Mel's Mum Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I was brought up to believe that hard work would bring you all that you needed in life and if you wanted more then you get an extra job or work longer hours to achieve it. And to this end I've worked constantly for the past 25 years and indeed sometimes had 2 jobs if I was "saving up" for something. However I'm getting increasingly disillusioned with this ethic and find that whilst it works for a single, childless person, its not always the case when kids arrive. For a start, its often hard or impossible to work longer hours or take an extra job if you have kids to look after and, even if its not impossible, you then lose quality time with your kids. I've recently found myself in an ever increasing catch 22 situation - after a divorce I could only work part-time and I was lucky enough to find a job with hours that suited. At first, I only worked 21 hours per week and therefore got my full rent and council tax paid by housing benefit. After a couple of months, I got the chance to increase my hours to 25 per week - "great" an extra few quid a week will come in handy - only until I informed housing benefit and found that I'd just crossed a threshold and my rent would only be partly paid! So my 4 hours extra a week brought me no real gain. Around the same time I was advised to claim family tax credit which took weeks to sort out but then a letter arrived - £107 per week! Wayhay it was like a lottery win ...... until I informed housing benefit and no longer got anything towards my rent! So again, no real loss or gain. Then I committed the cardinal sin of meeting a new partner and (the biggest sin of all) marrying him! He is on long term sick and immediately lost his £90 per week because of my part time wage and then the inland revenue removed my single-person premium cutting my family tax credit as well! So I'd love to work harder and earn more but it really isnt that simple. If I was to work more hours now I would only cut into the small amount of family tax credit I get so I'd be working more for no gain. Ditto if I took on an extra job in the evenings and I'd see less of my family as well. So my long held work ethic is fast diminishing. I've taken advice from the DHSS (or whatever they're called these days) and the amount I could claim for myself, my husband and my 2 kids would come to EXACTLY the same as my current wage + family tax credit. It would be a big step for me not to work because I always have and its all I know but I cant say I'm not tempted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Rich Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 One of the good things this unelected mickey mouse dictatorship is doing is altering the tax system so that no one earning less than 10 thousand a year will pay any tax at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutronic Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I'm currently on ESA and would be better off in work according to a 'better off calculator'. Im trying my hardest to get back into paid employment but it's quite difficult right now. It will happen and hopefully soon though as I'm quite determined to be in paid employment by the end of the year. However saying that there does seem to be someone I know who is on benefits andhas children plus animals yet she seems to be able to go out every weekend and it's people like that the government will clamp down on. So for the OP some people are better off on benefits that's clear but not everyone is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F. Sidebottom Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I've worked for many years and must admit I really enjoy it. However, it seems like life is better claiming from the state and here is why. People on benefits seem to go out more and seem to enjoy life in general. For me the majority of wages go straight to everyone else for gas,electric and all other bills etc but yet folks on benefits have these and can still have enough to go out and have a great time. The one thing I miss is socialising outside of work due to lack of money and I'm sure I am not the only one. Just as society owes it to you to look after you in a time of need, you owe it to society to go out and work if you can, regarless of whether you feel you would be better off on benefits. End of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strikerPaul Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 The fact of the matter is, under NO circumstances should people be better off on benefits than in employment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
INTERVIEWER Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 One of the good things this unelected mickey mouse dictatorship is doing is altering the tax system so that no one earning less than 10 thousand a year will pay any tax at all. Only the very naive truly believe this Lib Dem manifesto promise. The personal tax free allowance for PAYE is being raised by £1,000 this April. It is extremely doubtful that there shall be a further such sizable increase. Lib Dem election promises should always be treated with deep suspicion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Gobby Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 ive worked for 29 years out of 30, i moved to the coast last year and have been out of work for a year now, i fill my time in making wine, baking bread,in the greenhouse, going for a walk, beach casting and going on the beach with the kids on a nice day, i have a car and have days out. I live in rented accomodation and have 2 kids the eldest is 2 and another on the way,they cant make me work cus my partner is long term sick and iam responsible for looking after her and the kids. I left a £24k job last year and am better off on benefits! which rise another £3k a year when the babies born! im happy as larry! why would i want to get up at 6am for work to get £7 an hour? Long term sick ,but still can manage to get pregnant.She must have good days then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich5315 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 nutronic the dole have told me i would be better off working 16 hours a week, ignore the better off calculator it doesnt include things like rent and council tax benefit. working 16 hours a week in actual fact i would be £172 a week worse off! problem you get going part time is with the kids your money is made up from working tax credit but its still lower than not working, and when a new tax year comes round they always say youve been overpaid in tax credit and take it all back, i know a lot of people thats happened too!! striker paul i agree with you totally, no one should be better off on benefits, but youve got to remember that what you get in benefits is classed as a very basic living, no one should work for less than 20k a year! thats the cost of living now! anyone working for less money than benefits are being exploited by the company they work for!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJC1 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Comes back to the min wage argument, Id increase it, because the min wage doesnt cover minimum basic loving costs (it was worked out at around 14k- minimum)..the fact some people are better off on benefits is a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F. Sidebottom Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Comes back to the min wage argument, Id increase it, because the min wage doesnt cover minimum basic loving costs (it was worked out at around 14k- minimum)..the fact some people are better off on benefits is a joke. That's the debateable point. Often you'll find those that claim to be unable to afford basic living costs will have Sky, broadband, a computer, a mobile phone, smart clothes, and will drink and smoke. But claim they don't have enough money to eat. You could live on £20 a week IF you really wanted to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.