As Sara Hesmondhalgh prepared to leave school, getting a job didn’t cross her mind.
Instead, she decided to have a baby so she could claim benefits, get a house and avoid having to “struggle” on a minimum wage job.
“I’ve never wanted to work. Neither of my parents had a job. Everyone in my street was on benefits"
And her plan worked – she fell pregnant just before her 16th birthday after a one-night stand and was housed in a one-bed flat, receiving £12,000 a year in benefits as a single mum.
But when her son Tom* turned seven, she was faced with being forced to look for work under the Job Seeker’s Allowance scheme – which required parents to job-hunt when their child reached seven, although that’s now been lowered to age five.
So she decided to get pregnant again, this time with her on-off partner Greg, 26 – who used to be a drain worker but has been unemployed for a year and claims £100 a week in benefits.
Sara had her second child Lauren*, eight months ago – and admits the reason was to stay off work and claim an extra £300 a month in benefits.
As the Government proposes changes to the UK’s welfare system to clamp down on the job-shy and cut the predicted £208billion benefits bill for this year – the equivalent to more than £8,300 for every family in the UK – Sara shockingly says she’s prepared to have up to three more kids to delay having to find a job.
“I’ve never wanted to work. Neither of my parents had a job. Mum had me at 17, then went on to have my four brothers and sisters. Dad was in and out of prison and everyone in my street was on benefits,” she says.
“My parents claimed a lot so we had nice clothes and toys, a comfy life and never scrimped. Having children and claiming benefits seemed the easy option. Lots of people I know have kids just to stay at home claiming benefits because it’s an easier life.”
The mum, 24, from Leyland, Lancashire – whose handouts went from £12,000 a year to £16,000 when Lauren was born – admits she gets enough to splash out on designer clothes, video games and jewellery. And she plans to have a total of five kids so she can continue to avoid work and claim more benefits.
Sara – who now lives in a two-bed council flat – adds:
“I make more money this way than I would if I worked in an unskilled job. I love my kids – money might be the reason I had them, but I’m not using them. I know I’ll have to work eventually, I can’t have kids forever. I’m considering training to be a hairdresser, but I’d want a salary of £24,000 to maintain my lifestyle and pay for childcare.
"A lot of my mates were struggling doing minimum wage jobs and still living at home. I wanted for nothing and had my own space. I had takeaways four nights a week, lunches in town with friends and nights out. I was getting more cash than I needed."
“I worry future cuts might affect my benefits, but I can’t see how the current proposals will. If the Government wants to cut the welfare bill, they’ll need to come down harder. I’ll make the most of it while I can, I have more than enough to get by on. I don’t see I’m doing anything wrong.”
Sara was just 15 when she realised having a baby would help her avoid work. She says: “My parents showed me it was an easy way of life and a girl in my year at school had a baby and seemed to get a lot of benefits money.”
Determined to get pregnant, Sara had a one-night stand at a party shortly before her 16th birthday, with an 18 year old she knew through friends.
She admits: “I just thought, ‘If it happens, it happens.’ I wasn’t on the Pill and we didn’t use a condom. I didn’t know about STIs back then. I kept my plan to myself as I was worried my friends would be shocked.”
Six weeks later, she discovered she was pregnant. She reveals: “I couldn’t believe it was so easy. I wasn’t scared, just excited.
Dad shouted, but Mum was calm. I told them I wasn’t in a relationship with the father – and I didn’t want to tell him about the baby.
They were shocked, but agreed to support me. My mates were supportive too. I dropped out of school a few months later.”
Sara had Tom in August 2005. She says: “I had a C-section at 38 weeks because the baby was breech – it was so scary. It was hard getting up with him at night and the early starts were a shock, but my parents helped a lot – and looked after Tom so I could go out with my mates at weekends. I adore Tom – and was happier being a mum than working.
“I was given a one-bed council flat five months later and received £70 a week income support, £55 child tax credits and £20 child benefit, plus my rent and council tax were paid. After buying necessities, I had about £280 left each month.”
She adds: “A lot of my mates were struggling doing minimum wage jobs and still living at home. I wanted for nothing and had my own space. I had takeaways four nights a week, lunches in town with friends and nights out. I was getting more cash than I needed.
“As Tom grew up, I started feeling guilty that his father wasn’t in his life. So, when he turned two, I told his dad. He was shocked, but once he’d got used to the news, he wanted to be a part of Tom’s life and he has regular contact with him now.”
As Tom approached seven, Sara was told her income support would be changed to £70-a-week Job Seeker’s Allowance.
But despite the fact her finances wouldn’t change, she was worried about looking for work.
She says: “The idea of getting a job was too stressful. I hated the thought of interviews and it seemed like a waste of time as they would only be for minimum wage jobs. I wanted to have another baby and carry on claiming benefits.”
She’d been seeing on/off boyfriend Greg since 2009 – and, although they don’t live together, decided to have another baby.
She says: “If you’re pregnant, you don’t have to go on JSA. I knew I’d get £300 a month more in child benefit and tax credits. I could get vouchers for milk, fruit and vegetables from the NHS. It didn’t take much to persuade Greg and I fell pregnant a month later.”
Baby Lauren was born in July 2012. A week later, Sara’s benefits went up to £1,350 per month. Sara – who’s so far claimed almost £100,000 – says: “Straight away I bought Lauren a £75 DKNY dress and three £30 bracelets. I recently bought a £600 TV and a £400 laptop too – but I love spoiling the kids. I buy Lauren four dresses a month, usually DKNY or Burberry, and Tom has the latest video games.
*names have been changed