How can we manage financially as Universal Credit support reduces?

[elliejjtiny]

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.

It’s not that it’s “too hard,” it’s that it’s not safe.

Parents aren’t fobbing their kids off. They’re trying to give them the best opportunity for safety and success.

Unfortunately, sometimes that means we’re not actually the best option.

Your figures are unsupported, you say that millions of benefit claimants aren't genuine, I dont think thats true, I think thats your opinion based on nothing. ? How many? You dont know? You say its millions?

I understand this, it's a slippery slope and some of the comments are awful. It's a short hop from saying everyone should look after themselves to sliding into dehumanising comments. It's easy to see how easy it is to "other" or scapegoat people.

Instead of this, we need a more progressive tax system where we don't let the people at the very top pay less by % than ordinary people. Where is the outrage that the super rich pay less tax than normal people? How is it OK for them not to pay 40%+ like everyone else? Why should they get a free ride? In the US, Elon Musk doesn't pay tax as he borrows against his shares and it isn't classed as income. Inequality is rising, the economy isn't going well. If they are getting richer, the money is coming from us and the government and this is part of why we can't afford public services. The scapegoating comes when things are in decline.

But why would you have number 3, 4 and 5 if the others were disabled? Would you not have a word and think, acually this is going to be unsustainable financially?

And isn't a big whopping amount of that £300 billion, about £178 billion, pensions and pensioner benefits?

"think that parents can absolve themselves from the responsibilities of looking after their own children just because “it’s too hard”"

That is ridiculously offensive. For many of us, it's not just going to be "too hard" it's going to be impossible.

I don't really need to invent a new solution, although not perfect there's already "solutions" in the form of care homes, supported living, direct payments for Personal Assistant and NHS at home nursing care / continuing healthcare commissioning.

😂Well don't you think the DWP (refd in my pp) know what they're talking about? Should they come to you for information instead? You need to tell them you know better.

Her original post says right at the top they all aged 11-19, so that seems youngest born 11 years ago

Actually it's 137billion GBP on pensions.. then there's the health care etc but the latter is not benefit cost. I 100% support pensions and pensioner benefits. But it is definitely a growing issue.

No I just need you to post the information you are quoting from and not post pictures?! Like a kid.

I had quoted it in the original post you responded too. Oh dear you're embarrassing yourself.

.

I've seen a few posts similar to the OP where they ask how they're going to manage when a child comes off their claim. Did they not realise this was going to happen and plan accordingly?

Oh you can't answer. That's what I thought.

Yes, I imagine she did but has started this thread anyway to be ridiculed and ripped to shreds just to pass the time...

But you didn't provide evidence for your claim that millions of benefit claims aren't genuine.

First you need to define your terms - what does not genuine mean. Then provide evidence according to those terms. Otherwise your post is as meaningful as your gif, i.e. not at all.

Answer what?

It's not that it's too hard, it's that eventually it can became not only physically impossible but unsafe in some cases.

The question dear. Do keep up!

? Do you always deny factual evidence as I provided in my posts (that you're ignoring cos you're hurt about being wrong and laughed at) - the data from the DWP tells you. Honestly it's like trying to discuss with a gibbon.

Babe - tell me the question again - you've posted so much I've got @ForWittyTealOP fatigue

Well I did ask for evidence that you didn't provide, largely because it doesn't exist so you invented your own "facts". But as I say, you can't answer, fully understood.

Taken in context with that poster's other posts, it is very clear how they view disabled people. I am very glad to say that I don't share that "narrative".

Plan what, how to generate money without being able to work (because I believe she is unable to work)?

She’s not a magician.

When you’re sleep deprived and exhausted from caring for 5 kids, your ability to plan for the actual impossible is likely quite limited.

I don't think many people living with the realities of caring for disabled offspring are going to be glamorising it. (I speak as someone with disability in the family, albeit not a mum to disabled kids myself.) What you're seeing, if you mean social media, is far more likely imo to be them trying to throw some focus on the things they love about their disabled offspring, because God knows the day-to-day difficulties can be such that people need to find their joys where they can.

Regarding your last sentence, which lives do you consider to have less value?