Would I be better off out of work and on JS?

mummytofour

Have a play round with www.entitledto.co.uk and see what you find.

As for having a family, results in poverty... YES it does!

For example if you were to go back to your job after the birth and earn the £400 a week I should imagine about £250 would go on childcare... that would mean that for the same job you are doing now you only get to keep £150, now that's the real world and as harsh as it is you are not the first person nor will you be the last to be caught. Having kids is no picnic and not an easy job nor is it at all financially rewarding, despite what some ill informed people may believe.

In addition benefits and the welfare state are for the needy not the greedy. I am not saying you are greedy but the attitude of shall I just leave work to claim JSA is madness leaving a well paid job like you have to sign on every week cap in hand.... Im sure you have far more pride that to choose that path.

fawd1

mummytofour wrote: »

Have a play round with www.entitledto.co.uk and see what you find.

As for having a family, results in poverty... YES it does!

For example if you were to go back to your job after the birth and earn the £400 a week I should imagine about £250 would go on childcare... that would mean that for the same job you are doing now you only get to keep £150, now that's the real world and as harsh as it is you are not the first person nor will you be the last to be caught. Having kids is no picnic and not an easy job nor is it at all financially rewarding, despite what some ill informed people may believe.

In addition benefits and the welfare state are for the needy not the greedy. I am not saying you are greedy but the attitude of shall I just leave work to claim JSA is madness leaving a well paid job like you have to sign on every week cap in hand.... Im sure you have far more pride that to choose that path.

I do have more pride than that hence why I've never taken any kind of benefit in my life, but if quitting my job and going on the dole is the only way I can guarantee that I get to keep a roof over my childs head, then you best believe that I'd do it. At the end of the day, I've paid my taxes and NI for the last ten years, about time I took something back.

DaisyFlower

fawd1 wrote: »

I do have more pride than that hence why I've never taken any kind of benefit in my life, but if quitting my job and going on the dole is the only way I can guarantee that I get to keep a roof over my childs head, then you best believe that I'd do it. At the end of the day, I've paid my taxes and NI for the last ten years, about time I took something back.

As you'll get MA if you carry on working, or MA after a few months on JSA you'll still be in the same position.

Whilst you may have made contributions through tax etc, its not a saving scheme you can draw on when you fancy not working for a while.

Voyager2002

misscomickat wrote: »

I'm fairly sure that if you live with a partner who works, that you're not entitled to JSA anyway (as said partner is expected to support you). Not entirely sure, someone may know.

Yes, you are correct.

Voyager2002

fawd1 wrote: »

Hi,

i'm just wondering as I'm 3 months pregnant with my first child and have only just started a new job. because of this, I'm only entitled to maternity allowance not SMP, so I'll get only 117 a week, whilst i currently earn 400 a week in my job. Now, what I would like to know is, if I take MA can I claim housing and council tax benefit as well? Because if not, surely I'd be better off not working, and then claiming JS, housing and council tax benefit, which would leave me with some money left every week. About £5 (wooohooo), but with only MA, then I will be left in minus figures every week. Surely this is ridiculous? How can it possibly make sense that the best thing I can do for my family is not work??? Forgot to mention, my OH makes about £18k basic a year, so with both our salaries we are not allowed any working tax credits or anything like that either. It just seems so stupid to me that the government helps you more to do nothing.

The short answer is, no.

Once your baby has been born, you will find that the various tax credits are a good deal more generous than you realise (you can claim something unless your household income is over 50,000 per year). If you decide to return to work, you will be able to get additional help with childcare costs.

Virtually everyone with a child is financially better off in work than out of work.