income support or esa for lone parent

krisskross

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Having said that, it doesn't surprise me one bit. I've done a lot of work with lone parents going onto JSA and it was a very common pattern for older women to have 2 grown up children and one coming up to 16. I was never intrusive enough to ask the ages of their grown up children but it often came out that the gap between the oldest "grown up" and the 15/16 year old was (surprise surprise!) about 16 years. (I suppose from now on it'll be 12!)

ONW you are such a cynic:rotfl:

NASA_2

krisskross wrote: »

Is there any financial difference?

In some cases yes, in others no, in theory though people are going to spend a lot less time on ESA than they would have on IB(Credits Only)/IS.

As I have said above - a very early indication seems to be suggesting the harsher conditions on ESA medical are having an effect. This is even before the WFI regime gets going.

space_rider

krisskross wrote: »

Indeed not. Do you think they had another child in that 12 months?

Could it be something to do with them actually being better off on income support than being in work. I was on income support for 3 years as I have a child with a congenital illness and was surprised to see that I was £200 a month worse off for working. My employer was so good to me by giving me a 2 year career break and being flexible that I couldn`t let them down and not go back to work.

space_rider

You lot are cruel! If I did stay on income support until my last child is 12 then I would be 49. I don`t think I`ll be having a child at that age just to claim income support at that age!

NASA_2

space_rider wrote: »

You lot are cruel! If I did stay on income support until my last child is 12 then I would be 49. I don`t think I`ll be having a child at that age just to claim income support at that age!

It happens/ed too often for it to be coincidence

Obviously not everyone did it, and not even the majority, but it is a lifestyle choice for some people.

Oldernotwiser

space_rider wrote: »

Could it be something to do with them actually being better off on income support than being in work. .

I'm sure you're right, but is that any excuse?

jennie09

I agree with spacerider i only have one child and wouldnt have another child just to make another claim, its hard enough being a single parent as it is without people looking down their noses at you some of the people commenting on here are awful it makes me sick as i have always worked and hate claiming anything, but due to my disability have no choice but to switch to esa !!

Oldernotwiser

jennie09 wrote: »

I agree with spacerider i only have one child and wouldnt have another child just to make another claim, its hard enough being a single parent as it is without people looking down their noses at you some of the people commenting on here are awful it makes me sick as i have always worked and hate claiming anything, but due to my disability have no choice but to switch to esa !!

But don't you deplore lone parents who have extra children just to be able to stay on benefits or people who fabricate a medical condition to avoid going onto JSA? Just because you are a lone parent yourself doesn't mean that you have to condone people who behave in this way.

jennie09

Of Course I Dont Condone It But A Lot Of Us Are In This Situation Through No Fault Of Our Own And I Certainly Cant Fabricate Whats Wrong With Me Just Get The Impression That You Are A Lone Parent Hater Regardless Of Their Situation There Is PlentY Of People Like You About !!

scooby1001

I think that if you were to see the claims of those that move from IS to ESA when their youngest child reaches 16 or 12 or when ever, they are already claiming a disability premium. The fact is i(and many others) are too ill to work(was not even able to work when married) so have not paid enough NIstamps to claim IB?ESA so just claim IS as a lone parents. I moved over from IS based on being a lone parent back in 2007 when i heard about the new ESA. Nothing has changed i have not suddenly become ill to avoid working it is just that claiming as a lone parents comes higher on the list for IS than claiming via illness. So it is not a case to trying to avoid work it is knowing your limitaties. I want to keep my daughter living with me which when i am very ill i can't do she has to go to my parents and have to work means being very ill again ending up in hospital and losing my child, is that really fair.