No point working - why not just go on benefits?

michaels

I have just been playing on the BBC budget calculator - for 2011/12 the marginal effective tax rate of going from 23k to 24k for a couple with 3 kids is approx 80%. Of the £200 left to you if you spend it on most goods then 25% will go as VAT.

You may also find that the increased income reduces entitlement to other benefits such as housing benefit, free prescriptions, free school meals etc. The OP may be exaggerating but he does seem to have a point - suppose the small wage increase required an extra day of commuting it could never pay for itself.

amcluesent

Decided it was best to be a 'seeker' a while back - As a single man, I really can't see the point in 'white collar' work now

Percy1983

I do think this sometimes, as it is I don't have any children yet and my income is good so benefits would be a pay cut, but it would be nice to have to do nothing for a while.

As mentioned it isn't just what you get on benefits its what you don't have to pay, it soon adds up.

ukcarper

ILW wrote: »

What would he get if he had two kids?

I think it's about £164 + LHA and council tax worker earning £15k
would get £123 + £83 towards rent and council tax.

used rent £150 a week council tax £150 per month

StevieJ

B_Blank wrote: »

Not at all. This is a thread for friendly discussion. Your personal insults are NOT welcome here. Please troll somehwere else.

I dont hate poor people, the poorest people in the country are the ones with low paid jobs. FACT. They dont qualify for benefits, and they are forced to pay stupid rents on run down shoeboxs whilst those who dont work are in 4 bed houses. They are forced to pay thousands every year just to get to their underpaid job.

I am sticking up for the poor people. You clearly dont.

Get a clue please.

I get it, you are that guy who used to edit the Sun and is always on Question Time.

Svenena

Some figures based on my own experience:

When I was out of work for a few months in 2009, I received a total of £10844 per year. This was housing allowance, council tax allowance and JSA. That's not a lot. It was enough to live off, but not to save up or treat myself to a holiday or anything. Most of it was the housing allowance, which covered my rent, so the disposable cash was even smaller.

When I started working in a poorly paid job (appx 13k gross), I still received partial housing allowance, bringing my annual figure up to about 16k a year. So that was more than an extra £5000 a year for working - an extra £425 a month. I'd say that's worth it, even before taking into account how depressing it was not working.

I'm now on around 24k and walk to work, so according to the OP I'm better off working anyway.

ILW

ukcarper wrote: »

I think it's about £164 + LHA and council tax worker earning £15k
would get £123 + £83 towards rent and council tax.

used rent £150 a week council tax £150 per month

Does that mean the worker would be worse off or better off?

ukcarper

ILW wrote: »

Does that mean the worker would be worse off or better off?

I think the worker would be about £90 a week better off but I'm not 100% sure.

stuart30

B Blank i hope you can take comfort in the fact your hard work pays for the people who need too use the benefit system.

I personally feel £930 cash per month with council tax paid..mortgage paid...Dental and Prescriptions paid im actually really rather lucky.

I only have 1 wife..2 children and two rabbits too look after.

People who moan about they don't have enough benefits must be living the high life...we manage quite comfortably and that's on just the basic rates.

ILW

stuart30 wrote: »

B Blank i hope you can take comfort in the fact your hard work pays for the people who need too use the benefit system.

I personally feel £930 cash per month with council tax paid..mortgage paid...Dental and Prescriptions paid im actually really rather lucky.

I only have 1 wife..2 children and two rabbits too look after.

People who moan about they don't have enough benefits must be living the high life...we manage quite comfortably and that's on just the basic rates.

Is that £950 after housing costs?