A WORKING mother-of-four has been left fuming by the UK’s benefit system.
The single mother, who relies on Universal Credit, was left feeling incredibly “stressed” by her situation, which resulted in her posting a frustrated “rant” on social media.
Not only does she believe that the system is “rigged to make you fail” but she also claimed that it’s impossible to try and “do better in life.”
In a short clip shared online, the woman, who uploads content under the username ‘Unique Misfit,’ and lives in East London, recognised that after leaving a part-time job for a full-time role, she found herself “sanctioned” by the benefits system.
After leaving her previous job that only paid her a “tiny wage,” the mother was flagged as earning under what she “should be earning” and was told to “search for more work.”
She claimed that the system, which she described as “one big stress,” made things “super hard” for her.
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The mum said: “Anyone who claims Universal Credit for being a single parent or low earnings or whatever else – the system is rigged to make you fail, I’m sure of it.”
Following this, the mother explained her situation in more depth, as she added: “I’ve got my full-time job, did my change of circumstances and then all of a sudden I’m getting appointments that I must attend the Jobcentre – sorry, what? I’m confused.”
She was told that she has to go to the Jobcentre “to do her commitments,” but she recognised: “I do my commitments online, I always have done, I don’t understand, are you still gonna pay my childcare or not?”
The honest content creator then acknowledged that she is unable to attend the in-person meetings as a result of her new full-time job.
However, in a one-off situation, she asked her boss and managed to get some time off of work to attend the meeting.
But things unfortunately didn’t go quite as she had hoped when she attended.
Regardless of her new job, the mother was told, “until it flags up, we’re gonna have to do this every week.”
Angry at the situation, the mum admitted: “Stressing me out. Ain’t it f*****g crazy?”
She then told others relying on benefits: “So yeah, if you’re in between jobs or you’re going to another job and you’ve got a s**t wage, be ready for the b******t the government throws at ya, because God forbid you’re trying to do better in life.”
Universal Credit claimants react
The mother’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @uniquemisfit0, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 307,400 views.
Am I entitled to Universal Credit?
According to the GOV website, if you’re on a low income or need help with your living costs, then you could be entitled to Universal Credit.
To claim, you must live in the UK, be aged 18 or over (with some exceptions if you’re 15 to 17), be under State Pension age, and have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.
Other circumstances are if you are out of work, or unable to work, for example because of a health condition.
And it appears it isn’t just this woman irritated by the Universal Credit system, as many other claimants flocked to the comments to open up on their own “stressful” experiences.
One person said: “It’s a nightmare. It’s THE worst system ever.”
I need help but I won’t ask as it’s a nightmare! They make it so hard!
TikTok user
Another added: “They constantly bother you every week! I was on it for a week and I had to get off because I couldn’t be bothered to deal with the stress of travelling to weekly appointments.”
A third commented: “I once got sanctioned for being at work.”
Meanwhile, someone else chimed in: “I nearly lost my job to attend their appointments!”
Not only this, but one struggling woman wrote: “I need help but I won’t ask as it’s a nightmare! They make it so hard!”
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