It's not always that simple. I had no maintenance for my children when they were young. I didn't want him to know where we were for various reasons and there was no CSA then. People's circumstances aren't always black and white.
No I understand that, I put off claiming for the same reasons, and struggled every single day. But I maintain if she is struggling that much then she needs to look at the options. It's hard to swallow your pride but if it means better things for your kids then it is sometimes the right thing to do.
You are right, nothing's b&w but complaining that welfare don't pay enough suggests that she really needs more help, either with money coming in or with budgeting.
a mile and a half isn`t far, i used to walk a two year old several times that every school day.
edit: though if it`s dangerous route that`s another story.
exactly my friend walks a three year old, a five year old, a 16 month old (in a pram) and now a one month old baby (in a baby support on her front) every day to and from school almost two miles as she is on maternity leave from her job (she is a single mum) the kids are her sisters who has terminal cancer and cant take them to school herself as she is wheelchair bound, just some people are lazy and not prepared to crack on with things i guess
Childcare for a 15 month old would cost more than bus fare, but wages are also more than benefits.
A mile and a half is not far at all, clearly she's not as hard up as she's making out because short of the route to school involving crossing a motorway or something there is no viable reason for her not to save her money and walk.
One child is 15 months old it's not that easy to get a sitter for a child that age and it would cost much more than the bus fare.
It's less than two miles (about a mile and a half) so no pass.
No there isn't a school nearer
rubbish. Both mine were in childcare from 3 months and a suitable childminder was easy to find. Childcare is expensive, but by working she'll get child tax credits and wtc (if working enough hours) which will help with costs etc.
And yes, 2.5 miles isn't too far to walk or bike. It may not be nice but if she's that broke it can be done.
As I said before, this cuture of 'i am a singe mum therefore the world owes me' annoys the hell out of me. When you choose to have a baby you make the decision to responsible for them, regardless of whether dad is around or not, its not easy, its lonely and its blooming expensive but thats the choice she's made - just because dad's gone doesn't mean that the world suddenly has to pay to take his place.
When people hear I'm a single mum to two kids they presume I'm a slacker, who lives off benefits. Which is unfair on me, and unfair on those that really do want to be stay at home mums.
I have no issues with mums that want to stay at home an bring up thier kids, single or not, and am happy that benefits will help them to do it (I couldn't do it tbh, its the hardest job I've ever done, I go to work for a break!) but it doesn't mean they are ENTITLED to it or that its 'unfair' that it doesn't pay enough to do x y z - benefits are designed to be just enough to get through, and buses and cars are not essentials, they are very nice to have but not essential.
rubbish. Both mine were in childcare from 3 months and a suitable childminder was easy to find. Childcare is expensive, but by working she'll get child tax credits and wtc (if working enough hours) which will help with costs etc.
And yes, 2.5 miles isn't too far to walk or bike. It may not be nice but if she's that broke it can be done.
As I said before, this cuture of 'i am a singe mum therefore the world owes me' annoys the hell out of me. When you choose to have a baby you make the decision to responsible for them, regardless of whether dad is around or not, its not easy, its lonely and its blooming expensive but thats the choice she's made - just because dad's gone doesn't mean that the world suddenly has to pay to take his place.
When people hear I'm a single mum to two kids they presume I'm a slacker, who lives off benefits. Which is unfair on me, and unfair on those that really do want to be stay at home mums.
I have no issues with mums that want to stay at home an bring up thier kids, single or not, and am happy that benefits will help them to do it (I couldn't do it tbh, its the hardest job I've ever done, I go to work for a break!) but it doesn't mean they are ENTITLED to it or that its 'unfair' that it doesn't pay enough to do x y z - benefits are designed to be just enough to get through, and buses and cars are not essentials, they are very nice to have but not essential.
Absolutely agree with this post. Single mum here as well and work full time. I'm not entitled to any help and my ex-husband refuses to pay maintenance. The world doesn't owe me anything just because I've decided to have a child.
Tax credits cover up to 70% of registered child are cost that includes registered childminders, nurseries, breakfast ,after school and holiday clubs providing she works at least 16 hours per week. She will probably get help with her rent and council tax and although her income support would stop she would get working tax credit which if on the national minimum wage would work out more than her income support, she would keep her child benefit and child tax credit. If she has been on income support for 26 weeks or more she will get her rent and council tax extended for 4 weeks at the same rate as it being paid on income support. If she has been on benefit for 52 weeks she may also get in work credit which is tax free£40 pw for 52 weeks but this is being abolished in October so she may only get the in work credit up until it is abolished. If working 16 hours on national minimum wage she would not be paying tax either so she would be quids in. Loads of people do it, including myself.
Oh and if she gets child support that is ignored for housing, council tax benefits and tax credits when she moves into work. Just for info it is also ignored for income support.
If she is worried about the eldest child walking why not get him a little scooter so he can scoot along next to the pushchair, they are cheap and can be folded and put under the pushchair when she drops him off and picks him up.Loads of people, around here do that.
Just as an extra. She will have more information about going to work and what she can claim than you probably have. Just may just be telling you part of the story but when someone is on income support they have to go to the jobcentre for work focused interviews in this case every 6 months. They have specialist lone parent advisers who go through all this and offer calculations to show how much better off in work people can be. They then support them getting a job and afterwards for up to 6 months just in case there are any queries or problems.
Thing is some people just like to moan about their bad deal/ problems but don't actually do anything to try and improve the situation or solve their own problems, maybe it's time to ask her a few thought provoking questions
£5.20 a day for such a short bus trip does sound a lot to me. Hope she's not spinning the OP a line to get a handout from them:(
There's a young girl who lives near me with two kids, she told me she has to get money from her parents just to survive, as her benefits aren't enough.
I suggested she stop smoking to save money and she looked at me like I was a mentalist:o
£5.20 a day for such a short bus trip does sound a lot to me.
Round here the bus goes round in a big circle and a one way ticket is £2.20 regardless of when you get off. So that price may be right if its in a busy area.
Still a lot when the option is there to walk although if it is too dangerous to walk then i guess theres no alternative.
At the end of the day its just a necessity you have to budget for and find the money somewhere.
Comments
No I understand that, I put off claiming for the same reasons, and struggled every single day. But I maintain if she is struggling that much then she needs to look at the options. It's hard to swallow your pride but if it means better things for your kids then it is sometimes the right thing to do.
You are right, nothing's b&w but complaining that welfare don't pay enough suggests that she really needs more help, either with money coming in or with budgeting.
One child is 15 months old it's not that easy to get a sitter for a child that age and it would cost much more than the bus fare.
It's less than two miles (about a mile and a half) so no pass.
No there isn't a school nearer
A mile and a half is a perfectly reasonable distance for her to walk her to school if she cant affford a bus.
edit: though if it`s dangerous route that`s another story.
exactly my friend walks a three year old, a five year old, a 16 month old (in a pram) and now a one month old baby (in a baby support on her front) every day to and from school almost two miles as she is on maternity leave from her job (she is a single mum) the kids are her sisters who has terminal cancer and cant take them to school herself as she is wheelchair bound, just some people are lazy and not prepared to crack on with things i guess
A mile and a half is not far at all, clearly she's not as hard up as she's making out because short of the route to school involving crossing a motorway or something there is no viable reason for her not to save her money and walk.
Then the simple answer is that she should just walk the kids to her daughter's school. It's free!
rubbish. Both mine were in childcare from 3 months and a suitable childminder was easy to find. Childcare is expensive, but by working she'll get child tax credits and wtc (if working enough hours) which will help with costs etc.
And yes, 2.5 miles isn't too far to walk or bike. It may not be nice but if she's that broke it can be done.
As I said before, this cuture of 'i am a singe mum therefore the world owes me' annoys the hell out of me. When you choose to have a baby you make the decision to responsible for them, regardless of whether dad is around or not, its not easy, its lonely and its blooming expensive but thats the choice she's made - just because dad's gone doesn't mean that the world suddenly has to pay to take his place.
When people hear I'm a single mum to two kids they presume I'm a slacker, who lives off benefits. Which is unfair on me, and unfair on those that really do want to be stay at home mums.
I have no issues with mums that want to stay at home an bring up thier kids, single or not, and am happy that benefits will help them to do it (I couldn't do it tbh, its the hardest job I've ever done, I go to work for a break!) but it doesn't mean they are ENTITLED to it or that its 'unfair' that it doesn't pay enough to do x y z - benefits are designed to be just enough to get through, and buses and cars are not essentials, they are very nice to have but not essential.
Absolutely agree with this post. Single mum here as well and work full time. I'm not entitled to any help and my ex-husband refuses to pay maintenance. The world doesn't owe me anything just because I've decided to have a child.
Oh and if she gets child support that is ignored for housing, council tax benefits and tax credits when she moves into work. Just for info it is also ignored for income support.
If she is worried about the eldest child walking why not get him a little scooter so he can scoot along next to the pushchair, they are cheap and can be folded and put under the pushchair when she drops him off and picks him up.Loads of people, around here do that.
Just as an extra. She will have more information about going to work and what she can claim than you probably have. Just may just be telling you part of the story but when someone is on income support they have to go to the jobcentre for work focused interviews in this case every 6 months. They have specialist lone parent advisers who go through all this and offer calculations to show how much better off in work people can be. They then support them getting a job and afterwards for up to 6 months just in case there are any queries or problems.
Thing is some people just like to moan about their bad deal/ problems but don't actually do anything to try and improve the situation or solve their own problems, maybe it's time to ask her a few thought provoking questions
There's a young girl who lives near me with two kids, she told me she has to get money from her parents just to survive, as her benefits aren't enough.
I suggested she stop smoking to save money and she looked at me like I was a mentalist:o
Round here the bus goes round in a big circle and a one way ticket is £2.20 regardless of when you get off. So that price may be right if its in a busy area.
Still a lot when the option is there to walk although if it is too dangerous to walk then i guess theres no alternative.
At the end of the day its just a necessity you have to budget for and find the money somewhere.