Is a single mothers benifits enough

A question about : Is a single mothers benifits enough

Hi there,

Could I ask a general question.

A single mother with one three year old.

Her only income is her benifits, she is getting all of her rent paid and council tax, and is receiving all of her other benifits. she has no other income other than a sub from us now and then (that she does not need to pay back, this amounts to around Ј20 a month.

She does not have a car and does not spend money on bus fairs, or holidays or going out or anything really other than living

The question is - should she be able to live reasonably well or is her benifits only just enough to survive on.

Many thanks

Steve

Best answers:

• If you could, or were expected to, "live reasonably well" on benefits, then all single people would be popping out to get pregnant.
  Benefits are supposed to keep the roof over your head and some food on the table + enough to cover basic bills if you don't go mad.
  Some people DO live very well on their benefits, but that's personal achievement. Many spend, spend, spend, then whine.
  It's down to the individual to budget and manage the money wisely.
• Living on benefits is not supposed to be a lifestyle choice, with enough money for cars, holidays etc. It is supposed to be (as the previous poster said) to enable a person to live/eat etc. The idea should always be that living on benefits is a short term option, with the aim of going to work as soon as possible.
  If a person wants luxuries then they have to work and earn the money for them.
• Sorry to sound cinical, but you do realise that she should really declare the £20 a month to those providing her with benefits as this is classed as an income and not declaring it means she is committing benefit fraud! It's as good as working cash in hand.
• Although she should declare the Ј20 per month to keep the paperwork straight, this amount would have no effect on her Income Support.
  Lin
• But may do on her Housing Benefits
• yup as said,its supposed to allow you to live not live it up.
  however i understand being a single parent makes the work v home balance trickier
• It sounds reasonable to me.
  It covers rent, council tax, food and heating - the same as many working people can afford.
  She may be better off with a part time job with help towards her childcare costs x
• A single mother who has no partner and can't work because of child care doesn't have a great lifestyle. "Single" mothers who have partners but don't declare this, have "on the side" jobs etc have a lifestyle better than many hard-working folk. Each case is different.
• I had to live on IS for quite a few years after my ex walked out on my son & I & paid no maintenance. By careful budgeting & cutting out unecessary expenditure it's possible to have a reasonable existence on income support I think.
• Yes it is as it is suppossed to be a stop gap until the mother has a job or the father has made arrangements to contribute to the raising of his child.
  Has the father been reported to the CSA for not paying maintainance or has the mother contacted a solicitor to sort out a maintainance agreement?
• I'm a single parent with two children, and I would say you can live extremely well on benefits. My children have lots of luxuries, a few holidays each year, new clothes, day trips out, dance clubs, swimming club, etc.
  I would say though, that it is how you manage your benefits that is the key.
• pipkin my husband and I both work full time and we do not have luxuries certainly not a few holidays a year,
  people who work pay tax in order for you to have holidays clothes clubs etc. my children dont have those things and that doesnt seem fair to me.
  benefits should only be bear minimum to survive on. no one would want to come off benefits with your lifestyle. are you a troll?
• I would be very interested if anyone would care to put actual figures on these benefits that they are receiving. I notice not one poster has so far.
  It makes me wonder whether they are too generous, if certain single mums can afford all that they claim (no pun intended) to.
  How about a few hard facts and figures folks. Given that single mums presumably get housing and council tax paid, plus free medical/dental care and free school dinners for their child/ren, how much extra cash is on the table?
  I would say something like Ј75 per week for mum + 1 child, Ј100 for mum +2, would be reasonable. Anything beyond that is funding luxuries that working (i.e. taxpaying) folk possibly cannot afford.
• sorry pipkin just a pet hate of mine. i dont know your circumstances and I apologise for being rude.
  I have been on benefits with two boys and i couldnt afford to do anything but feed them and clothe them.
  We do have a mortgage and bills etc but we still only manage a midweek break once a year but good luck to you with you and your two
• Pipkin well done for managing to have a reasonable life while on benefits, I wish I knew your secret as my daughter struggles to maintain herself and children on benefits, she doesn't smoke or drink but tries to eat healthily, clothes are as and when necessary, days out are usually courtesy of me and holidays are certainly out of the question. I don't like seeing her struggle but choices she made mean she is a single parent and has to manage as best she can on the benefits she is entitled to as such... maybe you should start a thread with tips on how its done...
  I truly would like to know how its done.... and I could pass on the tips...
• Thats where the fault lies to have to earn Ј300 to be better off is impossible for most. The things is you have to get the job then claim the top up benefits. You still get help with council tax and child care etc and when kids go to full time school you pick up extra hours until you dont need benefit anymore hopefully.