Tax credits have left us with nothing

Jowo_2

I can't bear this thread, even though I am an opponent of tax credits on principle and this could be an example why it is a clunky benefit to administer and discusses wider ramifications in society, it has got a bit shabby and I pity the OP who must now regret her original post, long since answered.

I hope this thread gets either gets locked or transferred into the DT forum.

Caz3121

Deepmistrust wrote: »

When kids grow up, they (in theory at least) contribute accordingly. So what a family loses in WTC (etc), then assuming the child stays at home - it's up to the 'child' to pay their keep to their parents.

unfortunately we see posts on here where it is a huge amount of money - can they expect the 'child' to make up £700 per month when they may not even earn that

looking at the entitlement tables, OP probably have around £11k in tax credits alone...however as said before this is our crazy system that is at fault

skcollobcat10

snoop2008 wrote: »

Whilst I do understand your concerns, it really highlights how dependant many families are on tax credits.

But there were a lot of families, when the tax credit first started, that decided to reduce their hours in their workplace, both men and women. A lot of them thought, why work full time when tax credits will make my wage up. Not all families are like that but there are some.

Deepmistrust

Caz3121 wrote: »

unfortunately we see posts on here where it is a huge amount of money - can they expect the 'child' to make up £700 per month when they may not even earn that

looking at the entitlement tables, OP probably have around £11k in tax credits alone...however as said before this is our crazy system that is at fault

Are you talking about WTC?

Seriously, who gets £700 per child per month?

Deepmistrust

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

But there were a lot of families, when the tax credit first started, that decided to reduce their hours in their workplace, both men and women. A lot of them thought, why work full time when tax credits will make my wage up. Not all families are like that but there are some.

There is no way you could possibly know that *a lot* (in any significant numbers)of families did that for that reason. Though I have no doubt that mentality exists. They are still a minority. There will be a minority of abusers in any system, in any aspect of society.

I despair at this being continually the main focus of argument in these kinds of discussions. When the vast majority of recipients of WTC/CTC have done no such thing.

G51shopaholic

I'll be rude and ask were you seperated when you conceived your 8mth old?

And if you were receiving Tax Credits based on being a "single parent" did you not consider the financial changes when your husband "came back to live with you".

All to often people claim to be single to get more money and then get worried about the fraud they are comitting - hence the return of the partner at the point of renewal! If it was a short seperation then you must have been getting less money before, as I assume at that point you were claiming as a couple? So you must have know your money would go back down, as it would have increased with your single claim?

i am being too blunt?

System

My question to the OP would be why chose to have another child if you were working part-time and relying on Tax credits unless of course your partner was unfortunate enough to be made redundant after the child was conceived?

Also the OP should have been aware that it takes time for a new claim to be processed as she would have had to make a new single claim when she and her husband separated originally. The break in payments is not the TCO's fault it is entirely due to the OP and her husband separating and getting back together again.

However if the OP is choosing to be the main breadwinner now and her partner is staying at home then increasing her hours worked to 30, whether by taking a second job or more overtime, would mean that they would then be entitled to the 30 hour element of WTC. This would increase the amount of tax credits they receive even taking into account the increase in household income.

Caz3121

Deepmistrust wrote: »

Are you talking about WTC?

Seriously, who gets £700 per child per month?

16 hours at minimum wage, 1 child will get £550 per month (WTC+CTC) plus £88 child benefit I am guessing some of the posters have included child maintenance or loss of housing benefit as well in their loss
Once the child leaves full time qualifying education the whole lot stops - a big loss for anyone that has been used to this and budgeted around it

UnderPressure

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why do you assume that the posters concerned are female?

Ha ha ha I didn't

Deepmistrust

Caz3121 wrote: »

16 hours at minimum wage, 1 child will get £550 per month (WTC+CTC) plus £88 child benefit I am guessing some of the posters have included child maintenance or loss of housing benefit as well in their loss
Once the child leaves full time qualifying education the whole lot stops - a big loss for anyone that has been used to this and budgeted around it

That's a lot of WTC/CTC to lose. I think anyone in that situation, having worked for the minimum wage, for the minimum number of hours during their childs dependant years, will seriously have to join the ranks of the full-timers.