Want to work but better off on benefits?

DaisyFlower

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

"You say that you don't want a stranger bringing up your daughter but surely it's a better senario than not being able to keep a roof over her head or afford food and basic essentials? x "

Pot, kettle, black much!!! Seems you believe other people should work to pay for the children they chose to have but yet your contemplating quitting a perfectly good job to live on benefits and not provide for your own child!

2gorgeousgirls

I feel for you in this situation.

When my first child was born (now 11) I left home at 6.30 am and returned at 6.30 pm. It's a killer. Constant guilt because you really only see your baby at weekends.

I stuck with it because my husband has a few chronic conditions and may have to leave work at some point.

A colleague of mine has a saying "this too shall pass" and I agree with her.

At the time, I agonised over everything: finding a childminder; not spending enough time with her; being tired when I was with her and life was, for a while, hell. We were also constantly broke as my childminder, when I found her, was not registered so we did not qualify for help with Tax Credits. We could have used someone else but she grew up with my husband. He knew her entire family, knew they were very family orientated and we took the decision that she was the person to look after our child (and later her sister). Our children have not been with her now for 4 years but we are still constantly in touch.

However, I was able to cut down to 4 days per week. Took a Wed off so I was only away 2 days at a time. We did this for three years until I was able to get a job nearer home. A few years later she went to school and now I'm lucky enough to work school hours so leave the girls to school and pick them up.

I'm so glad that I didn't give up work as I truly have a work-life balance now. And we are better off (though now that she is approaching teenage years I expect that to change!).

I do think in the long run it is better to carry on working. It is so much easier to find work/change jobs if you have up-to-date skills. Disclaimer: This is my personal opinion, and I am in no way judging those who decide to take time out to raise their children.

Sorry for the long post but I just wanted to say that it may be hard now but it will get easier.

I really hope that you are able to resolve your problem.

shellyruby

2gorgeousgirls..great post :T

sadie33

I am shocked that you would even think of giving up your work and going on to benefits, it should not be allowed nor is it needed. I am a single parent and have worked all my days, at times it was hard and i felt as if my childminder was raising my son but I never gave up and got another job that suited home life better. Surely you dont want your children to know that you do nothing and get paid for it, benfits are there for the needy and your not needy. You have a good income and have a good amount left over, surely that is enough to keep you all going. . It does not set a good standard and is morally all wrong.

It also gets you out of the house and keeps your social life going through other adults. dont give up your job, maybe cut your hours or find something better. Benefits are there for the people who really need them and no offence but you dont really need them, your fit and healthy and able to work.. so work xx

I do hope you find a nicer balance in the future. good luck

MichaelCR

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

Work, Pay Tax, Pay More Tax, Pay even more Tax, Be a drone to the state.

Surely going to work, You feel more self respect ? Its not like you're incapable of working ? So why let myself and many others on this forum pay for your lifestyle because you cant be bothered with working long hours ?

Sorry if i come across in a harsh manor, I just think you'll feel less self respect when you aren't working, And are spending tax payers money when in fact you can work.

Morglin

nannytone wrote: »

if everyone felt like that there would be no benefits at all..............someone has to work to pay the tax so other people can 'choose' to work part time in order to 'enjoy' their kids!

Surprising, I know, but some of those on benefits/pensions continue to pay taxes.

Taxation is based on income - regardless of whether it comes from work, pensions or benefits.

Lin

agentpodge

dmg24 wrote: »

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

Out of that £950 a month has to come child care fees (presumably) from 5.30am - 6pm each day. I wouldn't be suprised if the child care alone cost this each month!

DX2

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.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

agentpodge wrote: »

Out of that £950 a month has to come child care fees (presumably) from 5.30am - 6pm each day. I wouldn't be suprised if the child care alone cost this each month!

agentpodge

AimeesMum wrote: »

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.

I totally agree with this. As well as working all those hours for little more than people who don't work at all, you will have hardly any TIME to spend with your kids. I hate it when people claim benefits for the sake of it, but if the take home money of me working and not working was about the same, I would choose not to work because i'd have the HUGE benefit of being able to see my child grow, rather than it knowing the nanny better than me!

The government need to address the situation to make it financially better for people to be at work, otherwise people will choose to stay at home and raise their families and who can blame them. I don't want to miss my child's first smile, first step, first word etc. which is very possible if you have to work full time. For an extra £30 per week, I don't think its worth missing this invaluable and "once in a lifetime" experiences.

I don't blame you for considering whether or not you are better off not working.

agentpodge

nannytone wrote: »

why cant your partner watch your child?

He's on incapacity benefit so unfit for work, which presumably means he would not be well enough to look after a baby full time. Incapacity benefit usually means YOU need some kind of help in caring for your own daily needs. If he was fit enough to look after a baby/child (very demanding) then in theory he should be well enough to work some kind of job and not need incapacity benefit.