Couple thinking about a baby

shellyruby

good sensible post agentpodge:T

Engeroosi

Agentpodge, well summed up there. Although I would say that I am not yet into 40% tax threshold, also that its earnings above the threshold that are taxed 40% I believe, anything upto the threshold is taxed at the lower rate. eg upto threshold taxed normal rate then the restis taxed 40%.

I cannot thank everyone enough for assistance and also there backing. I can also understand where the negative comments are coming from but I am not a sponger and never have or will be. I too hate people who pop out babies like sweeties and never work a minute topay for them.

richard9991

Engeroosi wrote: »

Thanks to all the posts on here, I never really expected such amount of debate.

People go on about the property prices being too high but yet my wife and I have managed to get on the property ladder and it has meant we have a large mortgage. So in terms of me being on 40k alot of this is swallowed up by the mortgage. Which I must add Nannytone would never of paid the amount we had to pay for a roof over our head.

I am not looking to sponge off the government and both my wife and I have worked since we were 13 years old. And if I am on such a high salary then it means I also pay more tax. Which means in real terms I am more "entitled" to assistance than someone on a lesser wage. BUT that is not my arguement.

All I want to do is make sure that when we take a life into this world we can give this life the best start possible. My wife does know that her work only pay the basic maternity pay which is why I came on here to ask what this was!

Thanks again, hope i have clarified a few things.

maybe but you have not paid tax and national ins since you were 13

michelle1506

I'm in North West Kent, close to London and child care in my area is very expensive! Also with twins you tend to miss out on the cheaper child care with child minders, as they need special permission to take two young babies, therefore you pay even more due to having to take nursery care. I never got a cheap flat I can tell you as it does not happen in this part of the world! Have been on the property ladder for a number of years now, and still payed through the nose for my property! It most certainly does cost more to live in or around London, and matters like this SHOULD be considered!!

zjclarke1 wrote: »

Nannytone is bitter because she doesn't have as much an income as OP. Simple as. but as a previous poster said different parts of the country have different prices for everything.

Engeroosi

no but i was proving a point that we have both always worked and not sponged!

ddebski_us

Just adding in my 2p worth:

DH and I earn a higher than average wage, but when I go back to work after SMP and have to put our child into nursery F/T, the nursery fees will be roughly the same as what DH earns, and we'll receive no CTC.

So, you then have to wonder if it's worth it. If one of us stayed at home, we'd be entitled to CTC.

We're obviously not going down this route as it's not in our nature, but we'll struggle for a long time, especially as we've also got a mortgage at almost the same as the nursery fees. If we'd not bought our home, one of us stayed at home and had a council house, we'd have more disposable income.

Why should we not get assistance for trying to do the right thing when people who don't try get help left, right and centre?

Anyway, OP, you may get some CTC whilst your wife is off if your income drops enough. SMP of £128 pw and £20.40 child benefit. It's going to be a tough time for us too, but hopefully more than worth it.

Good luck

xDx

rob7475

I can't believe that people are criticising the original poster for asking what they are entitled to even theough they have an above average income.

That's basically saying that it's OK to start dropping kids at 16 just to get the free council house and benefits! If it wasn't for us who go out and earn a living, and pay our taxes (over £600 a month in my case!), the people who live on benefits wouldn't be able to have their free house and lizzy duke jewellery.

I don't see why people who earn more money should get less back off the state. Surely it's just promoting young pregnancy and benefit lifestyles.

I've worked hard since I left school and never had a penny in help from the state. If i want nice things, I work hard and save for them. I've recently bought a house that needs lots of work doing as it's the only way to get on the property ladder these days. I have spent thousands getting central heating and new windows fitted, however, I know people who get the work done for free just 'cos they're a single parent (and it's their own house with a mortgage!).

Anyway, rant over...

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi everyone

We've had to remove over 100 posts from this thread in order to keep it open.

Please keep your posts friendly, non-judgemental, on topic and not a benefits policy discussion!

If you keep posting in the way you have you create a resource issue for the Forum Team. Please help us with this.

Andrea