yougest child soon to be 10, told i cant claim income support

1sue23

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Actually, my mum worked as a cleaner when I was young and this is exactly what she did! I can see that it wouldn't work for 3 of them though.

Regarding your parents not being "unpaid childminders" - surely the solution could be to pay them for looking after the children , giving them some extra income. 16 hours or so of childcare, divided between 2 people isn't going to cut into their free time all that much.

As a grandmother why is it that peoople assume we will be looking after the grandchildren paid or unpaid ,I have done my bit thankyou and am very much enjoying my freedom .

fkelanne

1sue23 wrote: »

As a grandmother why is it that peoople assume we will be looking after the grandchildren paid or unpaid ,I have done my bit thankyou and am very much enjoying my freedom .

as a mother would you not want to help your children out by helping to look after their children while they went to work to get extra money so they can provid more for your grandchildren?

notlongnow_2

1sue23 wrote: »

As a grandmother why is it that peoople assume we will be looking after the grandchildren paid or unpaid ,I have done my bit thankyou and am very much enjoying my freedom .

I think this poster was just answering the the OP's circumstances. Nowhere did I read that all grandparents should be expected to care for their grandchildren free of charge.

my mum wouldnt look after my children(ever), neither would I expect her too..paid or unpaid. Sometimes I wish I did have a mum that would have them even an hour a month! but alas its not to be..lol.

1sue23

fkelanne wrote: »

as a mother would you not want to help your children out by helping to look after their children while they went to work to get extra money so they can provid more for your grandchildren?

Nope I have done my bit ,and yes I do help out often but when it suits me and as I live on a narrow boat enjoying my retirement I am not always available and as for providing for my grandchildren I already do .

ladychelle

bestpud wrote: »

On a slightly different note though, if you do just 16 hours a week in term time only, are you still able to claim wtc, as your average hours over the year would be less than 16?

very good question, i hadnt though of that as i am not at all clued up on this. Any one know please

DUTR

WASHER wrote: »

(snip) my daughters high school, a sandwich is £1.60 and a drink is 80p, I simply will not pay for that each day for two children...its almost £96.00 a month for two children, most average families cannot afford that during a recession when salaries have been frozen and ulility bills are on the increase...rant over..

80p for a drink? ! I wouldn't pay that for one child let alone 2, or more so only on odd occasions.

Oldernotwiser

1sue23 wrote: »

As a grandmother why is it that peoople assume we will be looking after the grandchildren paid or unpaid ,I have done my bit thankyou and am very much enjoying my freedom .

I quite agree with you if people are just assuming you will do it, particularly for free. However, many people over retirement age can be glad of an extra income and there are people who would prefer looking after children to working, say, in Tescos.

1sue23

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I quite agree with you if people are just assuming you will do it, particularly for free. However, many people over retirement age can be glad of an extra income and there are people who would prefer looking after children to working, say, in Tescos.

It does seem to be assumption that grandparants do not have their own lives and can just drop what they are doing to look after the grandchildren , I have worked hard all of my life as has my husband and the last thing I want is the commitment of looking after the grandchildren .
The main problem seems to be the lack of childcare my own daughter struggles with this and so shares the childcare with a friend , problem being that this apparently is not allowed as it is deemed as working for reward .

LizzieS_2

bestpud wrote: »

On a slightly different note though, if you do just 16 hours a week in term time only, are you still able to claim wtc, as your average hours over the year would be less than 16?

You are entitled to claim for the weeks you do 16 hours. In fact I'm sure tax credits changed not too long ago to allow a 4 week follow on after wtc technically ceased to primarily cater for term-timers. This would just leave a short break in payments during the summer hols.

Check with Subs though.

elisebutt65

bestpud wrote: »

On a slightly different note though, if you do just 16 hours a week in term time only, are you still able to claim wtc, as your average hours over the year would be less than 16?

I feel qualified to answer this as this is what happens to me. I teach 19.5 hours per week. You have to let the WTC peeps know you work term time only and they work out your annual earnings and pro rata you for 52 weeks. So if I work for 38 weeks at £445 per week then they multiply by 38 and divide by 52 which averages out to about 325 per week and that is what they base your WTC on. They also do the same to your childcare costs so you don't claim for the exact amount but what it works out to pro rata'ed
This way you get some every week during the long holidays as well - esp good for me as I don't get paid between July and October!
They don't count the long gaps as long as you are contracted to work over 16 hours per week term time only.