Tax credits!

[Zazu]

This sounds stupid but I can afford my kids but without tax credits I wouldn't be able to afford to work. I am no better off working if I'm honest but because if the tax credits I am no worse off either. Tax credits enable me to break even, keep my job so in the future once the kids are in school I can start earning some money. Does that make sence? X

It does make sense and its clearly a good thing in your situation. I suppose thats why there isnt an easy way to fix the benefits system, as it helps some people to work and encourages others not to! x

 

[Lacey's Mummy]

I agree with you isobel!! I've worked ever since I was 16 and still struggle with money!! If you only have a child because you can afford it then not many people will have children!! Children cost money so every little helps! Yes I agree that if you earn over 30k then lower the tax credits but with bills and children we need tax credits! Maybe they should lower the bums money instead and get them back to work!!

I definately agree with getting people back to work - especially the ones who choose not to work cos they cant be bothered to get a job!

I totally agree with you. I know someone who quit thier job because they didn't have a social life!! People like that are discusting cos now she claims loads of benefits while we all have to struggle! It's so unfair!!

 

[Laura_C]

We are certainly going to be affected by the changes to tax credits, we do earn good money - both me and my husband are middle income earners, but we both work full time and have to pay out extortionate nursery fees (never had any help with this). So even though we are middle income earners it is certainly doesn't make us any better off financially when we have to pay our ridiculously high mortgage payments, bills and nursery fees. Everyone lives to their means, even though we 'earn good money' we still live pay cheque to pay cheque - and we certainly don't live the high life. We don't drink, we don't smoke and I never have nice things for myself. We have been on one family holiday in the last 5 years, so I don't see us as having lots of money.

TBH the one time we do really need help is when I am on maternity leave, as it is going to mean we are over £1000 a month down - this is a HUGE amount and I worry as to how we will cope. I really think they should address this by bringing maternity pay in line with earnings, a percentage of or something rather than just a flat rate for everyone. I have contributed for this during my working life, why is it not proportionate to my contribution?

Sorry for the rant - I just wanted to highlight that it seems middle income families are being totally shafted - it does make me wonder why the hell I bother slogging my guts out being a full time working mother when everything else costs so much and we are also left with nothing each month!!

I do feel very lucky that me and my husband have good jobs and earning potential as I understand this isn't an option for everyone - don't want to offend anyone...

 

[isobel84]

i just simply think that anyone that needs help should get help, but that dont include ppl that dont want to work (know a few) cuz money that i earn on wiping asses for £6 an hour goes on tax so ppl that are lazy can go on benefits! I even know a couple that only wanted a baby so they would get a bigger counsilhouse!! (yeah she got pregnant and they got a new place)
If someone generally do need help tho, i dont mind atall that what i pay in tax is going to them.
But to cut the money out for ppl that do need it is out of order, when it comes to children and sick ppl its not fair. The only place they should take money from is when someone dont show intrest for working. Dont give them a penny, thats my solution and england would save millions and millions.

 

[Laura_C]

Here, here! totally agree!

 

[FebMum2Be]

I have to disagree Zazu, my work didn't renew my contract when I told them I was pregnant, so without them I would be in shit creek tbh, I don't plan on staying on them, I will be getting back to work.. Not everyone is on benefits because they are lazy or can't be arsed to work.. I respect your opinion but hate being judged because I am claiming benefits.. I didn't choose to while rearing my son, but my work didn't leave me with any other options...

 

[Zazu]

I have to disagree Zazu, my work didn't renew my contract when I told them I was pregnant, so without them I would be in shit creek tbh, I don't plan on staying on them, I will be getting back to work.. Not everyone is on benefits because they are lazy or can't be arsed to work.. I respect your opinion but hate being judged because I am claiming benefits.. I didn't choose to while rearing my son, but my work didn't leave me with any other options...

I think u took my comment the wrong way, I said we should get people back to work n cut benefits for the ones who can't be bothered working. I wasn't implying that everyone out of work was scrounging, especially in the current economic climate. Like I said that's why the system is so complicated cos it is unfair for some and fair for others x

 

[MrsR]

I don't work BUT I don't claim benefits either. I have a medical note because of my back problems but because my OH works over 25 hours a week we're entitled to fuck all extra. At the moment we're not even recieving tax credits because they're so slow! So we're living off £100 a week. That barely pays for food and gas and electricity let alone anything else. I agree benefits for people who are fit to work but not making an effort to find a job should be cut completely. My OH got sacked and had to claim job seekers and even though he has qualifications in some areas and experience in electrical work he applied for everything and is now a cleaner on minimum wage just so he is back in work and we're worse off! It pisses me off when I see men and women going to the off licence at 9am or the pub when they clearly could be working and they get loads of money! I know someone who has never worked, is perfectly capable of working, claims benefits and wears designer clothes!!! How?! It's unfair to say that you shouldn't have children if you can't afford them, what's your idea of 'being able to afford them'? I can feed, clothe, wash, provide electricity and heating for them and give them all the love I have which IMHO is more important than them having the newest trainers, games console, toys etc-I don't include these things in being able to 'afford' a child because they are unnecessary to life. I'm actually really upset by that comment.

 

[Dragonfly Fi]

problem is, for a family of 3 children, 2 parents with both parents on Incap... you can claim up to 24k in benefits (and thats not including things like getting the boiler repaired, having the kitchen re-done every ten years) etc

you can sort of see why they think we are stupid for working! (Liam and me live off 12k a year-ish that he gets from working and we make from doing dreadlocks etc on the side, plus we have a lodger

its really, very very hard.

 

[MrsR]

I don't even qualify for incapacity because OH works 1 hour too many! Fair enough if he was on £10 an hour (just an example) but he's on minimum wage! I can't believe I'm so frustrated and upset I'm actually crying now. I'm dying to go back to work but can't and can't get any help. I just don't understand how people manage it.

 

[Dragonfly Fi]

When baby is here you will get a bit more support helen xx
Until then i would head down Citizens Advice, they should be able to tell you what your elliagble for now x

 

[tinkerbell86]

So is it £30k joint income or £30k each income? Do they take into account the maternity allowance as obviously once on maternity leave income will decrease rapidly?!?!

I'm worried that my firm won't offer me part time work when i want to return as they have refused 2 peoples applications to work part-time (one was on maternity leave and one has about 8 year old disabled child) and then I think we will be in trouble as i will need to be in work but what i do is quite specialised so am worried about the lack of other jobs!!!

 

[Dragonfly Fi]

Its 40k - joint income x

 

[tinkerbell86]

Ok maybe might scrape in if the income is less than £40k joint!!

 

[kellylou]

we can just afford baby without tax credits but its just how some people always miss out like some people have said on here work hard since the age of 16 like hubby and I have and never had to claim anything off the governemnt and dont get anything money wise yet we are faced with people on our area bragging about the fact they are on their 3rd child and never worked and got a 3 bed house. I think they just need to revist the benfits system and quite rightly if you earn over 50k u should not get help 50k is more than enough but as always the government hit the working class harder than the rich xxx

 

[klam]

theres soo many diferent opinions on this its hard to please everyone! i think everyone should get the same no matter what but that probably wouldnt work.
does anyone know how u go about gettin working tax credits?? i dont work but my partner earns about 24k a year we just had a review and they say we r gettin 10.67 a week!! thats just child tax credts tho not working
will need too call them tho as our new bundle has arrived altho i doubt we will get much more.

 

[tinkerbell86]

I know where you are coming from when we have clients coming in saying they want a copy of a letter with their address so they can get their benefits and go over the pub!!!! Me and OH both work full time and have worked hard for our place and are hopefully moving to a house before baby is here and can just afford new house and baby with new mortgage and everything else but the tax credits would help us out rather than use up the rest of our savings!!

 

[Sol]

"Tax credits: Reduced for families earning over £40,000 next year. But low income families will get more Child Tax Credit - the amount per child will rise by £150 above the rate of inflation next year - at an annual cost of £2bn."

From BBC Website

My husband was made redundant over a year ago and recently found work. We only claimed job seekers for as long as he could get it and that was it I supported him the rest of the way. It was tight but we managed it.
I know of some total scroungers in our area that cheat the system left right and centre. I am glad they are tightening up on benefits as I have seen some ridiculous things e.g,
a man who has been on the dol for the last 20 years because of his siatica which miraculously disappears every summer when he needs to clear his patio or mow the grass. Same said person who waits until he gets a court date because he hasn't paid his rent or council tax only to pay it 2 days before the hearing because he knows he can get away with it. Then spends £500 of his benefits on fireworks for bonfire night because he enjoys them brings another meaning to the money going up in smoke.
Its people like this that take the pee and the government need to crack down on IMHO.

Rant over

Mez xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Lacey's Mummy]

I know someone who's married but claims as a single parent!! That pisses me off cos her OH owns his own buisness!! I've reported her twice for fraud but nothings been done about it!! When I'm moaning about being skint she always says that I should do the same as I'd get so much more money!! How does she not feel guilty?! I also know someone else who hasn't paid her rent in months but can't get kicked out cos she's a single mum!! That's no excuse!! Now that's my rant over!! Lol