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Off-grid parents on benefits say they deserve their three-bed council house as they’re saving taxpayers’ cash by home-schooling kids
AN 'off-grid' dad whose controversial style of parenting includes 'un-schooling' his children at home and letting them pick their own bedtime has admitted "we rely mostly on benefits".
But Matt Allen, 35, said because none of his three kids, Uly, eight, Ostara, four, and Kai, one, are traditionally schooled or were delivered in hospital, they saved the UK government money in other ways.
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Speaking on Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over on the W Channel, Matt, from Brighton, East Sussex, told Stacey how he worked "a few hours a week" as a yoga instructor whereas Adele, also 35, was a full-time mum.
The family are known for their "off-grid" style of parenting, where they let the child decide what to do, and made headlines when their daughter Ostara weed live on This Morning when she was one, leading viewers to brand their kids "feral".
Feeding the family, Matt said, was very costly - explaining this was why they had to reply on state handouts.
"It takes all of our money pretty much," he explained, revealing how they had recently moved into a three-bed council house after falling out with their previous neighbours and being forced to move into emergency accommodation for around a year.
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"It's mostly benefit but we claim the very bottom line, just housing benefit and child tax credit which everyone gets anyway.
"That's it, which I think if I check in on it it is £190 a week."
But Matt was adamant he and Adele were not abusing the system, with him working so few hours.
"I really honestly don't think we are," he said. "We have a minimalist impact on society in many respects
"Adele didn't have births at hospitals so we saved money on that. It is what it is."
And he refused to work a more traditional job for longer hours. "It's simple, I have no intention of spending 45 to 50 hours a week working. It is not in my psyche," he said.
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Adele also revealed that none of the children had ever received a vaccination, despite the risks presented by diseases such as measles.
She admitted even if she was to take them to a country rife with malaria she wouldn't give them malaria tablets.
"We believe children are born with a working immune system," she said. "And yes it is immature but that is why you breastfeed them."
She added one of the reasons the family had a dog in the house was to build up their immunity.
As previously told in November last year when Fabulous Digital met the Allen's at their then-home in Hove none of the children go to school - which is their choice.
Un-schooling is child-led learning. The syllabus is created by them and we provide the resources.
Matt Allen
The family calls it un-schooling and they can do what they want - including play trampoline.
As a result of this their eldest child, son Uly, who is eight, cannot read - or even spell his own name.
"It doesn't feel like it is a priority," said Adele, explaining she had researched child learning and she was confident his slow pace of development wouldn't hold him back.
"Un-schooling is child-led learning," explained Matt. "The syllabus is created by them and we provide the resources."
He added: "He [Uly] had the choice and he didn't want to go to school."
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The family can eat what they want, when they want - but rarely together with Ostara enjoying a meal of broccoli and Monster Munch on her own.
"There's no set meal time," said Matt - who revealed he would let them fast if they wanted to. "I used to hate it when mum used to shout out, 'come on, dinner time'."
And they even go to bed when they want to.
"Every night is different," said Matt. "Some nights there's a bath, other nights there is not.
"Normally Ostara will turn round and say, 'I'm ready for bed,' and take herself off to sleep, then it's just me and Uly and usually I say 'I'm ready for bed' before him."
The family also sleep in one room, with Adele saying you "make sacrifices" when you have children.
Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over: The Family Without Rules airs tonight at 10pm on the W Channel
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In September 2017, the Allen family were evicted from their Brighton home after neighbours complained.
Last year, Fabulous Digital exclusively spent a day with the family who shot to fame after their child weed live on This Morning.
Child urinates in This Morning studio during segment on off-grid parenting