Wife works i don't would i be able to claim benefits?

williacg

ebeegeebee wrote: »

Because the system sucks ! nothing is fair , how can someone who has been careful with money all their life and has managed to save some money for a rainy day get penilised in everyway by the system, and yet if you don't work a day in your life you seem to get hand outs left right and centre... Payback i say

But surely you can see that if someone has a hefty sum of money in a savings account, but also expects to receive benefits whilst the interest accrues, some people might find that somewhat disturbing.

You only need to read a few of the horror stories on the forum to see the hardships that some have to face, for example, over the Bank Holiday and Christmas, the distress of some posters is very upsetting when they discover that their benefits have not gone into their bank accounts, and their electricity meter is about to run out, but they have no little nest egg to fall back on.

I'm sure that there are many scallywags out there who, as you say, have never worked a day in their life, but there are also those who have worked hard all of their lives and simply fallen on hard times and need the state benefit to survive.

Oldernotwiser

mcgee77 wrote: »

I'm going to get jobseekers allowance mwahhahhahah i'm evil.

You may be claiming JSA but that doesn't mean that you will be awarded it.

Oldernotwiser

ebeegeebee wrote: »

My oh my !!
It seems everybody has their own point of view, i however think it's a disgrace that a parent can not spend that precious time with their child in the early years. I have been trying for a child for 10 years and if a miracle happens and i fall pregnant i WILL not waste valuable early years of my childs life working ! i have worked full time for 20 years so the least the goverment can offer me is something in return

If you've been trying for that long you would've thought that you'd have got yourself into the position where you didn't need to rely on benefits.

podperson

It doesn't sound like you will get any money from jsa - if your wife is working then your income will be too high for income-based, any money coming into the household is taken off the amount. I had to claim for a couple of months a few years ago, my OH was at college at the time and his £30 a week ALG was taken off the jsa. That would only leave you with contributions based and if you have not been working while you looked after your daughter that it is unlikely you will have worked enough in the last few years to meet the criteria for this.
Could be worth you putting a budget up on the debt free board as they are very good at finding ways to reduce your outgoing, which might help a little in the meantime.

judywoody

I can see where people are coming from and it surely is NOT ok to rely on state benefits. However, not everyone is in the fortunate position to have a job that pays enough to put some money aside. If the state doesn't want us to apply for benefits they should have not offered it in the first place. Because of the way the system has developed over the last 20-40 years, things have become far more expensive and even people who don't live beyond their means, can hardly put a penny aside. The state wants us to pay taxes to support the benefit system and they want us to raise children who make sure that pensions are still being paid in 50 years time. Living (especially renting) is more expensive nowadays because landlords think that if a person hasn't got enough money he can apply for some benefits. The system is the way it is because of the way the governments have spoiled the public over the last decades. Now they want to pull away the rug underneath their feet..But still expect people to cope with all the other issues this system has caused.One of my friends had her DLA taken away from her all of a sudden rather than assessing her properly and giving her the time to get back into work - work that she CAN do. A lot of people were not entitled to DLA but still claimed it. But a lot of people really can not do work that helps them to survive and probably won't find anything either that pays more than national minimum wage (wonder why the gov hasn't raised NMW to prevent people from applying for more benefits!?!). Parents should have the choice to look after their children themselves and YES they should have the right to get a little bit more money for it. At the end of the day THESE children will pay YOUR pension. Not every child might have parents that are good role models but I presume that parents who are interested in their children's future and chose to spend more time with them rather than leaving them in the nursery all day are usually good parents and they probably raise their children to become valuable (working) members of the society. It's neglected children who cause problems....

superflygal

The problem in my view is that the last Government encouraged people to claim benefits, in an attempt to gain votes from this minority. They also seemed to believe that throwing money at people would increase morality and improve society. A lot of people are under the impression now, that it is ONLY RIGHT that the taxpayer funds their lifestyle. Not working and living on benefits should be a measure of desperation, not a lifestyle choice. I cannot believe people still see this as an option!

SFG x

liney

judywoody wrote: »

I can see where people are coming from and it surely is NOT ok to rely on state benefits. However, not everyone is in the fortunate position to have a job that pays enough to put some money aside. This is not a new problem. Rountree's report on Poverty in York in around 1900 stated that around 37% of the population were in poverty, not being able to afford basic needs, instead of not beiong able to afford an Xbox.

If the state doesn't want us to apply for benefits they should have not offered it in the first place. This is why one must meet a criteria.

Because of the way the system has developed over the last 20-40 years, things have become far more expensive and even people who don't live beyond their means, can hardly put a penny aside. The state wants us to pay taxes to support the benefit system and they want us to raise children who make sure that pensions are still being paid in 50 years time.
I refer you to your next paragraph - spoilt..
Living (especially renting) is more expensive nowadays because landlords think that if a person hasn't got enough money he can apply for some benefits. HB has been, or is being capped I understand? so this should be curbed. The system is the way it is because of the way the governments have spoiled the public over the last decades.

Now they want to pull away the rug underneath their feet..But still expect people to cope with all the other issues this system has caused.One of my friends had her DLA taken away from her all of a sudden rather than assessing her properly and giving her the time to get back into work - work that she CAN do. If there was work she could do why was she not already working? Because she was having her needs met by not working?

A lot of people were not entitled to DLA but still claimed it. But a lot of people really can not do work that helps them to survive and probably won't find anything either that pays more than national minimum wage (wonder why the gov hasn't raised NMW to prevent people from applying for more benefits!?!). NMW wage jobs will be topped up by tax credits assuming you are over 25 or have children as they will come well beneath the threshold. If you are under 25 and can't earn above NMW then it's high time to skillup or you will face a lifetime struggle.

Parents should have the choice to look after their children themselves and YES they should have the right to get a little bit more money for it. They do; Child Benefit.At the end of the day THESE children will pay YOUR pension. Not every child might have parents that are good role models but I presume that parents who are interested in their children's future and chose to spend more time with (or don't want to go to work so would rather the state met their needs) them rather than leaving them in the nursery all day are usually good parents (and good parents don't put their children into childcare so they can put food into their mouths?!)and they probably raise their children to become valuable (working) members of the society. It's neglected children who cause problems....or apparently the ones who work so have to leave their children at nursery all day.

Amazing. Truely amazing.

Googlewhacker

judywoody wrote: »

I can see where people are coming from and it surely is NOT ok to rely on state benefits. However, not everyone is in the fortunate position to have a job that pays enough to put some money aside. If the state doesn't want us to apply for benefits they should have not offered it in the first place. Because of the way the system has developed over the last 20-40 years, things have become far more expensive and even people who don't live beyond their means, can hardly put a penny aside. The state wants us to pay taxes to support the benefit system and they want us to raise children who make sure that pensions are still being paid in 50 years time. Living (especially renting) is more expensive nowadays because landlords think that if a person hasn't got enough money he can apply for some benefits. The system is the way it is because of the way the governments have spoiled the public over the last decades. Now they want to pull away the rug underneath their feet..But still expect people to cope with all the other issues this system has caused.One of my friends had her DLA taken away from her all of a sudden rather than assessing her properly and giving her the time to get back into work - work that she CAN do. A lot of people were not entitled to DLA but still claimed it. But a lot of people really can not do work that helps them to survive and probably won't find anything either that pays more than national minimum wage (wonder why the gov hasn't raised NMW to prevent people from applying for more benefits!?!). Parents should have the choice to look after their children themselves and YES they should have the right to get a little bit more money for it. At the end of the day THESE children will pay YOUR pension. Not every child might have parents that are good role models but I presume that parents who are interested in their children's future and chose to spend more time with them rather than leaving them in the nursery all day are usually good parents and they probably raise their children to become valuable (working) members of the society. It's neglected children who cause problems....

However high you increase the NMW there will always be people in the 'poor' section and thus there will always be the call for benefits to top it up and then the same cycle is brought around. You increase the NMW then the cost of living goes up and it is a vicious cycle.

As for which kids cause the most problems, my money is on kids of families where neither parent works (when they are able to) that do not work over those of families where both parents work and both parents show a good work ethic and understand the value of money.

I disagree with the fact that people should be paid to stay at home raising child. If as a family you can afford it then yes thats fine, if both parents need to work then so be it.

kingfisherblue

Judywoody, you can claim DLA whilst working - it is not a means tested benefit. It is designed to help people with the additional costs of disability and is based on care and/or mobility needs.

cassieB57

Evilm wrote: »

It would depend on how long you have been not working. If you have contributions in the applicable years you may be able to get Contribution based for a while. I can't work out which applicable tax years they are using at the moment so pretty much the only way to see is if you apply.

The relevent tax years are the two complete tax years before the calendar year when benefit is first claimed.If you reclaim within 12 weeks of a previous claim, the same tax years will be used (eg claim on 1/5/11, RITYs=2008-09 and 2009-10. If you stop claiming on 1/12/11, then reclaim on 10/1/12 the same tax years 08-09 and 09-10 will be used. But if you claim on or after 24/2/12, the tax years would be 2009-10 and 2010-11)