MSE News: Minister answers concerns on lone parent benefits

DX2

janninew wrote: »

I'm sorry but I do have strong opinions on child raising and benefits. I really believe that when we have children, we need to take full responsibilty for their well being and care. I agree benefits should be there as a temporary stop gap in times of need, I don't agree that we should keep paying out to parents who keep having children when they have no way of providing for them. Living on benefits and getting a free ride for 7 plus years just because you have a child is not right. Women who work and have a partner don't get a free salary for 7 years.
I know one single mother who has more family support than me and could easily work at least part time, but she doesn't, she prefers having a good social life, going to the gym etc when her child is being looked after by family. Granted she is the only single mother I know well, but her personal situation is a comfortable one and she has no intention of spoiling that by getting a job!

Sorry if that offends, but its my opinion.

And this is my point you know one single parent yet you tar every single parent exactly the same.

What about those single parents who have no family support no friends and lives a very isolated life, not seeing/chatting to another adult from one week to the next. I really wish life as a single parent was a rosy as you make out, but for some single parents it really isn't.

janninew

DX2 wrote: »

And this is my point you know one single parent yet you tar every single parent exactly the same.

What about those single parents who have no family support no friends and lives a very isolated life, not seeing/chatting to another adult from one week to the next. I really wish life as a single parent was a rosy as you make out, but for some single parents it really isn't.

I'm not tarring all single parents as the same. I've just given my own experience of a single mum, and she doesn't have a bad life at all. I'm sure she isn't the only single mum who leads this kind of life. No rent or CT to pay, IS, CTC, CB and a nice maintenance payment ever month doesn't amount to a bad sum of money for not working

I do accept that life isn't as easy for all single parents, but they do get a lot of financial help, looking at the CTC figures (I'm not entitled so I wasn't aware) I was shocked at the amount of money having a few children gives you. Single parents can have it tough, but how about live as a youngster on min wage, doing a horrible job with no benefits at all? We all make choices in life, having children is a choice.

DX2

janninew wrote: »

We all make choices in life, having children is a choice.

And how many make the choice to be a single parent?

janninew

DX2 wrote: »

And how many make the choice to be a single parent?

I'm not sure, I can really ask all single parents this question.

DaisyFlower

DX2 wrote: »

And how many make the choice to be a single parent?

I would imagine quite a lot, there are thousands if not millions of children born into "throw away" relationships. Yes some single mothers will have been married but the majority won't have been - you only have to look at our teen pregnancy rate to see that. It doesnt matter if they didnt plan to become single, they are an adult and have responsibilities which means working to feed your family.

I'd agree with stopping all child related benefits so that anybody having children does so in the knowledge that they have to support them. Drop the benefits and raise the income tax level and offer free childcare to workers instead. Less admin, no incentives and everyone gets treated the same.

DX2

Anyway I best be off for the moment go and feed my brat some cheap pot noodle, wouldn't want to disappoint the stereotype

MissMoneypenny

DX2 wrote: »

So all the benefits for working single parents will be removed also? Because these in work benefits cost a lot more than those on out of work benefits.
Why not go the whole hog and remove all child related benefits from every single parent/couple. Everyone who has a child/ren doesn't get a bean, then every parent can't be accussed of having children as cash cows.

The "child related benefits" you talk of, should not be given as cash to the parents, if they don't work at least a 35 hour week if they are single and 70 hours a week jointly for two parents.

For the children whose parent/s don't work or only work part time so they can claim extra benefits like working tax credits: instead of giving the parent benefits like child tax credits, the school kitchens can be opened to feed their children three meals a day, 7 days a week. This will also ensure the children are given a healthy diet. While their children/babies are eating, the parent/s can earn their childrens' food by doing jobs around the school, such as gardening or cleaning. Their child benefit money should not be given to these parents either, but used by the school to make sure this is spent of the children for their clothes and clubs.

SingleSue

janninew wrote: »

I'm not sure, I can really ask all single parents this question.

It was not my choice to be a single parent, it was the choice of my now ex husband who tired of being a family man after nearly 16 years of marriage (20 years together in total).

All my children were born during that marriage, we both worked during the marriage, we both paid taxes during the marriage.

We could afford the children we had during that marriage...then he had to go and sleep with my best friend!

I am not one who can have another child whilst on benefits, I had a hysterectomy 9 years ago...while still married.

seven-day-weekend

DX2 wrote: »

Anyway I best be off for the moment go and feed my brat some cheap pot noodle, wouldn't want to disappoint the stereotype

You mean you're not giving him/her a MCFlurry?:rotfl:

Oldernotwiser

DX2 wrote: »

Oh and just out of interest has anyone done a rough calculation on entitledto to see actually how much more benefits/tax credits a single parent on 16 hours per week would actually get. Seems the taxpayer is actually paying a lot more for a single parent to be in the workforce. Just a thought.

Some things are more important than just the short term saving of money.

Working is considered to be advantageous to the parent, the child and to society at large. Nobody benefits by having someone on benefits for years, particularly as that can lead to their being unemployable even when the children have become adults.