Moral Hazard & Fairness - Housing

Malcolm.

I've found another family (pictured) claiming benefits for 8 children.

michaels

Thanks for looking this up SJ

To me that is 'comfortable' and I am not sure benefits should be 'comfortable' if that makes sense.

However as it is means tested if (when) I lose my job I will get child benefit only and also still have to pay the mortgage and the council tax and not get any of the other benefits that IB-JSA unlocks. So everyone who says saving make sense is wrong.

sjaypink wrote: »

For a couple:

Means-tested income entitlements

Tax Credits £7,456.95 ( £143.01 )
JSA (income based) £5,357.67 ( £102.75 )

Other income entitlements

Child Benefit £2,455.92 ( £47.10 )

Total Entitlements £15,270.54 - £292.86 weekly


* Single parent is £13,325.62 - £255.56 weekly

michaels

Apparently the neighbours are at it too!



Bonus point for anyone who knows which colour are the Wottingers!

Malcolm. wrote: »

I've found another family (pictured) claiming benefits for 8 children.

LilacPixie

wottingers are blue the pontepines are red. Surley everyone knows that. hehe gotta love ITNG. Unfortunatly my oldest now likes 3rd and bird and I would cheerfully choke muffin

StevieJ

LilacPixie wrote: »

wottingers are blue the pontepines are red. Surley everyone knows that. hehe gotta love ITNG. Unfortunatly my oldest now likes 3rd and bird and I would cheerfully choke muffin

Whoops, Upsy Daisy

sjaypink

michaels wrote: »

Thanks for looking this up SJ

To me that is 'comfortable' and I am not sure benefits should be 'comfortable' if that makes sense.

However as it is means tested if (when) I lose my job I will get child benefit only and also still have to pay the mortgage and the council tax and not get any of the other benefits that IB-JSA unlocks. So everyone who says saving make sense is wrong.

It seems a lot if you think what do you need to live on? Food & toiletries £100pw, utilities etc £50pw.......

Oooh, look nearly £150 pw to spend on... other stuff

But then I have friends single & still living rent free with parents (and don't even pay any housekeeping!) who earn nearly this much after tax & still manage to be skint at the end of the month :rotfl:

I mean, money on paper - or in this case on the screen on this thread - always seems more than when thats all you've actually got left in your bank to last x amount of days/ weeks.

I think most of the problem with those on low incomes feeling poor (or being labelled poor) is money mismanagement rather than the actual amount of income. I think you are right, the amounts given ATM are fairly comfortable

silvercar

sjaypink wrote: »

For a couple:

Means-tested income entitlements

Tax Credits £7,456.95 ( £143.01 )
JSA (income based) £5,357.67 ( £102.75 )

Other income entitlements

Child Benefit £2,455.92 ( £47.10 )

Total Entitlements £15,270.54 - £292.86 weekly


* Single parent is £13,325.62 - £255.56 weekly

Excluding child benefit, which everyone gets, that is £50 per child per week. I spend more on that on food and clothes, but then growing teenage boys probably eat more than the average. They are both underweight for their height, so they are not overeating.

sjaypink

silvercar wrote: »

Excluding child benefit, which everyone gets, that is £50 per child per week. I spend more on that on food and clothes, but then growing teenage boys probably eat more than the average. They are both underweight for their height, so they are not overeating.

Hmmm, I suppose when you put it like that (£50 pr child pr wk) it doesn't seem much.... but then my weekly shop for 6 usually comes in at under £100
(I will get back to you in a few years on the price rises as my primary agers become teens!)

When you break it down (in all different ways) it is now my expert opinion that the current levels seem about right

LilacPixie

sjaypink wrote: »

Hmmm, I suppose when you put it like that (£50 pr child pr wk) it doesn't seem much.... but then my weekly shop for 6 usually comes in at under £100
(I will get back to you in a few years on the price rises as my primary agers become teens!)

When you break it down (in all different ways) it is now my expert opinion that the current levels seem about right

Can I take you shopping?? I struggle to get a weeks shopping for 4 under £75 although I still have 1 in nappies.

I guess I take some brand names for granted plus the spending on clothing and shoes which would not be every week but the weeks you did need these things a significant hole would be made in the budget. To me benefits are about right to live basically for all but in some huseholds the parents/adults take the lions share for luxuries and leave the kids with very little.

I just cannot understand that mindset but then again I cannot understand someone having as little ambition as to be happy to settle for £50 per week per child.

My not quite 4 year old announced last week she wants to be a vet, no doubt that will change about 100 times over the next few years. I cannot imagine her ambition to claim benefits.

wheretheresawill

sjaypink wrote: »

For a couple:

Means-tested income entitlements

Tax Credits £7,456.95 ( £143.01 )
JSA (income based) £5,357.67 ( £102.75 )

Other income entitlements

Child Benefit £2,455.92 ( £47.10 )

Total Entitlements £15,270.54 - £292.86 weekly


* Single parent is £13,325.62 - £255.56 weekly

plus council tax benefit, housing benefit, free prescriptions
Also dont need to pay for petrol to go to work (120 a month for me), professional fees, work clothes