Want to work but better off on benefits?

AimeesMum_2

I have just gone back to work today after being on maternity leave for 6 months. I had some spare time while waiting on my back to work interview and sat and wrote everything down. Combined after tax myself and my partner earn £2033 per month. From this we have the following outgoings...

£450 rent
£108 CT and water
£70 gas and electricity
£60 phone, internet and TV
£160 on top of tax credits that we get for childcare
£235 travelling

Leaving us with £950ish left a month. If we were on benefits we would have roughly about the same. I think it's only about £30 a week extra according to the online calculators.

I have to leave the house at 5.30am and don't get back until 6pm and it just doesn't seem at all worth it. Is there any changes that are due that will effect people on benefits? Is the rate of tax credit due to go down for people on benefits? How does this 'universal credit' fit into the benefits payments people recieve?

Just trying to weigh it all up really x

dmg24

AimeesMum wrote: »

I have just gone back to work today after being on maternity leave for 6 months. I had some spare time while waiting on my back to work interview and sat and wrote everything down. Combined after tax myself and my partner earn £2033 per month. From this we have the following outgoings...

£450 rent
£108 CT and water
£70 gas and electricity
£60 phone, internet and TV
£160 on top of tax credits that we get for childcare
£235 travelling

Leaving us with £950ish left a month. If we were on benefits we would have roughly about the same. I think it's only about £30 a week extra according to the online calculators.

I have to leave the house at 5.30am and don't get back until 6pm and it just doesn't seem at all worth it. Is there any changes that are due that will effect people on benefits? Is the rate of tax credit due to go down for people on benefits? How does this 'universal credit' fit into the benefits payments people recieve?

Just trying to weigh it all up really x

£950 per month to live off. It's a hard life ...

AimeesMum_2

Thats not really the point DMG...the point I'm making is that we would have close to that if we weren't working. Hence the reason that I was asking about changes to the benefits system for people out of work.

nannytone_2

but surely if you and your partner gave up work to languish on benefits, you'd lose all self respect and be setting a really bad examle to your kids?

and think of the people who work full time, and after the expenses you mentioned have far less than £400 left let alone £900!
they get no tax credits, and if they gave up work would have £60 a week to live on!

somewhere along the line, we have to take financial responsibility for the decisions we make.........not just sit back and expect others to be resoinsible for us!

dmg24

AimeesMum wrote: »

Thats not really the point DMG...the point I'm making is that we would have close to that if we weren't working. Hence the reason that I was asking about changes to the benefits system for people out of work.

Benefits are a safety net for those in need. The reason that changes are being made is because too many people see them as a lifestyle choice.

AimeesMum_2

And I do agree with you Nannytone but when surely there needs to be something done (not for those who are disabled) to make it more worthwhile to be working. Self respect is all very well but when you need to get up at 5am in the morning and only see your kids for an hour a day during the week to go to work for an extra £30 a week - it's difficult to swallow.

AimeesMum_2

Can you tell me any of the changes that are being made DMG?xx

williacg

You could always try looking for a better paid job, something closer to home, with more flexible hours, it's always easier to find work whilst in employment. To leave your current job to go on to benefits is a bit of a no-no, and I don't think that the Benefits Office would view it favourably.

Tigsteroonie

I know what you mean, OP. I recently calculated that I go to work for the princely sum of £5/day (I had a payrise, it used to be £4.50/day) because that's all the extra household income from working as opposed to claiming.

My line manager pointed out that it's actually £5/day and adult conversation (otherwise I'd speak babybabble all day). He does actually have a point :rotfl:

Working is more of a self-respect thing, a long-term plan rather than for short-term gain.

nannytone_2

childcare costs have soared, mainly because of the childcare element of tax credits. childcare providers will automatically charge the maximum they can!

tax credits are too generous, especially when it comes to people with children. there is little incentive to try to 'work' yourself into a better position, as people around them, who choose not to work, are financially no worse off.

jim22

Aimee-any particular reason why you have not bought a house?