free xtra benefits???

krisskross

My daughter in law tells me they receive approx £30 a week in child benefit and tax credits for their son. This is £1500 a year, which surely covers the cost of clothing for a small child. I agree there are other costs associated with child rearing apart from clothes but I honestly feel that present levels of child related benefits is very generous. Parents are actually responsible for providing for their children's needs. Not the government via the taxpayer.

mitchaa

krisskross wrote: »

My daughter in law tells me they receive approx £30 a week in child benefit and tax credits for their son. This is £1500 a year, which surely covers the cost of clothing for a small child. I agree there are other costs associated with child rearing apart from clothes but I honestly feel that present levels of child related benefits is very generous. Parents are actually responsible for providing for their children's needs. Not the government via the taxpayer.

The above amounts are the very basic amounts, people on benefits receive a lot lot more than this.

CB for the 1st child is £18.80pw (£978 per year)
For the 2nd child and every additional child afterwards £12.55 (£653per year)

Every parent in the country with 2 children regardless of income would receive this amount. (£1630 per year)

Now regarding income and tax credit awards,

Family element is £545 per year (Incomes of around £25-55k)
Child element is £2085per year per child (Incomes less than £17k)

So a parent on ''real'' benefits would receive the £1630 above + £2085x2 + £545 family CTC elements so a total of £6345 per year.

That is a minimum figure not taking into account food/milk tokens/free school dinners, prescriptions, maternity grants etc etc.

£6345 or £122pw is more than enough to feed, clothe and keep 2 children. I dont care what anyone says but that is more than enough.

When that £6345 starts dwindling away into the cigarette and alcohol fund, thats when it is no longer adequate:rolleyes:

We care very well for our children already. Sometimes too well.

Titch89

By the time the parent(s) have bought everything for their child, £6345 doesn't go that far.

krisskross

Titch89 wrote: »

By the time the parent(s) have bought everything for their child, £6345 doesn't go that far.

Sorry???? You are kidding aren't you? £500 a month that is, I know loads of families that live on less than this a month after mortgage and council tax.

mitchaa

Titch89 wrote: »

By the time the parent(s) have bought everything for their child, £6345 doesn't go that far.

Do you have calculations proving this as i would take a guess as to say it was more than enough.

Remember no housing costs, no council tax costs, only heating costs, food and clothes. They also get free school dinners so that saves quite a lot during the week.

The issue is paying the other bills, like mobile phone, sky, broadband, luxuries for the parent etc, but that figure solely to raise 2 children is an adequate amount.

My son is 8 months old and i would hazard a guess to say ive not even spent £1000 so far in food/clothes/nappies/wipes and toys. Yes he will get a little more expensive later on especially when he goes to school but they are not as expensive as you think.

Titch89

As an 8 month old, you wouldn't have needed to buy food for the first 4-6 months anyway. :rolleyes:

calleyw

Titch89 wrote: »

By the time the parent(s) have bought everything for their child, £6345 doesn't go that far.

Sorry to the OP about going OT. But

£528 a month is not enough to feed and clothe two children :rolleyes:

I don't earn much more than that and my husband gets approx the same in benefits IB and DLA.

From that I have to feed and clothe two adults. Run a car, pay a mortgage (albeit it is a small one) and pay full council tax as well as pay for everything else like his medications. He wears out shoes in month half because of a dropped foot.

Don't get any tax credits or anything else. But we manage.

Yours

Calley

mitchaa

Titch89 wrote: »

As an 8 month old, you wouldn't have needed to buy food for the first 4-6 months anyway. :rolleyes:

Aptamil is £8 a carton and lasts 6 days. That is £40pm in milk.

Nappies about £20pm and wipes about £10pm

So it was costing us £70pm, but yet i receive £75.20 every 4 weeks in CB, so even CB covered his costs, never mind CTC.

Due to income i dont receive CTC but that would significantly increase the available money for my child if i was eligible.

calleyw

Titch89 wrote: »

As an 8 month old, you wouldn't have needed to buy food for the first 4-6 months anyway. :rolleyes:

Again at the Risk of going OT.

Why don't you need to buy food for a baby .

Not every mother can breast feed or even wants to.

Not ever mother wants to use washable nappies or wipes.

If you where strapped for cash then you might use/do the above but not everyone wants to.

Yours


Calley

Lovaabargain

bridtown wrote: »

Been into school a few times to look at the dinner it was a interduction for ma kids going full time and hell it was bad like i said i would not give it to my dog ha.

It was nothing like when i was at school they just school serve slop there at this school anyways not sure about any other
It would save me a arm and a leg but not worth the hassel of my kids kicking off and making a fuss

Fair enough - although it's a pity the parents of children at the school can't raise this issue with the governors to try & get the standards improved.

Have you tried Freecycle for the school uniforms?
- I know where I live there is a lovely lady who gets brand new school trousers etc.. direct from a reputable school uniform provider & then advertises them on freecycle - have got my son's last 4 pairs from her saving me quite a bit.

hth