Its a wonderful life... Want to try.....?? A Single parents View.. !!xx!

Scarlett1

viktory wrote:

Is anyone going to respond to this very relevant post? Come on, single parents! Let's hear it! :rotfl:

NB The amount of disposable income Krisskross has quoted is £700 after housing costs. Is this a true amount single parents get on benefits these days?

such a b!tchy comment from someone who recons she was once in a single parents shoes, makes you're comment of living on £60 per week laughable :rotfl:

lil_me

No she would also tell you the same, her son doesn't cost her any extra, it's just time, the equiptment he needs is provided free, maybe 3 or 4 extra wash loads a week more than an average child his age would need. This costs in all about £5 with electricity and the special washing stuff she uses on top of what any other family would use. Electricity extras are in that SOA. He also has severe allergies (aswell as his other disability) but like she said she already owns things like the washing machine, dryer, and vacuum cleaner. She pays a few pounds a month to insure them incase of breakdown.The extra she is awarded pays for more than this.

They get transport costs refunded for the likes of hospital visits etc so this isn't an additional expense, and all her medication (which is a lot) is also free. Then of course there are school meals, dental treatment etc etc.

I know people get DLA awards for a good reason, I am not disputing that, but just stating the extra costs she has. She's got a good head on her shoulders and will do anything rather than get into debt etc.

Also yes, I have been a single parent, tbh I didn't find it hard, apart from having a man to clean after and look after now it was no different from my life now, and I had more disposable income than I do now.

krisskross

looby75 wrote:

LOL I wish I had £700 a month spare, I am lucky if I have £10 a month spare
I'm not exactly sure how you have worked out I have that much spare each month

Was't talking about "spare for luxuries". I mean to feed and clothe yourselves. I still think £700 a month is more than adequate for food, utilities and clothing for 3 people.

krisskross

Scarlett1 wrote:

such a b!tchy comment from someone who recons she was once in a single parents shoes, makes you're comment of living on £60 per week laughable :rotfl:

I think Viktory was saying she got £60 a week many years ago.

starlite_2

My mother was a single mum, and says she was better off than me and my OH are with him working and me at home with an 8 m.o.

looby75

krisskross wrote:

Was't talking about "spare for luxuries". I mean to feed and clothe yourselves. I still think £700 a month is more than adequate for food, utilities and clothing for 3 people.

I agree, if that is all I had to pay for. I doubt there are any single parents who don't have some kind of debt to pay. In my case the debt was mostly taken on while I was in what I thought was a committed marriage, and some was run up when I was left without a penny to my name for 12 weeks while my benefits claim was being [STRIKE]bodged[/STRIKE] set up and again a year later when the CTC decided I didn't have any children :eek: so left me with very little money for another 8 weeks.

Thats another thing about being a single parent on benefits, all it takes is one person to press the wrong button on a computer somewhere and you end up with your benefits being stopped and you have to jump through hoops to get them started again. I dread every april/may when the ctc are due to be renewed, because so far there hasn't been a single year where they haven't messed it up, and I don't have anyone to turn to, to help me out until they get it right. It really is like walking on a tightrope at times, and you have it all to deal with alone

Scarlett1

krisskross wrote:

I think Viktory was saying she got £60 a week many years ago.

yes I know

black-saturn

Scarlett1 wrote:

Viktory I admired you're post and enjoyed reading about you're life until you made the statements above

From what I have just read you didnt get off benefits on you're own merits, you only did it once you were in a relationship and so had support, so its hardly fair to criticise single parents when you could still be in the same situation if you're husband hadnt come along :rolleyes:

Correct me if Im wrong though

Just what I was thinking. She found it hard to make anything better when she was on her own.

black-saturn

krisskross wrote:

Was't talking about "spare for luxuries". I mean to feed and clothe yourselves. I still think £700 a month is more than adequate for food, utilities and clothing for 3 people.

If thats the case why work?

black-saturn

Heres a post I put on another thread regarding my SOA when someone commented that my earning are less than I would get on benefit and asked why I don't go onto benefit instead:

"Well yes I WAS on income support but I stupidly kept listening to everyone saying I was a burden to the state etc etc so I got myself a job. Now I'm worse off than I was when I was on IS. I'll give it 2 more months and if it's no good I will give it up."