5 minute benefit check up Article Discussion Area

debbycatz

It seems that in my circumstances (working full-time and earning 12,000 a year with one 'child' of 17 who is not working or in education (a whole other story) I am entitled to £0 but if I had no child and earnt £11,500 I would get £225 a month in working tax credit.

It is indeed crazy !

Chrysalis

thats bad as well so their is no gradual decline? 11500 = 225 a month 12000 presumably cutoff point right down to 0 insteaad of just less.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi

Some people were having difficulty finding the information on a couple of the links in the article so we've changed them to take you directly to where you can find it

Hermia

debbycatz wrote:

It is indeed crazy !

I don't understand the benefits system at all. I work in a vocational profession and earn less than the average wage. I'm single so all my money goes on rent and bills and I am entitled to nothing. Yet I come across many couples through work who are in their twenties, both work, don't have children and get benefits. i know so many people on housing benefit which I am not entitled to even though the rent where I live is crippling. I don't understand why a childless couple who are both working get help with rent, but a single person is deemed not to need it.

seven-day-weekend

Single people are really hard done to by the benefits system by IMHO.

Hermia

seven-day-weekend wrote:

Single people are really hard done to by the benefits system by IMHO.

I can understand couples with kids getting help, but I don't really understand why childless, working couples get more help than singles.

The sad thing is that I am now seriously thinking of moving to the private sector because I don't want to be living in a bedsit for the rest of my life.

jandrewcrook

Hi I tried the entitled to calculator to check my wtc/ctc award, i have been awarded no wtc and only £350per month ctc and told I cannot claim help towards childcare despite it costing me £7000 per year out of my ££14000 net salary as a single mum of 3.
Yet the 5 minute calculator worked out I should get £10611 per year £4420 of it towards childcare!
Inland Revenue won't budge on their childcare element without wtc though - I've tried.

Fran

jandrewcrook wrote:

Hi I tried the entitled to calculator to check my wtc/ctc award, i have been awarded no wtc and only £350per month ctc and told I cannot claim help towards childcare despite it costing me £7000 per year out of my ££14000 net salary as a single mum of 3.
Yet the 5 minute calculator worked out I should get £10611 per year £4420 of it towards childcare!
Inland Revenue won't budge on their childcare element without wtc though - I've tried.

Are you working 16 hours or more? If that's the case you should be entitled to some WTC and help towards childcare. You could contact Citizens Advice or other welfare benefits advisors in your area to check.

jandrewcrook

Hi, yes I work full time but because my gross earnings are above £16000 I am ineligable for wtc and hence the childcare assistance! I have tried citizens advice, jobcentre, childrens information service, surestart and pleading but no joy. Why do they not look at net earnings when calculating what you need to live on?
ps I can't claim housing benefit as i have a mortgage.

Fran

jandrewcrook wrote:

Hi, yes I work full time but because my gross earnings are above £16000 I am ineligable for wtc and hence the childcare assistance! I have tried citizens advice, jobcentre, childrens information service, surestart and pleading but no joy. Why do they not look at net earnings when calculating what you need to live on?
ps I can't claim housing benefit as i have a mortgage.

I've just had a go on the HMRC website and it comes up with:-

Based on the information you have entered, your household may be entitled to the following tax credits award:-
Child Tax Credit £3700.62
Childcare element of Working Tax Credit £3125.13
Sub total £6825.75
Working Tax Credit (less the childcare element of Working Tax Credit) £0.00
Note: The childcare element of Working Tax Credit will always be paid direct to the person who is mainly responsible for caring for the child or children, alongside payments of Child Tax Credit.
Total £6825.75
This is based on your household income of £16000.00.
This result is only an estimate and is based on the information provided assuming you make the claim on 18/08/2006. This may change when your claim is processed and in certain circumstances may be paid from an earlier date (up to a maximum of 3 months) where you (or your partner if it is a joint claim) satisfied the requirements for entitlement.

(Though of course I don't know your exact circumstances.)