank god.

Or the NHS that everyone was so thankful for during covid will have to be privatised... Then people will feel differently towards the OP who made her choices, which society paid for...

Diamond7272 · 26/05/2026 23:23

ChunkyMonkey36 · 26/05/2026 23:20

His disability, it’s actually completely uninteresting.

Of course.

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:24

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:11

Would your council employ someone who had been out of the workforce for years? Also someone that needs to get their disabled child to appointments every week, take time off at unpredictable times to care for them, and also not be at peak performance because they are getting 4 hours sleep per night?
Will their CV be at the top of the pile?

Edited

Well I have a colleague who joined 2 years ago after being unemployed for 7 years, she did well at interview and was qualified so she got the job. She had taken time off to care for her children and was a SAHM for 7 years. She was promoted 1 year after joining and is doing very well. Likely to be promoted again later this year due to a suitable vacancy coming up. Everyone is entitled to 5 days per year of carers leave other than AL and sick leave. And there is a lot of flexibility depending on role. So I have one colleague with autism and adhd, he can log in any time between 7.30 and 9 am in the morning and do 7hr and 30 mins of work till 6pm. So he takes breaks when he likes. It is a really nice place to work and very understanding. We have a few new parents in the team and they are all quite sleep deprived, there is a lot of consideration given to them. One colleague had a baby in neonatal care for two months after being born prematurely. And a lot has been done to support.

HobGobblynne · 26/05/2026 23:25

Diamond7272 · 26/05/2026 23:23

Of course.

I’m confused about what you’re trying to
imply? Are you saying that this persons child couldn’t have a disability that causes them to do these things? And if so, what is that assumption based on.

ChunkyMonkey36 · 26/05/2026 23:26

Diamond7272 · 26/05/2026 23:23

Of course.

I have a mountain of paperwork if you’d like to read it?

I also do work full time, as does my partner, so I’d love to see how you manage to get your disdain out of your system now.

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:27

Diamond7272 · 26/05/2026 23:20

I just look forward to a day when benefits are massively cut which were handed out due to people's terrible decisions and choices.

It may happen politically.

It may happen when there just is no money left in the pot to hand out any more. The government can't give what it doesn't have.

But, it will happen. The NHS is on its knees, the roads are knackered, pension ages are being raised all the time. There are fewer working and paying taxes than those economically inactive. The benefits Bill is at record levels. The money to pay for the OP, her husband and her children, will just not be there one day... And that day is getting ever closer.

What would the OP do if the benefits assessor said "sorry... We just haven't got any money. Come back next Friday.."

She and her husband would bash their heads, be adults, and realise they need to get more work.

The next government will have very tough decisions. Until now it's been cuts to things, soon it will be the end of things, especially endless benefits for decades. Thank god.

Or the NHS that everyone was so thankful for during covid will have to be privatised... Then people will feel differently towards the OP who made her choices, which society paid for...

OK, so you are happy to see people plunged into poverty. Right.

OP has said she how much she cares for her disabled kids. One is 11 but has the cognitive function of a 3 year old.
What would happen is that she would not be able to pay her bills, so the bailiffs will come knocking. She wont be able to feed herself or her kids.
But as long as your taxes are protected.... fuck her, right?

She said her DH dropped work due to illness. And she has explained how it would be difficult for her to find a job. Maybe read her OP post again?

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:27

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ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:27

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:24

Well I have a colleague who joined 2 years ago after being unemployed for 7 years, she did well at interview and was qualified so she got the job. She had taken time off to care for her children and was a SAHM for 7 years. She was promoted 1 year after joining and is doing very well. Likely to be promoted again later this year due to a suitable vacancy coming up. Everyone is entitled to 5 days per year of carers leave other than AL and sick leave. And there is a lot of flexibility depending on role. So I have one colleague with autism and adhd, he can log in any time between 7.30 and 9 am in the morning and do 7hr and 30 mins of work till 6pm. So he takes breaks when he likes. It is a really nice place to work and very understanding. We have a few new parents in the team and they are all quite sleep deprived, there is a lot of consideration given to them. One colleague had a baby in neonatal care for two months after being born prematurely. And a lot has been done to support.

Really very unusual.

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:30

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:24

Well I have a colleague who joined 2 years ago after being unemployed for 7 years, she did well at interview and was qualified so she got the job. She had taken time off to care for her children and was a SAHM for 7 years. She was promoted 1 year after joining and is doing very well. Likely to be promoted again later this year due to a suitable vacancy coming up. Everyone is entitled to 5 days per year of carers leave other than AL and sick leave. And there is a lot of flexibility depending on role. So I have one colleague with autism and adhd, he can log in any time between 7.30 and 9 am in the morning and do 7hr and 30 mins of work till 6pm. So he takes breaks when he likes. It is a really nice place to work and very understanding. We have a few new parents in the team and they are all quite sleep deprived, there is a lot of consideration given to them. One colleague had a baby in neonatal care for two months after being born prematurely. And a lot has been done to support.

Was this a NMW entry level job?

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:31

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:27

Really very unusual.

I have been pleasantly surprised. It is lovely and I do think quite a few councils are like this. I know someone who was living up north but remotely working for a council down south. Councils are great place to work, ofcourse it does depend on the role.

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:33

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:30

Was this a NMW entry level job?

No, colleague joined a mgmt role managing 10 ppl after being unemployed for 7 years.

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:34

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:33

No, colleague joined a mgmt role managing 10 ppl after being unemployed for 7 years.

There we are then.

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:35

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:31

I have been pleasantly surprised. It is lovely and I do think quite a few councils are like this. I know someone who was living up north but remotely working for a council down south. Councils are great place to work, ofcourse it does depend on the role.

I work for a council. It's really not as you describe but good to know there's better practice elsewhere.

Apologies for being rude. I just think it's very hard now to get the kind of flexible or shelf stacking job that used to be available. My role involves employment support and the job market is dire, particularly for people without recent experience. I think posters on threads like this assume people can go out and get a starter job - if it was that easy, my job would be great!

GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:37

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:35

I work for a council. It's really not as you describe but good to know there's better practice elsewhere.

Apologies for being rude. I just think it's very hard now to get the kind of flexible or shelf stacking job that used to be available. My role involves employment support and the job market is dire, particularly for people without recent experience. I think posters on threads like this assume people can go out and get a starter job - if it was that easy, my job would be great!

Ah, I’m in IT so probably a lot different. The one I work for is really good. I have worked as a supplier in the past with a lot of councils and some are diabolical!

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:37

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:35

I work for a council. It's really not as you describe but good to know there's better practice elsewhere.

Apologies for being rude. I just think it's very hard now to get the kind of flexible or shelf stacking job that used to be available. My role involves employment support and the job market is dire, particularly for people without recent experience. I think posters on threads like this assume people can go out and get a starter job - if it was that easy, my job would be great!

You are right. The job market is dire right now
And people think OP can walk into any part time role just like that...

changeme4this · 26/05/2026 23:38

HelenHywater · 26/05/2026 23:08

Perhaps they're dead. Or working. Or live miles away. Or disabled. Or caring for other relatives.

Why is this relevant?

How about letting the OP answer her own thread questions?

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:39

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GetAbsOrDieTrying · 26/05/2026 23:41

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:37

You are right. The job market is dire right now
And people think OP can walk into any part time role just like that...

I agree the job market isn’t great but it seems easier for ppl looking for entry level jobs. My kids school is always asking for lunch supervisors and admin office staff. It is on every newsletter!

Crikeyalmighty · 26/05/2026 23:42

Diamond7272 · 26/05/2026 22:09

It is our, society's business if they rely on benefits to raise 5 children.

You are being handed money that someone else has earned... It's meant to be a stop gap. Not an endless flow of money facilitating child 3, child 4, child 5, and getting the OP ever more further away from the world of work.

This woman knew child 1 was disabled. She knew child 2 was disabled. She knew child 3 was disabled... But she carried on having children requiring serious care and serious public taxpayer money to raise. Her husband also was involved so that's 2 adults churning out disabled children, knowingly.

Every birth the clock started ticking again from zero to the day she needed to go to the jobcentre... Back to 00.00.

She made her choices. Now she's poorer... But hardly starving. She's still getting thousands per month... She has a husband. They need to work out a plan. I'd advise contraception.

It's important the state helps people a bit, a blanket for a few months or years, but decades of huge payments to people who keep on churning out children whilst unable to pay for them is nuts. It's plain wrong. It's almost society being blackmailed where taxpayers have to keep on paying for feckless parents just so that the children don't suffer....

The OP needs a job. Now. Her benefits will drop as the kids age out, so whether she works now or later, she must work... Or be poor. Which a lot of working taxpayers and pensioners are today. Poor.

And yes, I don't care if she's poor in the future. I don't care if she has less money today. Tough. If a political party wants to cap the benefits in this scenario, yes, great. About time.

And no, she doesn't need any more enabling 'poor thing' treatment. She needs a cv, a bicycle and a mop and bucket. The husband can look after the kids whilst she's at work... It's only 3 with 2 at uni anyway, he can cope fgs. Might give them both a bit of dignity back :)

I don’t agree with you on all things , but I must admit I do kind of agree here - I cant quite see why you would carry on having disabled children one after another . Obviously if they were not and then became so when onset that’s different but that seems unlikely to be the case here multiple times

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:44

Crikeyalmighty · 26/05/2026 23:42

I don’t agree with you on all things , but I must admit I do kind of agree here - I cant quite see why you would carry on having disabled children one after another . Obviously if they were not and then became so when onset that’s different but that seems unlikely to be the case here multiple times

I am sure OP said they are all ND.. and that can take years to be diagnosed.. and most likely OP and her DH are also ND too.
A lot of parents get diagnosed after their kids do.

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 23:45

Crimpit · 26/05/2026 23:37

You are right. The job market is dire right now
And people think OP can walk into any part time role just like that...

I think there's a lot of data harvesting by companies putting up jobs on sites like Indeed - which UC work coaches tell people to use to apply for three jobs daily. These jobs seem not to exist in reality, they never come to anything but they require a lot of information in the applications. So I guess it looks like there are plenty of vacancies but in reality these jobs aren't genuine.

TheTideIsNigh · 26/05/2026 23:47

ForWittyTealOP · 26/05/2026 20:05

Families with more than three children are statistically negligible.

Anyway you have to examine your prejudices if you think you have a right to a say about bigger families. They tend to be of minority ethnic/global majority origin. What are we saying when we criticise them?

I don't think I or the person you're replying to have a right to a say about bigger families, I know we do. And that doesn't matter where they tend to come from.

What is someone saying when they criticise them? I imagine it's do with the fact that they are bigger families.

What a ridiculous thing to say.

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