Couples 'up to £200 a MONTH worse off than single mothers'

SingleSue

Thanks Carolt...and no idea what I would be allowed to earn!

silvercar

Something like AQA may suit. People text questions to AQA and they pay the answer providers on a piecemeal basis. As I understand it you are paid per answer given and can work as and when you want just by logging in. There was a long thread on MSE about it.

carolt

Have PM'ed you Sue re my previous comment, for future reference.

PasturesNew

ILW wrote: »

It may be just symantics, but I think most have an entirely different view of "singles mothers" on one hand and divorcees and widows on the other. It would be better if the distniction was used more frequently.

You mean, how they used to be called:
- abandoned women
- widows
- fallen women

Prudent

SingleSue wrote: »

Thanks Carolt...and no idea what I would be allowed to earn!

I think its £20 a single parent. It doesn't sound much but at just over £1000 a year would be useful

I am a special needs teacher and see so many mums in your situation and there are no easy answers. My own dd has now reached college age and has mild additionall needs. It has been hard enough to fit work around her because teaching has no flexiblity. Remember though you will be gaining so many skills through what you are doing. Some of my best collegues have had children with additional needs themselves.

Edit: had a bit oif inspiration - sent you a pm

carolt

Ideas are flying thick and fast!

BTW, Sue, assuming the £20/week figure is correct, the work I sent you the details of counts as self-employed, meaning you can actually earn slightly more, as you can deduct reasonable expenses - as you do it at home, for example, you can deduct proportion of your heating/lighting bills - the tax office told me a figure of an extra £5 a week, say is something they'd pass without question.

Given you probably pay that anyway, that allows you to earn an extra £100/month ish - should at least ensure you can afford to put the heating on in the winter...

carolt

Actually, just checked and this:

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/housingbenefit/rent#16

claims you can earn up to £25/week without it affecting your benefits, as a single parent.

(So make that £30, as above. )

sjaypink

carolt wrote: »

Thank you Prudent, for making my point so well.

Our current benefit system discourages those who want to support themselves, by making it barely worth their while, if at all, and encourages those who are too lazy/dishonest not to bother.

sjay, maybe where you live it is impossible for a couple to work and be worse off than a single mum in receipt of benefits incl housing costs and council tax benefits etc - around London, owing to the highcost of housing, it's entirely possible. ~Not to say likely.

I checked the LHA for Ealing, where we used to live, and discovered that, if I was in a position to claim housing benefits, with 3 kids, I would be 'entitled to' a 3-bed house, up to a maximum of £370/week!!! That would get me a lovely 3-bed house, one of the beautiful Victorian houses next to the park, in the catchment for the best primary school in Ealing - that I could only have idly daydreamed of when we lived in a 2-bed maisonette on the main road round the corner - but as a working couple could never have afforded.

How many coples can afford £1600/month on rent???? Out of taxed income? And have the luxury of staying at home with their kids, being there for them at every need, baking cakes, reading with them, playing with them...?

Should have stayed at home (that nice victorian place near the park) baking them brownies carol

Results for couple, one working FT, one SAHP, salary £25k pa, 2 children, in Ealing:

Tax Credits: £48.21 pw
Housing Benefits £270.18 pw

The maths don't just apply to Ealing BTW, this shows that the nationwide eligible amount re LHA for Mr and Mrs average as described above is approx £100 pw.

So anyone in these circumstances, anywhere in the country, will not need to pay more than £100pw rent (subject to their local max LHA amounts and assessed housing needs). So, I really do think any (renting) family can afford to have one SAHP, regardless of location (subject to huge benefits cut backs come Friday). :eek:;)